Who We Are:

Conservation Snapshot••••••••••

The Natural Resources Conservation 

Service (NRCS) is a federal agency 

that works hand-in-hand with the 

people of New Mexico to improve 

and protect our natural resources. 

For more than 75 years, NRCS and 

its predecessor agency have worked 

in close partnership with 

farmers and ranchers, local and 

state governments, and other 

federal agencies to maintain healthy 

and productive working landscapes. 

NRCS New Mexico works closely 

with the local Soil and Water 

Conservation Districts to ensure 

conservation is successfully 

implemented in New Mexico. 

NRCS assists landowners with 

conservation planning and 

implementation by explaining the 

importance of how natural resources 

connect to each other. NRCS 

responds to a broad array of 

resource concerns such as soil, 

water, air, plants, energy and human 

issues (SWAPA+EH) on America’s 

private lands.

While farmers and ranchers remain 

the primary customers of NRCS, the 

agency also provides technical 

assistance to city planners, 

watershed groups, state, and 

local governments as well as civic 

organizations.

Number Practice Projects Acres Financial 

Assistance

1 Irrigation System, Sprinkler 33 2,408 $1,080,331

2

Irrigation Water 

Conveyance 

(Pipeline and concrete 

ditch lining)

47 55,116 $525,027

3 Brush Management 45 17,040 $512,196

4 Structure for Water Control 101 $230,159

5 Waste Utilization 27 $216,588

Conservation Applied and Acres Benefitted

“Helping People 

 Help the Land”

acres

acres

acres

acres

acres

acres acres J. Xavier Montoya

New Mexico 

State Conservationist

Top Five Conservation Practices Across New Mexico••••••••

New Mexico

ANNUAL REPORT-2012

www.nm.nrcs.usda.gov

United States Department of Agriculture/Natural Resources Conservation Service

Soil water Air plants 

animals Energy humans 
EQIP 

Initiative

Contracts Obligations Payments Contract 

Acres

8 $1,105,951 $14,067 78,150

CSPis a voluntary conservation program that provides incentives to agricultural 

producers to maintain, enhance, and manage existing conservation practices. CSP is available 

on Tribal and private agricultural lands and non-industrial private forest land. The program 

provides equitable access to all producers, regardless of operation size, crops 

produced or geographic location. 

CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM

Congressional 

District Contracts Contracted Acres

Obligation 

Amount

1 33 59, 069 $1,048,067

2 231 774,112 $9,241,705

3 122 256,821 $4,615,226

Total 386 1,090, 002 $14,904,998 Estimated 

Range of 

Annual 

Payments

Seasonal High Tunnel-Hoop Houses

Contracts Obligations Payments Contract 

Acres

20 $110,259 $17,057 91

working lands/stewardship programs•••••••••••••••••••••••

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM

EQIPis a voluntary conservation program that provides technical and financial 

assistance to agricultural producers through contract agreements that can be up to ten years 

in length.These contracts provide financial assistance to help plan and implement 

conservation practices that address natural resource concerns on private agricultural land and 

non-industrial private forestland.

Congressional 

District Contracts Contracted Acres

Obligation 

Amount

1 26 76,585 $851,900

2 238 2,060,203 $12,667,800

3 263 469,095 $8,467,300

Total 527 2,605,883 $21,987,000

Certified Organic

Contracts Obligations Payments Contract 

Acres

2 $30, 350 $0 1,694

Cement water trough

Cropland $12 to $22 per acre

Non Industrial Private 

Forest Land 

$6 to $12 per acre

Pastureland $7 to $14 per acre

Rangeland $5 to $10 per acre

Lesser Prairie Chicken

EQIP 

Initiative

EQIP 

Initiative

page 2

Organic Vegetable Farm in Nambe 

Soil water Air plants 

animals Energy humans 
Program Description Money 

Obligated

Contract

Acres Contracts

WRP

The Wetlands Program (WRP) is a voluntary program 

offering landowners the opportunity to protect, restore, 

and enhance wetlands on their property. NRCS provides 

technical and financial support to help landowners with 

their wetland restoration efforts.

$926, 000 180 4

GRP

The Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) is a voluntary 

program that helps landowners and operators restore and 

protect grassland, including rangeland, pastureland, and 

certain other lands, while maintaining the areas as grazing 

lands.

$36,000 1,420 1

FRPP

The Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program (FRPP) 

provides matching funds to help purchase development 

rights to keep productive farmland and ranchland in 

agricultural uses. USDA provides up to 50 percent of the 

fair market easement value of the conservation easement. 

$851, 000 15, 000 3

Contracts Obligations Payments Contract 

Acres

4 $55,223 $0.00 125.0

WHIP 

Initiative

Southwestern Willow Flycatcher

Congressional 

District Contracts Contracted Acres

Obligation 

Amount

1 1 12 $16,200

2 13 161,251 $542,700

3 2 5,267 $89,100

Total 16 166,530 $648,000

WHIPis a voluntary conservation program for landowners who want to 

develop and improve wildlife habitat on private agricultural land, 

non-industrial private forest land, and Tribal land. WHIP agreements 

between NRCS and the participant generally last from 5 to 10 years from the 

date the agreement is signed.

