Torres Receives Water Programming Award
By Craig Runyan
In recognition of his outstanding programs and leadership, Patrick Torres, County Extension director and Agriculture Agent in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, has been presented the 2007 County-Based Water Programming Award by the Southern Regional Water Program.
Santa Fe County Extension water programs demonstrate the effectiveness that local programs can have for a community, when planned proactively. Over the past few years, irrigation efficiency and conservation programs implemented as part of Santa Fe County’s Rio Grande Basin Initiative (RGBI) efforts played an important role in helping the city and county to address critical public education needs in the drought stricken area.
Patrick’s programs include xeric landscaping, small farm irrigation, turf management and water reuse to name a few. As co-principal investigator on a grant with Christina Turner, Santa Fe 4-H agriculture agent, Torres recently received a $15,000 grant for development of youth water education materials.
The Southern Region Water Program is administered by the 13 state Land Grant Universities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regions 4 and 6. With more than 1,700 counties in the regional project, the award is a distinction of county Extension programs.
