Welcome to Taos Soil & Water Conservation District
The Taos SWCD Office is located at 220 Chamisa Road in Taos, NM
Click Address above or Icon at right to open location in Maps
Hours Of Operation | Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Excluding observed legal holidays.
Regular District Board Meetings take place on the third Wednesday of each month in the Taos SWCD conference room. The meetings begin at 9:00 a.m.
Taos Soil & Water Conservation District is a member of the New Mexico Acequia Association, New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts, New Mexico Conservation District Employees, Northern Rio Grande Resource Conservation & Development Council and the National Association of Conservation Districts.
TSWCD Mission Statement
Taos Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) serves the citizens and landowners of Taos County by promoting the wise use of land, water and natural resources.
In order to accomplish this mission, the District gathers available technical, financial and educational resources and focuses or coordinates them so that they meet the needs of the local populace. Taos SWCD is committed to a productive and sustainable environment for present and future generations.
Vision
Be the conservation authority for Taos County by providing outstanding programs and services leading to the use of all natural resources in a well thought out, sustainable way.
TSWCD Annual Report
Taos Soil & Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors
Maureen Johnson, B.S. in Range Science, Chair of the Taos SWCD Board and second-generation rancher, has served northern Taos County since 1996, advocating for sustainable rangeland practices and conservation.
Biography
Chair of the Taos SWCD Board and Advocate for Sustainable Rangeland Practices
Maureen Johnson has served on the Taos Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) Board since 1996 and is the current Chair, representing northern Taos County from her home in Costilla, where she lives with her husband, Steve.
A second-generation rancher, she was inspired by her father, Norman Gwinn, who served on the SWCD Board for two decades. That legacy, combined with her education in Range Science at New Mexico State University and training at the Alan Savory holistic range management school, shaped her commitment to sustainable rangeland practices and conservation.
As a mother of two, Maureen values passing on stewardship to future generations. She is an active advocate for collaboration among landowners, ranchers, and conservationists, promoting holistic management and responsible grazing. With decades of leadership, she remains a respected voice for the protection of Taos County’s natural resources.
George Long, B.S. in Range and Forest Management, retired Wildlife Biologist for the Carson National Forest, focused on habitat and species protection, earning the USDA Secretary’s Honor Award and Radical Center Award.
Biography
George Long dedicated his career to environmental and wildlife management, retiring in 2022 after serving as Wildlife Biologist for the Questa Ranger District on the Carson National Forest. In this role, he supervised staff, coordinated watershed restoration partnerships, managed Federal grants, and led habitat restoration for aquatic and wetland species in the Valle Vidal Management Unit. He also designed mitigation measures to protect endangered species from urban, recreational, and wilderness impacts.
From 2008 to 2010, Long worked with USDA Forest Service Regional Office staff on historic mine waste cleanup under CERCLA, developing restoration specifications and overseeing contractor compliance. Earlier, as a Surface Reclamation Specialist with the Bureau of Land Management (1978–1988), he managed energy infrastructure and designed mitigation measures for gas and oil shale development in Colorado’s Piceance Basin.
Honored with the Radical Center Award (2011) and USDA Secretary’s Honor Award (1999), he holds a B.S. in Range and Forest Management from Colorado State University and pursued graduate studies at the University of Arizona.
Greg Miller, B.S. in Agriculture/Soil Science, At-Large Board member for Taos SWCD, brings 43 years of Forest Service experience and a strong personal commitment to watershed and forest conservation.
Taos Soil & Water Conservation District Staff
Born and raised in Taos, New Mexico, Peter Vigil graduated from Taos High School in 1984 and earned a Physics degree from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in 1989. He has served as District Manager of the Taos Soil and Water Conservation District since 2000 and was honored in 2017 with the National Outstanding Conservation District Professional Award. Vigil has also led statewide and national conservation efforts, including serving on the National Conservation Employee Association Board (2005–2010) and several task forces for the National Association of Conservation Districts (2010–2015).
Mrs. Duncan, a native of Taos, joined the staff of the Taos Soil and Water Conservation District in November 2013. She resides in Des Montes with her husband Subra and their two children. Mrs. Duncan holds an Associate’s Degree in Business Management with additional courses in GIS, Accounting, Marketing and Design. Before returning to Taos, she ran her own retail business in Burlington, Vermont. She has also taken Spanish language courses at Escuela de Idiomas Falcon in Guanajuato, Mexico. Mrs. Duncan previously worked at the Taos Land Trust (for 17 years) where her responsibilities included managing all aspects of their land projects and GIS mapping.
Veronice Cortez was born and raised in El Prado, NM and currently lives in Ranchos de Taos with her husband Santiago. She grew up cleaning the acequia and bailing alfalfa with her father, Jeffrey Quintana and has a passion for the outdoors.
Biography
With a lifelong desire for hunting, fishing, and camping, she is enthusiastic about fostering a love for nature in others and promoting sustainable conservation practices. Mrs. Cortez is a 2018 graduate of Taos High. She holds three Associates: Integrated Studies, Liberal Arts, Pre- Health Sciences and a certificate in Health Wellness and Public Safety. She joined Taos SWCD in 2024 and brings with her an excellent skill set from the New Mexico Department of Justice and a strong desire to serve her community with her administrative experience.
Mr. Gutierrez was born and raised in Taos, NM where he first learned about Acequias helping his grandparents irrigate their small orchard off the (Acequia Abajo De La Loma).
