NMACD Conservation Officers Leadership Training (COLT)
NMACD is very proud to have developed and be administering the “first” NACD Leadership Program.
NMACD has a new initiative and funding from an NACD grant through NRCS to administer a new Leadership Development Program. The goal is to locate "next Generation, younger Supervisors" who have an interest in broadening their horizons to assume greater conservation leadership roles. The grant pays for travel and per diem for these younger Supervisors and a few (maybe 5) younger district employees to attend and participate in designated meetings/ events throughout the year. A COLT member is required to attend and participate in at least half of the meetings or training opportunities. We are proud to report that the program for leaders for the “next generation” is going very well! We have added a few new members and invited the others to continue in the program. We have 13 members who have taken the challenge to be “engaged” and prepare to be the next generation leadership for NM!
COLT Leaders gathered in Raton
Boe Lopez, Camille Graham, Chance Bradley, Kandy Hutchins, Tanya Duncan and Melissa May
Not Pictured: Jimbo Williams, Dee Wear and Jennie Bierner
Some COLT Leaders with NRCS Chief in DC
Casey Spradley, Kendal Wilson, Chief Matt Lohr, Camille Graham, Kandy Hutchins, Josh Smith, Melissa May and Marcos Valdez
Not Pictured: Jimbo Williams, Dee Wear and Jennie Bierner
NEW MEXICO DISTRICT SUPERVISOR
& EMPLOYEE TRAINING
The New Mexico District Supervisor Training Program presented during the NMACD Annual Conference on October 20, 2025, consists of a presentation relevant to all forty-seven soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs). The training includes a Training Evaluation form, Nuts & Bolts for Soil & Water Conservation Districts, Nuts & Bolts for Open Meetings Act, and Acronyms useful for the presentation.
Two separate modules which may not be relevant to all SWCDs, "Subdivisions" and "Watershed Districts" are included when pertinent to the Training Program. These modules are shown here.
The training may be taken instructor-led classroom style, in a Zoom session, or online. The requirements to take the online version are a browser, i.e., Edge (previously known as Internet Explorer, IE) or Google Chrome, and a .pdf reader.
Each training presentation includes links that allow the user to review specific information relevant to that module, i.e., New Mexico Soil & Water Conservation District Act, etc. To access a link (shown in blue), place the cursor on the link and press Ctrl+click with the left mouse button.
Upon completion of the training, the participant should complete the Training Evaluation form and send it to Linda Hood via email (LindaHood05@gmail.com), 505-681-9675, or by regular mail to her at 1102 Villa Rd. SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124. If you have any problems accessing the on-line training version, using the links, or have any other questions, contact her.
ENVIROTHON
The Los Lobos Team from Aldo Leopold Charter School became our 2026 State Champions and will represent New Mexico at the International Competition for the NCF Envirothon this July in Starkville, Mississippi.
NM State Competition for 2026 was held on April 16th-19th
at El Porvenir Camp in Montezuma, NM.
This year’s theme:
“Non-Point Source Pollution,”
in a new and engaging environment.
2026 NM Envirothon Participants
State Champion Team
Los Lobos Team from Aldo Leopold Charter School
Pictured from left to right: Coaches Orien MacDonald and Mary Stone; Students Kaelyn Doherty, Ella Jameson, Oscar Anderson, Samera Castillo, Ivy Stephens-Etheridge, and Asa Wecks.
Regional Champion Team
.webp)
Enviroquad from Taos High School took home the Regional Championship in March at Collins Lake Ranch near Mora, NM. The team went on to compete at the state competition and placed 3rd.
Pictured from left to right: Flora Mack, Ulysses Harrison, Jacob Flores, Aaron Coca, and Isias Munoz.
For lots more information and pictures, visit:
ROLLING RIVERS TRAILERS
The Rolling Rivers help to teach watershed health and erosion control. These great tools are shown all over the state at fairs, water festivals and school functions. The water trailers enable the teaching of the function of a river system and how drought affects everyone. This hands-on tool allows us to stress conservation, riparian restoration, & river health.
For a list of locations and contacts, click on the Rolling Rivers Water Trailers Brochure link below.