Lordsburg Playa

In the late 1880s, when settlers founded Lordsburg in Southwestern New Mexico, a sea of grass tickled their horses' bellies and provided ample feed for their growing herds of livestock. By 2015, cattle had eaten the grass to the ground, and dust storms frequently enveloped Interstate 10, causing over 40 fatalities along a 20-mile stretch of highway since 1965.

 The New Mexico Department of Transportation is trying a new approach to improve highway conditions: rehabilitate the surrounding watershed. A team of people is working over a multi-year period to recontour drainages, sow native grass seeds, imprint the soil, and build fences for improved cattle management.

This photographic project follows the progress of their work, both from the ground and by drone, as they attempt to rebuild miles of grasslands in a dry and fragile environment. If successful, the Lordsburg Playa will serve as a model for grassland restoration, providing habitat, absorbing carbon, stabilizing soil, and reducing the risks of flooding, drought, and dust storms in the area.

I am grateful to have been awarded a 2023 National Geographic Explorer grant to continue the documentation of this project.