Mapping Drone Supports Water Planning and Land Stewardship in Taos

Residents and organizations in Taos often lack affordable access to real-time, high-resolution water and land data, making it challenging to plan irrigation systems, manage invasive species, and respond effectively to ongoing water scarcity—thereby putting additional pressure on already constrained resources.

To address this data gap, a team member at the Taos Soil and Water Conservation District developed a solution and reached out to LOR: purchase a professional-grade mapping drone that could be shared across community groups, acequia associations, and land management agencies to improve water-related planning and decision-making.

With LOR’s support, the district will purchase a high-resolution mapping drone and complete necessary FAA licensing, training, and software setup. The drone will support acequia hydrology planning, invasive species detection and tracking, forest health assessments, and terrain modeling for conservation projects. Mapping products and datasets will be shared with the Taos Valley Acequia Association, private landowners, local governments, land managers, and federal partners to support coordinated watershed planning and forest management. This shared technology will enable more accurate, data-driven decisions around water use and strengthen long-term water resilience across Taos County.