East Torrance Soil And Water Conservation District Ann nnua ual lrep eport rt

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1 East Torrance Soil And Water Conservation District Annual Report

2 East Torrance SWCD Mission Statement The East Torrance Soil and Water Conservation District Promotes Stewardship of Natural Resources by Providing Leadership, Education, Technical and Financial Assistance to the Citizens of the District.

3 EAST TORRANCE Soil & Water Conservation District Annual Report for P.O. Box 58, Estancia, NM S. 5 th Street, Estancia ext.3 The East Torrance Soil & Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors is very pleased to present their annual report with the District s accomplishments during the past fiscal year. The East Torrance Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) has been in existence for 65 years. The Secretary of State issued the Certificate of Organization on June 30, The District covers 1,142,028 acres in Torrance County, which consists of: 25,000 acres of irrigated cropland 2000 acres of dry cropland 1,059,923 acres of rangeland 47,405 acres of forestland 7,700 acres of urban land The Board of Supervisors: Jim Berlier, Chair (Jim has been with the district since 2003 making this his 5th year) Ryan Schwebach, Vice-Chair (Ryan has been on the board since November 2005, making this his 3rd year) Belinda Garland, Secretary/Treasurer (Belinda has been with the District since 1999, making this her 9th year) Arthur Swenka, Member (Art has been with the District since 2006 making this his 2 nd year) Fronia Jaramillo, Member (Fronia started out as an associate supervisor, then supervisor in 2003 making this her 5 th year) Wayne Metzger, Member ( Wayne has been with the District since 2006 making this his 2 nd year) Laura Riley, Member (Laura has been with the District since 2006 making this her 2nd t yea, she resigned her positon on the board April 2008) Michael E. Stogner ((Michael Stogner was appointed to the board May 2008 to replace Laura Riley) Jimmy Corliss, Associate Member (Jimmy has been with the District since 2002 as a member till 2006, in 2006 he became an associate member making this his 6 th h year being involved with the District) Seen left to right-wayne Metzger, Belinda Garland, Ryan Schwebach,Arthur Swenka,Fronia Jaramillo, Laura Riley, Jim Berlier, Michael Stogner

4 Annual Report FY Page 2 District Staff: Cheri Lujan, District Manger, Leslie Stokes, Student Employee Cheri Lujan, District Manager completed her 4 th year with the district. The district also employed their seventh part-time student clerk this year, Leslie Stokes. East Torrance SWCD has supported the Estancia High School s School-To-Work Program for seven years. The Natural Resources Conservation Service assists the district. Staff included in Wayne Sleep, District Conservationist, who started in April 2005 and left in April 2008; Phillip Herrera, Soil Conservationist who started in May 2005 and left in September 2007, and the Farm Bill Program Specialist, hired in November 20, 2006, Kenneth Lujan who started as the new Soil Conservationist in March The District is also supported by Dean Pritchett, South East Area Engineer. Gretchen Adams served as a summer interim student under the NRCS program. The Board of Supervisors meets the second Wednesday of each month at 3:00 p.m. at the USDA Building. Location of the USDA building is at 715 South 5 th, Street, Estancia, New Mexico. The board encourages landowner attendance at these meetings. The East Torrance SWCD was involved in a great number of projects this year. The board reviews their Annual Work Plan at each Board meeting. All of the District s Objectives on their annual work plan are addressed. The District has come to the end of the eighth year of its Cost-Share Program. This program has continued to be successful since the first year in Total cost-share payments to landowners for this Fiscal Year have exceeded $7, 000 thus far and one Special Project at $3,500. The District provides cost-share assistance for the following practices: Rangeland Assistance: 50% Cost-Share available for livestock pipelines, water storage facilities, cross fencing and erosion control projects.

