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R E P O R T 2 0 0 4N E W M E X I C O NMACD 

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ctober 15 Estancia Local Work Group Meeting

25 Taos Local Work Group Meeting

November 2 Fort Sumner Local Work Group Meeting

3 Portales Local Work Group Meeting

Las Vegas Local Work Group Meeting

Roswell Local Work Group Meeting

Las Cruces Local Work Group Meeting

Alamogordo Local Work Group Meeting

4 Tucumcari Local Work Group Meeting

Carlsbad Local Work Group Meeting

Capitan Local Work Group Meeting

5 Deming Local Work Group Meeting

9 Raton Local Work Group Meeting

Socorro Local Work Group Meeting

10 Santa Fe Local Work Group Meeting

15 Albuquerque Local Work Group Meeting

Over 

Sixty 

Years

Scheduled Meetings for local work Ogroups

N R C S N E W M E X I C O 

Front Cover Top Photo:

The day had been relatively calm with light 

wind from the southwest. The dust storm 

rolled in on a very light breeze, but about 15 

minutes later a regular hurricane struck which 

lasted 30 minutes. Visibility was zero, and 

tightly closed rooms were filled with fine 

choking dust.

Clayton, New Mexico from atop the Palace 

Hotel, May 21, 1937

The USDA is an equal opportunity provider 

and employer.
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New Mexico FY 2004 Farm Bill EPrograms Summary

N R C S N E W M E X I C O 

nvironmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

1478 applications received

866 contracts developed

$24,530,586 obligated

3,513,576 acres under contract

Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)

Regular Program Riparian Restoration Special Program

68 applications received 12 applications received

33 contracts developed 12 contracts developed

$374,593 obligated $189,600 obligated

4 field trials under development ($240,000)

Grassland Reserve Program (GRP)

94 applications received

1 permanent easement on 8,559 acres in Roosevelt County ($1,745,030)

Two, 30-year rental agreements approved

7,338 acres in Roosevelt County ($1,210,770)

880 acres in Union County ($145,200)

Wetland Reserve Program (WRP)

6 applications on file

1 permanent easement funded, 94 acres in Valencia County, ($440,000)

Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP)

7 applications received

2 applications funded

Taos Land Trust, 4.4 acres, $127,832

Rio Grande Ag Land Trust, 57 acres, $294,168

Conservation Security Program (CSP) 

16 applications funded

2004 cost of $586,373

Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)

1 application funded in New Mexico

$34,289 obligated
Over 

Sixty 

Years

New Mexico FY 2004 Technical EServices Summary

N R C S N E W M E X I C O 

cological site descriptions completed on 120 sites

RUSLE II implemented – new erosion prediction model

7 cultural resource contracts with private firms completed
Over 

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Years

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New Mexico FY 2004 Engineering WSummary

N R C S N E W M E X I C O 

atershed Operations (PL 83-566)

Truth or Consequences-Williamsburg Arroyos Watershed, Site 3C

Phase III, ($5.5 million) – work progressed from 53% to 100% completion in 

fiscal year 2004.

Phase IV, ($2.4 million) – work began in October 2003 and progressed to 

56% completion.

Watershed Rehabilitation 

Dona Ana, Sites 1 and 2 – completed planning and design, under the pilot 

watershed rehabilitation program. Installation is pending the acquisition of 

landrights from project sponsors (EBID and Dona Ana County, OFC). 

Hackberry Site 1 – construction was completed in June 2004 for this $1.6 million 

project under the pilot watershed rehabilitation program. This was the first 

project for New Mexico NRCS to utilize the relatively new construction 

material called Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC), which was used to harden 

the earth auxiliary spillway.

Sandia Mountain Tributaries, Site 1 – Planning and development of 

Environmental Assessment was accomplished to a level of 95% completion 

by A&E contract. 

Hatch Valley Arroyos, Site 6 – Planning and development of Environmental 

Assessment was accomplished to a level of 95% completion by A&E 

contract. 

