What is a Conservation District?
After experiencing tremendous hardship and loss of valuable natural resources during and around the dust bowl era, congress created Soil & Water Conservation Districts as a subdivision of each state in 1935. A “SWCD” is governed by a board made up of elected volunteers called supervisors. Each District has a board of 5 supervisors which are elected, consisting of 4 landowners, and; (1 or 2 others appointed by the New Mexico Soil and Water Conservation Commission). New Mexico has 47 Soil & Water Conservation Districts, divided into 6 Regions.

Approximately 300 locally elected officials serve on boards that represent these agencies. The State Legislature annually appropriates funds for district operations, with funds being distributed based on each District’s level of performance. Districts are required to conduct monthly meetings, and comply with all state statutes governing political sub-divisions of the state such as the Open Meetings Act, filing quarterly budgets with the Department of Finance Authority, and undergoing a yearly audit.

Our Conservation District - And Our Law
We are the La Union Soil and Water Conservation District. We were individually created in 1966 to promote locally led conservation. Mr. Ramon Alvarez and Mrs. C.D. Little both of Anthony, submitted the first application for certificate of organization for the La Union Soil & Water Conservation District. Since our initial conception, the “LUSWCD” has served our citizens and land owners in a multitude of different ways; carrying out our purpose in the conservation of nature resources, by promoting and providing continual education, and interfacing between government and local land owners with current information and opportunities for technical and financial assistance.

The law that governs our District is 73-20-1 through 73-20-49 NMSA 1978 which covers a variety of topics including definitions such as the “Soil & Water Conservation District Act”, “Watershed District Act”, Voting, Authority, Per Diem and Mileage, Budgets, Bonds, and so on. NMSA 73-20-26 - Legislative determination; purpose of act, sums it up by saying:

1. Considered and resolved by legislative determination, it is declared that:
   
   
   1. the land, waters and other natural resources are the basic physical assets of New Mexico, and their preservation and development are necessary to protect and promote the health and general welfare of the people of the state....(etc.).
   2. It is declared to be the policy of the legislature and the purpose of the Soil and Water Conservation District Act (73-20-25 to 73-20-49 NMSA 1978) to:

contro and prevent soil erosion;

prevent flood water and sediment damage

further the conservation, development, beneficial application & proper disposal of water;

promote the use of impounded water for recreation, propagation of fish and wildlife, irrigation and for urban and industrial needs; and

by the application of these measures, conserve and develop the natural resources of the state, provide for flood control, preserve wildlife, protect the tax base and promote the health, safety and general welfare of the people of New Mexico.