ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (July 31, 2026) — Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District has been named the New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts Region 1 Soil and Water Conservation District of the Year, recognizing the district’s leadership in conserving natural resources across urban and rural lands in the Albuquerque area. Ciudad SWCD will now advance to the statewide competition, where the New Mexico SWCD of the Year will be announced at the NMACD Annual Conference in October.

The honor reflects a year of practical, partnership-driven conservation work. In FY 2025, Ciudad SWCD thinned more than 271 acres of public and private forest lands to reduce wildfire risk, provided 93 emergency-response-grade reflective house number signs to East Mountain residents, and reached more than 3,182 people through wildfire preparedness education.

The district also delivered conservation education to more than 9,000 participants through programs such as RiverXchange, Arroyo Classroom, Watershed Stewards, Rolling River, Master Naturalists and the Land and Water Summit. These programs help students, residents and landowners better understand watershed health, water conservation, stormwater pollution, wildlife habitat and stewardship practices.

Ciudad SWCD continued major restoration and conservation efforts at Tijeras Creek, the Tijeras Creek Bio-Zone Education Center and Candelaria Nature Preserve. The district also supported healthy soils, composting, agricultural education, rainwater harvesting and green stormwater infrastructure projects throughout the Middle Rio Grande region.

“This recognition belongs to our board, staff, partners and community members who make conservation happen on the ground,” said Joshua O’Halloran, Ciudad SWCD District Manager. “Ciudad SWCD is committed to protecting soil, water, wildlife habitat, working lands and community resilience for current and future generations.”

Ciudad SWCD is a governmental special district organized under the New Mexico Soil and Water Conservation District Act. Its mission is to promote the conservation, improvement and responsible use of natural resources on rural and urban lands within its boundaries.

For more information, visit www.ciudadswcd.org or call 505-510-DIRT (3478).