Santa Fe combines water conservation, recycling and beautification into new Conservation and Sustainability Division

Christine Chavez, the city’s water conservation manager, told the City Council on Oct. 8 that Santa Fe has combined its water conservation, sustainability and Keep Santa Fe Beautiful programs into a single Conservation and Sustainability Division, which staff will call CSD.

Chavez said the reorganization was a goal in the FY26 budget and was intended to reduce program silos and unify public messaging, education and enforcement across water conservation, recycling and beautification programs.

The reorganization, Chavez said, brings water conservation, sustainability and the Keep Santa Fe Beautiful program under one structure so the city can share marketing, K–12 outreach and enforcement tools. “Everything is consolidated onto 1 website,” Chavez said, describing unified branding that staff will use under the umbrella name “Sustainable Santa Fe.”

City staff told the council the new division will manage enforcement and compliance for the water conservation ordinance, the city’s bag fee tied to recycling, and the adopt‑a‑median program; coordinate data and performance scorecards; expand unified education and outreach; and integrate social‑equity goals across programs.

Chavez introduced staff members assigned to…