Ranch House Coalition Recruiting Volunteer Modern Day ZanjerosZanjeros
have played a key role in the history of water delivery systems. The word
"zanjero" is derived from the Spanish words "zanja" meaning
"deep ditch or irrigation ditch" and "zanjon" which means,
"ditch rider or overseer."A
zanjero is an employee whose principal responsibilities involve the
manipulation of irrigation gates for the orderly delivery of water to fill
irrigation requests. In the early days, most zanjeros traveled through their
area on horseback or by horse and buggy as they provided water service to the
shareholders.