The Valencia Soil and Water Conservation District (District) was formed on May 1, 1947, and is a unit of New Mexico Government being a political subdivision of the State. The District operates under the Soil and Water Conservation District law of the 27th legislature of New Mexico and was revised by the Soil and Water Resources Act of 1978. The District encompasses 1,438,000 acres, including all of Valencia County, a small portion of northern Socorro County, Isleta Pueblo, and Laguna Pueblo. Under New Mexico law, the District is responsible for the conservation and sustainability of natural resources such as agriculture, soils, water, plants, and animals. The District is overseen by a seven-member volunteer Board of Supervisors (five elected, two appointed) who provide leadership and management expertise for:
Identifying conservation needs and developing, implementing, and evaluating programs to meet them;
Educating and informing landowners and operators, the general public, and local, state, and federal legislators on conservation issues and programs;
Supervising staff and volunteers working with the District;
Coordinating with cooperating agency personnel;
Administering the District by delegating tasks through a structure of board officers and members, committees, and others;
Raising and budgeting district funds, overseeing spending to ensure accountability to taxpayers, and complying with New Mexico laws and regulations;
Reporting on District activities to the public;
Coordinating assistance and funding from sources such as federal, state, and local government, District associations, and private groups; and
Representing District needs and interests in working with partner agencies and others.
Valencia Soil & Water Conservation District Boundaries Map