5 Annual Report FY Page 3 Cropland Assistance: 50% Cost-Share available for irrigation pipelines, valves, flow meters, laser leveling, low energy sprinkler nozzles, and back-flow prevention valves. Brush-Management & Weed Management: Both practices are paid at 75% Cost- Share since they are a major concern of the District and the Estancia Basin. Group Project Assistance: The District will fund portions of conservation projects submitted by: community groups, such as schools, senior citizen s centers, and churches, home-owner associations, or other organizations, for projects such as windbreaks, natural trails, xeric plantings, and water harvesting projects which provide widespread benefit. District cost-share financial assistance to landowners funding for these programs is received through Mill Levy collections. The Following practices were installed this year on the Cost Share Program and NRCS EQIP Funding within the District : 160 Ac. of Noxious Weed Management 2 solar pump systems 8555 LF of Cross Fencing 360 Feet of Livestock Pipeline 12426Acres of Brush Management 2000 of Windbreak & Drip Irrigation 2 Center Pivot Conversions to Low Energy Precision Application (LESA) 1327 LF Pivot 4 flow meters 6061 Irrigation Pipeline 2 Water Storage Units 5 Wells 3 Livestock drinkers 5 Backflow valves These Photo s Show before and after Picture on a Group Project in Torreon, St. Anthony Catholic Church in the Spring of 2008 The District continues to cooperate with Claunch-Pinto, and Edgewood Soil & Water Conservation Districts on the Water Trust Board Grant funding for 2005, 2006 and 2007 funding. Over 46 applications have been received for the next funding cycle. FY special funding projects were awarded with over 124 acres of forest was thinned totaling at $198, within the District Boundaries. Mrs. Fronia Jaramillo served on the Watershed Health Restoration Monitoring Committee for the past two years for the East Torrance SWCD. This Fiscal Year Mr. Arthur Swenka was asked to sit on the committee due to conflicts of meetings for Mrs. Jaramillo. He has been a great asset to the committee in representing the Board.

6 Annual Report FY Page 4 The District has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). This Agreement provides assistance to the District with funding for treatment of noxious weeds and for educating the public. East Torrance, Claunch-Pinto, and Edgewood SWCD came together along with local and federal governments, and signed an MOU creating the first Regional noxious weed program, forming the Central New Mexico Cooperative Weed Management Area. This cooperative agreement was established in August Under the CNMCWMA, areas of main focus of spraying noxious weeds have been on HWY 41 targeted Russian Knapweed within the East Torrance SWCD area. Spraying took effect on State, County and private lands. The State Hwy Dept allowed the uses of their spraying equipment to help spray the county road hit the hardest with the knapweed. This year CNMCWMA sponsored T-shirts for home school, private school and 4 th graders with a T-shirt in hopes to educate not only the children but their families the treat of noxious weeds. Calendars, pencils and other supplies were ordered for the educational outreach piece. Also sponsored by the CNMCWMA was a weed management course hosted by the Edgewood SWCD at their facilities. Many people from around the state attended the well informed workshop.. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact the Central New Mexico Weed Management Area: East Torrance Soil & Water Conservation District at ext.103, 514 S.5th Street, PO BOX 58 Estancia, NM Edgewood Soil & Water Conservation District at PO Box 519 Edgewood, NM Claunch Pinto Soil & Water Conservation District at West Broadway, Box 129 Mountainair, NM 87036

7 Annual Report FY Page 5 The District continues to sell native trees and shrubs to local landowners for windbreak and aesthetic plantings at a minimal cost, through its Annual Tree Program. This Year the District held its third annual fall tree sale along with its spring sales. Soil erosion control and proper water use are also promoted through this program. Drip irrigation design information and proper planting techniques were handed out along with the trees. Over 3200 bare-root trees and containerized trees were sold this year. Reclamation grass mix and a drought-tolerant lawn grass mix are also sold to landowners at the District s cost. Reclamation grass seeds are sold year-round. In addition to the regular tree programs East Torrance SWCD gave assistance to the Town of Estancia with a YCC Youth Group grant in planning, ordering and planting trees at the cemetery. The District also held training for the group before the work began the 1 st of June 2007 and the project was finished the end of July The District put out requests for proposals in 2007 to design and build a new Educational Building in the Town of Estancia, New Mexico. The new building will be approximately four thousand square feet. The Town of Estancia board of Trustees deeded the land to the District and is partnering with each other on several projects for the near future. The board of supervisors hopes the building will be completed by August 2008.

