On a hot Texas day, the splash of water from an irrigation gate is a welcome sound to those who rely on it this water to grow corn, peppers, squash and other foods. Water is the lifeblood of the farming communities of the San Antonio missions. 

But how do you irrigate arid landscapes without modern plumbing? You build acequias. Brought by 18th-century Spanish missionaries, these gravity-based canal systems are ingenious ways to share water. Acequias helped establish the city of San Antonio and feed people along the San Antonio River for 300 years. 

On this episode of America’s National Parks: the Acequias of San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. 

Use the code PARKS30 for $30 off a $500 or more RV rental booking for your next national park adventure at rvshare.com.