Caballo Watershed, Site 2 – Planning and development of Environmental 

Assessment was initiated.

Hatch Valley Arroyo, Site 5 – Planning and development of Environmental 

Assessment was initiated. 

Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) – Although no projects were funded 

under EWP in fiscal year 2004, two events occurred in New Mexico for 

which assessments were made for potential EWP funding. These were the 

flooding in Carlsbad in April 2004 and flooding in June 2004 in the vicinity 

of the Penasco fire that burned in May 2002. 

Agricultural Waste Designs – Engineering policy revision was enacted that 

enables NRCS employees to perform design services on agricultural waste 

facilities. Designs were initiated for agricultural waste facilities on four 

dairies with EQIP contracts in New Mexico.

Acequia Program – Work progressed on design and installation services for 

rehabilitation work on 19 acequias throughout New Mexico.

Snow Survey Program – NRCS obtains snow survey data on 43 sites in New 

Mexico. Of these 43 sites, 20 are automated SnoTel remote sensing stations 

which transmit weather data electronically. The other 20 are manually read 

courses which are read once a month. 
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New Mexico FY 2004 Operations T Activities Summary

N R C S N E W M E X I C O 

echnical Service Providers (Private and Public individuals contracted to provide 

technical assistance on behalf of NRCS) 

Private Contracts

3 engineering contracts at $607,650

9 archeological contracts were hired at $117,430

Public Contracts

25 specialists hired through a contribution agreement with 

NMDA, total expense $612,500, NRCS expense $306,250

Conservation Partnership Initiative (An initiative promoting watershed 

planning by partner organizations)

4 applications received

1 application submitted for National funding

Resource Conservation and Development Program

$1,049,000 of RC&D program funds leveraging $48,196,313 in contributions 

for New Mexico rural community projects.

22 conservation projects (watershed, crop, forest, range, wildlife...) on 

138,400 acres

56 community and economic development projects directly helping 5,140 

people

30 information/education events

211 jobs created

24 business started or expanded

51 plans completed

211 on-going plans

60 new RC&D plans developed 
Over 

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Years

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FY 2004 Resource Inventories and SAssessments Summary

N R C S N E W M E X I C O 

oil Survey Program

190,000 acres mapped in New Mexico and an additional 136,000 acres in 

adjoining states in support of projects extending across state lines.

Two soil survey reports were printed in 2004. These are the Shiprock Area of 

New Mexico and Arizona, and the Ft. Bliss Military Reservation .

The soil survey manuscripts for Guadalupe and Sandoval Counties have been 

completed and submitted for publication. The Rio Arriba manuscript was 

developed and is being finalized for submission for final edits and 

typesetting. 

The soil survey Report for Jicarilla Apache Nation has been sent to the publisher 

for printing. Anticipate delivery by the end of December.

The soil survey staff stationed in El Paso completed mapping in Texas and was 

moved to Las Cruces. Soil Survey evaluations are underway to initiate 

mapping in Dona Ana, Otero, Sierra, Lincoln, Socorro and Torrance 

County areas. The evaluations are prerequisites to update mapping. The 

update mapping being undertaken will create seamless soils information 

between counties and states.

Since October 1, 2003, we have hired 8 new soil scientists and 1 new range 

conservationist.

Soil survey database population and validation was completed for 30 soil survey 

areas this year. This represents 3/4 of the survey areas in the state.

The Soil Data Mart (SDM) has been populated with 26 survey areas to date. 

Anticipate placing 8 additional areas on SDM before end of 2004.

Provided support to the BIA Ft. Defiance Survey staff with NASIS database 

population, and training to their new soil scientists. This area includes 

about 700,000 acres in New Mexico.

GIS Program

Soil survey map compilation was completed on 8 survey areas this year and soil 

survey digitizing was completed on 6 survey areas. An additional 3 

survey areas are being digitized at this time.

Final soil survey report publication maps were completed for Jicarilla Apache 

Nation. Final maps for McKinley County are being developed now.

