Taos Soil & Water Conservation District

EDUCATION & OUTREACH

Taos SWCD spent approximately $72,203 on conservation education and outreach events in the 2018-19 fiscal year. Taos SWCD uses a variety of places and events to educate the public about soil and water conservation.

Taos SWCD has a long history of assisting local acequia associations and parciantes with irrigation improvement projects. Acequia projects account for approximately two-thirds of all assistance requests received by the District. Taos SWCD utilizes experienced staff and consultants as well as new technology to enhance the design and inspection departments contained within its Acequia Construction Program.

ACEQUIA CONSERVATION

Taos Soil and Water Conservation District provides technical and financial assistance to local landowners to develop defensible space areas around homes and structures located in the wild land/urban interface. Utilizing a professional forestry consultant, the District was able to implement fire prevention strategies as well as improve overall forest health in critical areas of Taos County.

FIRE PREVENTION

Management of privately owned rangelands within Taos County continues to be a District priority. The restoration of native grasses as well as other types of vegetation aids ranchers with their livestock operations as well as providing much needed forage for wildlife. Additionally, the deterioration of this resource by the encroachment of Sagebrush and Pinion/Juniper species is a major concern to local conservationists and land managers.

RANGELAND CONSERVATION

The District continues to monitor, assess and restore the rivers and streams that are the lifeblood of the local community. Taos SWCD advocates for sustainable and innovative methods for stream channel restoration using natural channel design methods. These methods preserve the aesthetic beauty of the river, improve the adjacent riparian habitat, and are more economical than traditional designs.

STREAM RESTORATION

Taos SWCD in cooperation with USDA Wildlife Services provides information, training and materials for animal damage problems involving beaver, coyote, prairie dogs, skunks gophers, pigeons, etc. This service includes but is not limited to farmers, ranchers, homeowners and municipalities.

ANIMAL DAMAGE

Taos Soil and Water Conservation District advocates integrated management strategies for noxious and invasive weed infestations. The District continues to research and fund alternative methods of weed management while continuing to provide vegetative expertise to private landowners. Partnering with local farmers, ranchers, and organizations Taos SWCD assists with new and innovative strategies for weed control.

VEGETATION MANAGEMENT

Taos SWCD assists local acequias, governments, associations and private landowners with sandbags for both irrigation and erosion control. Total Special Project expenditures for FY 2010-11 were approximately $7,600.

SPECIAL PROJECTS

Taos SWCD has continued to assist local governments, municipalities and landowners with water related issues. The District either funded or participated in many projects. The Taos SWCD Water Program and Total Groundwater Program expenditures for FY 2010-11 were approximately $11,200,

Water Studies, Water Planning &
Watershed Health

Taos County Groundwater Quality Background - USGS Topographic Map and Digital Elevation Model (DEM).

GROUNDWATER STUDY