A New Chapter for Conservation and Sustainability in Santa Fe
This year marks an important milestone for our city. The City of Santa Fe has created a new Conservation and Sustainability Division (CSD) within the Public Utilities Department—uniting three long-standing programs: Water Conservation, Sustainability, and Keep Santa Fe Beautiful.
The idea behind this reorganization is simple: Santa Fe’s residents and businesses should experience these programs as one coordinated effort. Whether it’s fixing a leak, signing up for a neighborhood cleanup, learning how to plant drought-tolerant trees, or exploring ways to make a home more energy-efficient, these programs all share a common purpose: to help our community use resources wisely and care for the place we all call home.
The new division makes it easier for the City to coordinate projects, share expertise, and communicate consistently. Residents will start to notice this in the coming months through more unified outreach, a single website that connects all programs, and one clear message that ties together water conservation, waste reduction, beautification, and sustainability.
The structure also makes the City’s efforts more efficient. By bringing overlapping work under one team, we can combine education, marketing, and community engagement while maintaining the technical and operational expertise each program provides. For example, water conservation staff work closely with sustainability staff on projects that reduce both water and energy use. Keep Santa Fe Beautiful’s median plantings demonstrate the same low-water, low-maintenance landscapes promoted through our conservation rebates. These connections help stretch public resources further and create stronger results citywide.
The Division’s work will focus on six shared priorities:
• Conservation and compliance, ensuring water and recycling ordinances are supported through outreach and enforcement.
• Community engagement and beautification, expanding volunteer cleanups and litter prevention programs.
• Education and outreach, offering workshops and K-12 programs that teach conservation skills early.
• Data and performance tracking, using public dashboards and scorecards to measure progress.
• Unified communications, delivering consistent, accessible messages across all programs.
• Equity and inclusion, making sure that conservation opportunities are available to everyone in Santa Fe.
For residents, this means simpler access to resources, clearer information, and a stronger connection between City programs and community action. It also means that the City can plan for the future more effectively, using data-driven tools to track water use, energy efficiency, and waste reduction.
Santa Fe has always led by example when it comes to conservation. This new division builds on that history while creating the structure needed to meet future challenges—from drought and climate change to the everyday demands of maintaining a clean and livable city.
The Conservation and Sustainability Division reflects the idea that caring for our city is something we do together. By connecting programs that already serve residents well, we can make it easier for everyone to participate in shaping a sustainable future for Santa Fe.