We completed GIS training for the Customer Service Toolkit in all offices. 

Geospatial data is being kept current in all field offices. 

Work on the Watershed Boundary Digitizing project continues. Anticipate 

completion of the project in 2005. 

NRI Program

Completed the FY2003 field inventory on 48 primary sampling units (PSUs)

Supported the NRI-CEAP inventory with National Agricultural Statistical 

Service (NASS) data collectors for FY2004. The Conservation Effects 

Analysis Project (CEAP) is to determine the effectiveness of conservation 

practices in achieving conservation program objectives.
Over 

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New Mexico FY 2004 East Area ESummary

N R C S N E W M E X I C O 

nvironmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

330 contracts funded

$9,000,000+ obligated

Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)

Regular Program Special Program

3 contracts developed 6 contracts developed

Wetland Reserve Program (WRP)

1 contract

Easement signed, appraisal ordered

Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans

9 CNMPs developed on AFO/CAFO operations

Farm Bill Employees

10 Farm Bill Employees delivering Farm Bill programs in field
Over 

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Years

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New Mexico FY 2004 SouthEast EArea Summary

N R C S N E W M E X I C O 

nvironmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Wildlife Habitat 

Incentives Program (WHIP)

146 new contracts

$5.4 million obligated

Record year for Southeast Area

All 7 field offices developed a record number of contracts

All 7 field offices received a record level of funding

Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA)

Conservation plans developed on 8,357 acres of cropland

Conservation plans developed on 1,042,312 acres of rangeland

Conservation practices assistance provided on 525,954 acres of rangeland

Forest stand improvement assistance provided on 1,686 acres

Watershed improvement assistance resulting in brush management applied to 

approximately 35,000 acres

Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans

8 developed on animal feeding operations

6 applied on animal feeding operations
Over 

Sixty 

Years

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New Mexico FY 2004 northwest EArea Summary

N R C S N E W M E X I C O 

nvironmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) 

212 new contracts

$4.9 million obligated

1,191,497 acres contracted

384 applications received

$5.2 million requested

Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP)

15 new applications

$240,334 obligated

Acequia Program

15 new projects requested and planned

Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D)

HUB 

7 new projects approved by council

7 projects completed

33 on-going

Northern Rio Grande 

16 new projects approved by council

10 projects completed

42 on-going

Conservation Technical Assistance

Conservation plans developed on 39,191 acres of crop

Conservation plans developed on 566,259 acres of range

Conservation practices assistance on 184,974 acres range

Forest stand improvement assistance on 3,584 acres

Watershed assistance resulting in: 

87,607 feet of livestock water pipeline

10 livestock wells

10,160 ac. of range planting

57,703 ac. of cross-fencing

44,169 feet of irrigation pipeline

96 water control structures

100 ac. of wetland restoration/enhancement

57,866 ac. wildlife habitat

Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans

2 developed on animal feeding operations
Over 

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Years

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New Mexico FY 2004 southwest EArea Summary

N R C S N E W M E X I C O 

nvironmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) 

226 applications received

141 applications approved to contracts

$4,468,058 in applications requested

$4,262,543 in approved Contracts

These are record numbers for the Field Offices

Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)

Regular Program Special Program

2 contracts developed 1 contract developed

Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans

1 CNMP (new) developed on AFO/CAFO operations

2 CNMP’s applied on 900 acres

Farm Bill Employees

4 Farm Bill Employees delivering Farm Bill programs in field

Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA)

Conservation plans developed on 7,569 acres of cropland

Conservation plans developed on 1,106,996 acres of grazing land

Conservation practices assistance provided on 425,161 acres of grazing land

Sediment delivery reduction on ag lands only: 20,000 tons/yr.

Irrigation systems (no.) applied including drip, sprinkler and delivery 

systems: 164

Watershed improvement assistance resulting in brush management applied to 

9,529 acres

Prescribed grazing applied to 170,337 acres