WILDLIFE HABITAT INCENTIVES PROGRAM

Acequias Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative

Restore New Mexico is an ambitious partnership initiative to restore New 

Mexico’s grasslands, woodlands and riparian areas to a healthy and 

productive condition. Since the program began in 2005, millions of acres 

have greatly benefitted from cooperative partnership to restore impaired 

wildlife habitat and grazing land in southern and eastern 

New Mexico. Through this partnership initiative New Mexico has 

seen the return of healthy native grasslands, better wildlife habitat, 

and grazing land on a broad scale.

Congressional 

District Contracts Contract Acres Obligations

2 124 3,177,777 $10,104,426

3 9 135,431 $239,892

Total 133 3,313,208 $10,344,318

Lesser Prairie 

Chicken

Restore 

New Mexico

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

working lands/stewardship initiatives••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Soil water Air plants 

animals Energy humans 

easements••••••••••••••••••

WRP Blue Hole Restoration

 Project

NRCS conducted construction 

inspection and certification 

checkouts on 8 Acequia 

 Construction Projects totaling 

 $1,037,890.

NRCS assisted 21 Acequias in 

planning, surveys, and designs for 

 irrigation systems and water delivery 

improvements. NRCS also provided support to another 12 

Acequias or Community Ditches to assist in decision making 

for future improvements. 

NRCS provided outreach to more than 50 Acequias and 

Community Ditches throughout New Mexico. An Acequia 

history Q&A fact sheet is available to the public at: 

www.nm.nrcs.usda.gov/news.

working lands/stewardship programs •••••••••••••••••••••

2005 to Present

page 3
Completed Soil Survey Acres Mapped

Carlsbad Caverns National Park 147,760 

White Sands National Monument 46,762

White Sands Missile Range 2,083,398

Cibola County 500,000

Roosevelt County (updated) 1,570,658

Low 

Hazard

Accomplishments

NRCS New Mexico 2012•••••••••••••••••••••••

The USDA is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

• NRCS is currently in the planning stages and 

 making upgrades of Dam Rehabilitation for 

 the Santa Cruz Site #1

• The design for Hatch Valley Site #6 is 

 underway

47 20

High 

Hazard

Significant

Hazard

Hazard Classification of NRCS Assisted 

Large Dams in New Mexico:

34

CPI

ENGINEERING

In 2012, New Mexico had two of the 

worst fires in its history-the Whitewater Baldy Complex Fire and the Little 

Bear Fire.

Whitewater Baldy Complex Fire:

This fire was located in the Gila area 

of southwestern New Mexico where it 

burned 298,000 acres and 14 

structures. Almost the entire fire was 

on U.S. Forest Service land and 

wilderness land. The affected watersheds drain into private lands below 

the burned areas, increasing the threat 

of serious flooding.

Little Bear Fire: This fire was located 

north of Ruidoso where 44,000 acres 

and 252 structures (242 homes) 

burned. Serious adverse impacts from 

flooding was a major concern. 

NRCS New Mexico quickly responded 

by installing Early Warning Detection 

Systems (EWDS) in the burned areas at 

both fire sites. The EWDS units warn 

residents of impending floods caused 

from heavy rain above the watersheds. 

NRCS New Mexico was the first state 

to implement this practice using EWP 

funds.

EMERGENCY WATERSHED PROTECTION PROGRAM (EWP)

Early Warning Detection Systems

*$381,750

Little Bear Fire

Aerial seeding of native grasses applied to private lands

$113,681

Total dollars expended for 

New Mexico EWP-2012

$495,431

SOIL HEALTH

Soil is a living and life-giving substance, without which we 

would perish. As world population and food production 

demands rise, keeping our soil healthy and productive 

is of paramount importance. So much so that we believe 

improving the health of our Nation’s soil is one of the 

most important endeavors of our time.

By focusing more attention on soil health and by educating our 

customers and the public about the positive impact healthy soils 

can have on productivity and conservation, we can help our 

Nation’s farmers and ranchers feed the world more 

profitably and sustainably-now and for generations to come.

Unlock the Secrets in the Soil

The 2008 Farm Bill served as the catalyst for the USDA to launch 

a concerted effort to encourage minority and Under Represented 

farmers and ranchers to participate in USDA programs. One of the 

most successful outcomes was the Conservation Planning 

Initiative Workshop conducted in southern New Mexico. NRCS 

led the multi-agency effort that provided many of the 

participants with the opportunity to learn more about the 

importance of soil health. Attendees also learned how to get 

the most from their land through the development of a 

Conservation Plan.

The meeting was well attended by minorities and 

Under Represented farmers. The meeting even included 

agricultural producers from northern Mexico. 

S

O

I

L

S

CONSERVATION PLANNING INITIATIVE (CPI)

*both fires

EWP

page 4

In New Mexico, all soil surveys have been 

completed on private, Tribal, state, Bureau of Land Management, 

National Park Service, and Department of Defense lands.

Soil water Air plants 

animals Energy humans