Biography
He graduated from Taos High school in 2013. He continued his educational pursuits graduating from UNM in 2017. Shortly after he worked for the Bureau of Land Management as a Contracted Wildlife Technician gaining experience with installations of wildlife drinkers and wildlife fencing. Mr. Gutierrez then joined the staff of Taos SWCD in April 2021 to assist cooperators in the Acequia Program with surveying, drafting, designing, and implementing acequia infrastructure projects. Manuel’s passion is hunting and fishing, which he loves to enjoy with his family and friends. Working with Taos SWCD is not only benefiting the land it’s also benefiting his passion by Conserving water and benefiting our future!
Grace Powell was born and raised on a farm in Oregon, where she developed a lifelong connection to land, community, and natural resources.
Biography
She holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of Oregon and a Master’s in Natural Resource Management from Oregon State University. She also holds a Candidate Certified Foresters License from the Society of American Foresters.
Grace is currently involved in collaborative research with Oregon State University and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), focusing on ecological restoration and forest health. At Taos Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), she leads the Forest Health Program, GIS initiatives, provides program support, and coordinates the district’s student forest monitoring teams.
With a deep commitment to ecology, land stewardship, and sustaining working lands, Grace is dedicated to supporting growers and communities across northern New Mexico. Outside of work, she enjoys running mountain trails with her dog, and taking care of her small farm in Des Montes.
Mr. Trujillo, a native of the Taos Pueblo Tribe, joined the staff of Taos Soil and Water Conservation District in February 2015. Mr. Trujillo has 20 years of experience in the realm of Landscape Architecture.
Biography
His progression has taken him through several Architectural and Landscape Architecture Planning firms. He has a long list of project experience and has been a team player in many award-winning designs. He has been instrumental in creating design guidelines and CAD graphics standards enhancing workflow and production. He is a graduate of the former Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute in Architectural Design/Technology.
Tyler Zander is a passionate advocate for land stewardship and sustainable practices, currently managing the Healthy Soils Program and the Noxious Weed Program for the Taos Soil & Water Conservation District. His work is dedicated to assisting Taos County landowners in their efforts to improve and nurture their land, embodying a commitment to soil health and community collaboration.
Biography
Born and raised in the plains of North Dakota, Tyler developed an early appreciation for the land and its significance in sustaining life. He pursued his academic interests at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, earning a degree in History. This foundation in understanding human narratives and societal evolution has deeply informed his approach to conservation, blending a respect for the past with a vision for a sustainable future.
After completing his undergraduate studies, Tyler’s journey led him to the Southwest, where his passion for conservation and agriculture took root. He gained invaluable experience working for a conservation corps, battling wildfires with the US Forest Service, and cultivating crops on small-scale fruit and vegetable farms. These diverse roles not only honed his skills but also deepened his connection to the land and the communities reliant upon it.
Currently residing in Los Cordovas, Tyler is in the midst of a personal project to construct an adobe home, embracing traditional building methods that align with his ecological ethos. This endeavor reflects his dedication to living sustainably and harmoniously within the environment he works to protect.
Through his leadership at the Taos Soil & Water Conservation District, Tyler continues to support landowners in enhancing soil health and addressing invasive species. His work is driven by a profound respect for the land and the people who seek to cultivate and restore it. Tyler’s journey from the fields of North Dakota to the high desert of New Mexico is a testament to his unwavering commitment to conservation and his belief in the transformative power of land stewardship.
Taos Soil & Water Conservation District Program Contractors
Mr. Carpenter has worked with Taos SWCD on our Forest Health program since 2018.
He is a retired forester with the Society of American Foresters. Mr. Swearingen has experience in Forest Management Planning and has participated in various field studies. His list of published articles is extensive and his work has appeared in the Journal of American Forestry.
Kurt advocates a sustainable approach to forest management.
Mr. Lopez is a graduate of NM State University with degrees in Biology/Chemistry and he resides in Talpa with his wife Santana and their three children. He is retired from the Taos Municipal Schools where he taught Science for 34 years. In 1990 he received a Presidential Citation for Excellence in Science Teaching. In 1999, Ernie Lopez was selected International Science Fair Teacher of the Year. Additionally, Mr. Lopez served on the Advisory Council for the National Science Teacher Association for 6 yrs.
Mr. Martinez has worked in wildlife management for over 20 years. He is a graduate of NM State University with a B.S. in Agriculture and Wildlife Science. Mr. Martinez was the County Extension Agent in Rio Arriba County for 7 years. He currently is a Wildlife Biologist for USDA Wildlife Services.
He is a full time cattle rancher and professional elk hunting guide. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Northern New Mexico Stockman’s Association. |
Mr. Ruiz is the Lead Designer/Inspector for the Taos SWCD Acequia Program. He lives in Taos with his wife Lorraine and for the past 20 years he has been an active member of the Taos Volunteer Fire Department. Originally from Las Cruces, Danny moved to Taos in 1976 and began working for the Soil Conservation Service. He is now retired after 26 years of service with the USDA-NRCS Taos field office.
Taos Valley Acequia Association
Founded in 1989 as a 501(c)(3), the Taos Valley Acequia Association has a mission to ensure the long-term sustainability of the traditional agricultural communities of the Taos Valley by protecting water rights and preserving and strengthening the acequia systems. This work is accomplished through community education, the adjudication of water rights, and collaborative partnership with communal, local, state, and tribal entities.
Open Positions at TSWCD
Employment Applications
Completed applications can be emailed to info@tswcd.org, faxed to (575) 751-9253 or mailed to Taos SWCD, 220 Chamisa Road, Taos, NM 87571.
Sample Position
Application Deadline: Wednesday, December 10, 2025 at 2pm
Summer Internship Positions
Application Deadline: Friday, April 24, 2026 at 2pm