8 Annual Report FY Page 6 The District held two workshops this year for local landowners and agencies. In the Fall of the District held an Acequia workshop with the New Mexico Acequia Association. Topics included discussion on the Acequia governance model that integrates requirements of State Water Law and Acequia custom and practices. The second part of the workshop covered an overview of the Acequia Governance handbook which covered bylaws, water transfers, water banking, easements, enforcement, open meetings act & infrastructure planning. Spring of the District sponsored an election school for polling officers, board members and anyone else interested in learning about the election process and rules and roles of everyone involved. Election was held May 6 th on the Districts Mill Levy Referendum and passed 92 to 51 which included the municipalities. In preparing for the Mill Levy many presentations was given to local and civic groups around the District by board members and staff. We continue to maintain membership in the Hub Resource Conservation &Development (RC&D). The purpose of the RC&D program is to accelerate the conservation, development, and utilization of natural resources, and improve the general level of economic activity in designated RC&D areas. RC&D areas are locally sponsored areas designated by the Secretary of Agriculture for RC&D technical and financial assistance program funds. Our District Manager has been an active member of the New Mexico Association of Conservation District Employees (NMACDE). The Association promotes professional improvement and encourages excellence in the fulfillment of district employee duties by providing a networking system for employees. The Mission of the NMACDE is To Strengthen Soil & Water Conservation Districts by Providing Assistance & Information. Cheri Lujan was appointed as the Region II Representative at the Annual Meeting held in Farmington in 2004, and has continued to serve the association with quarterly reports for the Region II employee s.

9 Annual Report FY Page 7 The District actively supports the efforts of the Estancia Basin Regional Water Planning Committee, with representation at monthly meetings by Ryan Schwebach. Ryan Schwebach serves the committee as Chairman. The committee has been very busy in updating the Regional Water Plan. For more information on the Estancia Basin Water Planning Committee you can go to their web page at ETSWCD District Manger started in March 2007 assisting the committee in taking minutes and preparing agendas, correspondence and other duties as requested. The District recognizes the importance of water planning to ensure future sustainability of this precious natural resource. Jim Berlier was appointed as Region II Chairman in July of 2006 at the NMACD (New Mexico Association of Conservation District) Region II Summer Meeting. In November 2007 Mr. Berlier was elected as the new Secretary/ Treasurer for a two year term. Jim Berlier has shown great leadership serving as Region II Chairman among many other committees relating to Soil & Water Conservation issues. He worked hard with the NMACD group at the legislature for 2008 to acquire funding for all Districts across the state and to remove the sunset clause off of the Mill Levies across the State of NM. In addition he visited with the Governor along with staff and the State NRCS Conservationist in attempt to save funding for the Technical Service Provider funding by Natural Resources and the State of New Mexico. East Torrance SWCD applied and received a Conservation Innovation Grant from NRCS for a landowner Mr. Don Fitzner. The purpose of this project is to help the small and large land owners located in rural areas move away from commercial power grids to help with the cost in their operational fees using energy use reduction, easily portable to take from well to well for watering cattle or pumping water for irrigation. Mr. Fitzner has completed one unit for display and has lost one unit to high wind speeds in the Encino, NM area. He plans to finish his project with a small unit which will be housed at the East Torrance SWCD educational building.

10 Annual Report FY Page 8 For the fifth year East Torrance hosted an Earth Day event. Due to the Trigo Fire in the Manazno Mountains a field trip to a local landowners place filled with learning experience for Estancia s 6 th grade class was cancelled. The event included a PowerPoint presentation to the class 4 days before the outdoor activities were planned which highlighted five areas of conservation: Forest Health, Noxious Weeds, Erosion, Riparian Restoration, and Wildlife. A water trailer presentation was given to the class and was told the bad news of cancelling of the field trip. The District plans to continue to work to improve what was done for the past four years, and anticipates continuing to educate young people for years to come on Earth Day. Due to the Trigo Fire the East Torrance SWCD was co-sponsors along neighboring Districts and the County in getting Emergency Watershed Funding into the area from NRCS. Along with being co-sponsors East Torrance approved to expand the cost share funding to included and accept boundary fences as a cost share project for landowners who had lost their fences due to the fire. Along with expanding the cost share assistance East Torrance sponsored Water Quality Testing provided free of charge by the New Mexico Environment Department for residents with private wells serving homes not connected to a public water utility in the Manzano Mountains affected by the Trigo Fire. Along with local help in getting funding on the ground East Torrance contacted the National Association of Conservation Districts in helping solicit the money in Washington D.C. to move from the Senate into the House for funding to continue the progress in Emergency Watershed Funding in the State of N.M.

