Sentinel Landscape coordinator outlines funding and partnership plan for Eastern New Mexico

Mark Louaras, coordinator for the Eastern New Mexico Sentinel Landscape Partnership, briefed the Curry County Commission on Aug. 19 about the partnership’s implementation work since its March 2024 designation.

Louaras described the partnership as a nonregulatory coalition of landowners, state and federal agencies, conservation groups and Cannon Air Force Base seeking to protect working lands, support military readiness and align local priorities such as water stewardship. He said the partnership will lean on Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) funding—delegated through the Department of Defense—to match federal conservation investments and make larger projects feasible. "Curry County is at the heart of the Sentinel landscape," Louaras said, stressing local leadership and voluntary participation.

Why it matters: The Sentinel Landscape status enables new fund‑matching and conservation project opportunities that affect ranching, irrigation and the regional economy, and requires coordination among federal partners, NRCS and local soil and water conservation districts. Commissioners asked about existing funding, whether Curry County had formally endorsed the partnership (several commissioners noted the county had not signed on or formally endorsed), and possible conflicts or perceived shifts in agricultural practices tied to military concerns.

What's next: Louaras invited commissioners to an all‑partners meeting in September and said the partnership would finalize an implementation plan by Jan. 1, 2026. Staff and commissioners discussed options for funding administration (through soil and water conservation districts) and local outreach to ensure producers understand voluntary participation and contract terms.

Sources: Presentation and Q&A with Mark Louaras, Curry County Commission meeting, Aug. 19, 2025.