The Missions Introduced California to Irrigation

Mill Race Mission San Antonio.

The California Missions were not just churches. They were large agricultural/industrial complexes. The Franciscans introduced agriculture to this now most agricultural of all states. Next they introduced irrigation to this most irrigated of all states.

Water, for the workings of Mission San Antonio was brought from a reservoir seven miles away through a very complex system of ditches, canals and aqueducts. Much of that system is still in use today.