11 Annual Report FY Page 9 Kids, Kows & More was an event sponsored by the Santa Fe and Torrance County Extension Service; East Torrance, Edgewood, Claunch-Pinto Districts, Texas A&M Extension Services, The NM Beef Council Association, The Honey Bee Producers; Dairy Producers; and many more, for the 4 th graders in Moriarty, and Estancia this year. Crop and Dairy production, Bee producers, water conservation, sheep sheering and being involved in a farmers market, along with ranching were the main topics of this event. East Torrance supported the State Forestry Arbor Day program for the 5 th grader s written contest. Along with talking to 5 th grade teachers, presentations were given to the local Head Start Classes and Kindergarten classes. After the presentation on trees, each child received a tree to take home and plant with a loved one.

12 Annual Report FY Page 10 The District s Manager was involved in our local school s science fair in the spring of 2008 The District encouraged students to do more conservation projects for next year s competition. The district staff and supervisors continue to work hard to strengthen our information, /education campaign. We promote district activities through our quarterly newsletters, news releases, and informative brochures focusing on current programs. We are able to assist landowners with information on proper grazing techniques, water harvesting techniques, as well as proper reclamation seed mixtures for critical area plantings. Staff works with elementary and mid-school students to promote soil & water conservation through hands-on demonstrations such as the Rolling River Trailer. The District also continues to distribute Water Conservation Kits to local landowners, which include lowflow showerheads. We continue to publish a newsletter on a quarterly basis. Circulation is currently around One of the highlights in the newsletter is a kid s corner giving kids fun facts and activities on conservation issues. An addition to our newsletters and handouts in the office this year ETSWCD was successful in getting our web page on line for easy assess for our rural customers. To view our web page go to EastTorranceSWCD.org. [Home] [About Us] [Programs] [Education] [NRCS] [Newsletters] [Hot Topics] [Meetings] [Contact Us] [Plant Sales] Activity books to help promote Soil Stewardship Week were distributed to grades K-6 th grades at the Estancia Elementary Schools this year to support conservation education locally. Rolling River demonstrations were also held for all the 5 th and 6 th grade classes along with presentations at the State fair in September 2007.

13 Annual Report FY Page 11 Information booths along with a float were presented at the local Pumpkin Chunkin Festival in October 2007 and the annual Lights of Parade in December A booth was also set up for the NM Small Farm Conference and Trade Show in November 2007 and for the Trigo Fire victims meeting held in June Along with these events, the District was very active throughout the year handing out conservation educational material and promoting the District with activities at the local County Fair for their 3 rd annual Family Fun Kids day with a pig chase contest, a stick horse race and banana split eating contest.

14 Annual Report FY Page 12 The District continues to increase awareness to local, state, and federal legislative actions and activities to influence political decisions and appropriations. The Board of Supervisors sent the District Manger to NACD s Legislative Session in Washington D.C. in July 2007 to help with efforts on the 2007 Farm Bill. District Supervisors made several trips to the State Legislative session to help and train with the state legislative team. Along with supervisors attending the Board approved a leave of absence for the District Manger to work for Senator Campos as an analyst during the 2008 session. During her stay she was recognized by the Senate Floor with a certificate acknowledging her accomplishments singed by Senator Campos. The District also had representatives as pages in both the Senate and House side during the session. Presentations were made to the Torrance County Commissioners, Local Head Start staff and parents, and to the Town of Estancia on District activities. The District also put in for capital outlay funding to help finish building the Educational facility. Funding was awarded in the amount of 60 thousand given by Representative King, and Representative Vigil awarded $40,000 to purchase equipment. Senator Campos secured 30 thousand to help funding in the District s Educational Programs. East Torrance SWCD personal and a board member which also serves on the Torreon Fire Department sat in on the core team in planning of the Torrance County Community Wild Fire Protection Plan. SWCA Environmental Consultant along with Arid land Innovation LLC put together the plan for the Core Team. Communities at a high risk rating included: Sherwood Forest, A102, Chilli Land Grant, Red Bluff, Fourth of July Campgrounds, Forest Roads, Manzano Land Grant, Punta de Agua, Loma Parda, Echo Hills, Deer Canyon Preserve, Game Rd, Forest Valley, Corona, Duran, Manzano Morning, Tajique Land Grant, McIntosh, Willard, and the Torreon Land Grant. The plan was completed in May 2008.

