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On December 4, 2015, at the New Mexico Joint Stockmen's Convention, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) presented both Alamogordo rancher Colt Howland and Roswell rancher Clyde Harrison the 2015 BLM Restore New Mexico Land Stewardship Award. They received their awards for their work to improve range conditions on their ranches and public land. The annual award recognizes exemplary efforts to restore New Mexico's landscapes to a healthy and productive condition. Mr. Harrison has invested considerable time, money, and resources in improving the land on his allotments, regardless of land status. He has rebuilt approximately 69 miles of old fence making it easier for wildlife, especially pronghorn, to go under his fences. He has also created an on-going weed spraying program in cooperation with the BLM to combat African Rue infestations on his allotments. He is currently partnering with the BLM to use his own equipment and money to reclaim 13 legacy well pads. In 2015, the BLM treated 1,957 acres of mesquite on BLM-managed lands. Mr. Harrison jumped onto the contract and treated over 9,000 additional acres of mesquite on private and State lands. Mr. Howland has been instrumental in partnering with the BLM, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Otero County Soil and Water Conservation District to complete range improvements, including installing pipelines, repairing and constructing pasture fences, and applying grassland restoration treatments targeting creosote, and chemical treatment of salt cedar and African Rue. Working with the BLM and other partners, Mr. Howland has hand applied chemical treatments to about 200 acres of land infested with African Rue over the last couple of years. There has also been salt cedar treated by aerial and hand application, as well as an aerial treatment of about 1,000 acres of creosote. In addition, he is continually researching and learning new ways to improve his ranching operation and health of the rangelands. "It is a pleasure to present both Mr. Howland and Mr. Harrison with the Restore New Mexico Award. Even during our extended drought conditions, they have undertaken an enormous effort, and their partnerships have resulted in healthier rangelands and watershed conditions," said Amy Lueders, BLM New Mexico State Director. "Since 2005, participants in the Restore New Mexico initiative have treated over three million acres of public, State, and private land, making the Restore New Mexico initiative a model for rangeland conservation in the western United States. Over 300 partners, have participated in Restore New Mexico, including ranchers and other landowners, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, New Mexico State Land Office, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, the New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts, several Soil and Water Conservation Districts, New Mexico State University, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the BLM.