15 Annual Report FY Page 13 The District Employee continues working closely with Gary Thomas, who has a Commercial Pesticide Applicator s License, which enables the District to assist landowners in identifying and helping control noxious weeds. The District continues to submit applications to the New Mexico State Forestry for New Mexico Re-Leaf Grants. Since 1996, six Re-Leaf Grants have been funded in our District. They are located at the Estancia Municipal Schools Athletic Field, Estancia Baseball Field, Estancia Town Park, Torreon Community Center, Torreon Cemetery, and the McIntosh Senior Citizen s Center. Representatives from the District 1 Office of the State Engineer have set up a satellite office in the UDSA conference room in Estancia. East Torrance schedules appointments for landowners to meet with a representative who can provide assistance with water right questions and other related issues of the local area. Application forms are also available for registering existing ground or surface water rights or for applying for permits to drill new wells. The Office of the State Engineer comes every 4 th Wednesday of each month from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. The District supports NMACD at the Summer Meetings held in Ruidoso. Jim Berlier, Fronia Jaramillo, Laura Riley, Arthur Swenka and Cheri Lujan represented the District at the NMACD Summer Conference, held in July Region II awards at the summer meeting for Soil Stewardship and outstanding District was awarded to Padilla Ranch and Outstanding District went to East Torrance SWCD. Soil Stewardship award was given to the Padilla Ranch at the regular board meeting by Arthur Swenka.

16 Annual Report FY Page 14 Jim Berlier, Fronia Jaramillo, Laura Riley, Arthur Swenka and Cheri Lujan represented the District at the NMACD annual conference held in Las Vegas, N.M, October, East Torrance tied with Tierra y Montes SWCD for NMACD 2007 Outstanding District Award. The 64th East Torrance Annual meeting was held in November, Over 92 people were in attendance. Guest speakers included Krista Bonfantine & Jim Brooks who spoke to the group about utilizing forest residuals for erosion control. Mr. Gabe Estrada, from Tierra y Montes SWCD spoke to the group about his years of serving in the Soil & Water Conservation Districts. Awards given out to George Duda for Professional Public Service award, Solid Waste Authority received the Outstanding Land Stewardship award, and the Supervisor award went to Arthur Swenka. East Torrance Friend of Conservation award went to the Town of Estancia. The last speaker was a presentation from David Chace who spoke to the group on learning more about the Estancia Basin groundwater resources: recharge, brackish water, and deep aquifers. Along with the speakers, the District Supervisors gave reports. Organizations that attended with booths included: NRCS, NRCS Plant Materials, State Forestry, Forest Service and the CNMWMA. The District also recognized dedicated conservation cooperators and public servants. Awards and certificates were handed out.

17 Annual Report FY Page 15 Staff and board members attended trainings throughout the year to help with performance of the district activities. District Manger attended DFA workshops, ICIP plan workshop, Forest Thinning workshop, election school, water trailer workshop, local work group, NACD Legislative conference filled with trainings, Public Records trainings, and a procurement workshop, along with great trainings held at the NMACD summer and annual meetings year each. Staff and Supervisors attended a variety of State, County and Federal meetings throughout the state, to stay informed of activities throughout the state. Some meetings include the Soil & Water Commission Meetings, Water Trust Board, Legislative committee meetings in Santa Fe, New Mexico Association of Conservation District meetings, neighboring SWCD meetings, Town Hall meetings, and the County Commissioners meetings. Attachments to this report submitted to NMDA included: Final Budget Report Annual work plan Point System Worksheet Report Respectfully submitted, Cheri Lujan ETSWCD District Manager