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And the 2023 Winners are...

Commander's Choice Award -- DTRA Admin Bldg 2
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. – Construction of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s new Administration Building is seen in this photo taken Feb. 28, 2023, by Richard Banker. This photo received the Commander's Choice Award.
First Place -- Sunset at Abiquiu Lake
ABIQUIU LAKE, N.M. – A visitor watches the sunset over the lake from the dock in the distance, June 20, 2022. Photo by Pamela Bowie.
Second Place -- Gabions in Action
LAS VEGAS, N.M. – Gabions along the Gallinas Canyon perform during a rainstorm, July 2022. Photo by Capt. Robert Zebrowski.
Third Place -- Flags at Abiquiu Lake
ABIQUIU LAKE, N.M. – The American and USACE flags fly at the Abiquiu Lake boat ramp as monsoons build up over Cerro Pedernal, Oct. 8, 2022. Photo by Brady Dunne. This year there was a three-way tie for third place.
Third Place -- Take Off
ABIQUIU LAKE, N.M. – A bird reflects in the lake at sunset, June 20, 2022. Photo by Pamela Bowie. This year there was a three-way tie for third place.
Third Place -- Ropes Team
JOHN MARTIN DAM, Colo. – A contractor ropes team scales the nose pier on the upstream side of the dam, Nov. 8, 2022. Three-person ropes team installed instrumentation cables and conduit up the face of the dam from borings in the lake, assisted by a dive team. Photo by Chris Carroll. This year there was a three-way tie for third place.

2023 Photo Drive Entries

Night Sky at Riana Campground
ABIQUIU LAKE, N.M. – A tent is illuminated under the night sky at the lake’s Riana Campground, May 2022. Photo by Pamela Bowie.
Buck Deer
TRINIDAD, Colo. – A deer during the rutt at Trinidad Lake, Nov. 3, 2022. Photo by Joseph Torres.
Snapshot of Paradise
CONCHAS LAKE, N.M. – A gull flies over the tranquil lake following a busy Labor Day weekend, Sept. 6, 2022. Photo by Holly Garnett.
Jobbing Out
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. – Workers and machinery lay asphalt from the Cobalt 60 Test Facility up towards the parking area, Oct. 31, 2022. Photo by Greg Callister.
DTRA Admin Building
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. – Construction of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s new Administration Building is seen in this photo taken Feb. 28, 2023, by Richard Banker.
Purgatoire River
TRINIDAD, Colo. – The Purgatoire River above Trinidad Lake and Dam, Aug. 5, 2022. Photo by Kim Falen.
Post Storm Calm
JOHN MARTIN DAM, Colo. – Sun rays reflect off John Martin Reservoir following a storm, Sept. 9, 2022. Photo by Holly Garnett.
Open Gates
JOHN MARTIN DAM, Colo. – All of the dam’s tanner gates were opened after preventative maintenance, Sept. 27, 2022. Photo by Tina Fraker.
Spider Rock
CHINLE, A.Z. – While working on the Navajo Nation Nazlini Floodplain Study, Phillip Carrillo captured this photo of Spider Rock at the Canyon de Chelly Monument, Sept. 8, 2022.
Peterson Reservoir
PETERSON RESERVOIR, N.M. – After the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, the district contracted to have a log boom installed at Peterson Lake as part of the advanced measures taken to assist with capturing large debris that could potentially damage the reservoir. Photo taken July 6, 2022, by Karyn Matthews.
Gallinas River Gabions
GALLINAS, N.M. – A contractor works on the newly constructed gabions in the Gallinas River, two miles east of Gallinas, N.M., upstream from the Las Vegas, N.M., water supply intake structures, June 29, 2022. This photo shows work that was completed within two weeks after the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire burned through the area. Photo by Chris Carroll.
Erecting the DTRA Admin Bldg.
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. – Construction of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s new Administration Building is seen in this photo, May 24, 2022. Photo by Richard Banker.

2023 Photo Drive Entries

Winter
ABIQUIU LAKE, N.M. – Ice forms around the lake’s shoreline and snow dusts Cerro Pedernal in this photo taken Feb. 3, 2022, by Pamela Bowie.
Santa Rosa Sunrise
SANTA ROSA LAKE, N.M. – Richard Griego captured this sunrise as he and a friend were getting out on the lake for a day of fishing over the Father’s Day/Juneteenth weekend, June 20, 2022.
Rain on the Plain
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. – A view of the Cobalt 60 Test Facility, looking down at the facility and to the northeast towards the Sandia Mountains, March 28, 2022. Photo by Greg Callister.
John Martin Dam
JOHN MARTIN DAM, Colo. – The dam as seen from the vegetation line at Lake Hasty, Sept. 27, 2022. Photo by Holly Garnett.
Burned Forest
PENDARIES VILLAGE, N.M. – The Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Peak Fire burned the forest during the summer of 2022, but vegetation is already coming back, as seen in this photo taken Sept. 13, 2022. Photo by Lucy Pillera.
New Mexico on Fire
LAS VEGAS, N.M. – Smoke from the largest wildfire in New Mexico history is seen on May 18, 2022. The Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire burned more than 341,000 acres during the summer of 2022. Photo by Karyn Matthews.
Wetlands of the West
JOHN MARTIN DAM, Colo. – A view of a wetland area at John Martin Reservoir, March 14, 2022. Photo by Holly Garnett.
Hermit's Peak View
SAPELLO, N.M. – The remains of a house on Big Valley View Lane, Sept. 18, 2022. The house had a 360-degree view of Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon. Photo by Lucy Pillera.
Reflections of John Martin
JOHN MARTIN DAM, Colo. – The John Martin Dam Spillway reflects in the calm morning waters of Lake Hasty, June 25, 2022. Photo by Chris Carroll.
Smile!
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Karyn Matthews, emergency management specialist, left, and Summer Schulz, biologist in the district’s Environmental Studies Unit, try out some unique masks during the mask mandate, Aug. 9, 2022. Photo by Karyn Matthews.
Teamwork
MORA, N.M. – The New Mexico National Guard and the USACE Flood Response Team built waterproof flood barriers around local well houses after the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, June 2022. Photo by Capt. Robert Zebrowski.

2023 Photo Drive Entries

Colors of a Desert Sky
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Julie Treichel captured this sunset during her commute Feb. 20, 2023, at approximately 6:00 pm.
Operating Gallery
JOHN MARTIN DAM, Colo. – A contractor’s drilling team and rig operate inside the operating gallery of the dam, July 10, 2022. The drill rig is near the emergency and service gate sluices. Photo by Chris Carroll.
Chains
JOHN MARTIN DAM, Colo. – This chain is one of the many that hold the dam’s tanner gates open or closed. Photo taken Sept. 27, 2022, by Tina Fraker.
Little Visitor 2
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A gray fox climbs in one of the trees on the north side of the district office building, Jan. 24, 2022. Photo by Corey Bowen.
Little Visitor
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A gray fox climbs in one of the trees on the north side of the district office building, Jan. 24, 2022. Photo by Corey Bowen.
Amazing Grace
JOHN MARTIN DAM, Colo. – The sun rises at the entrance of the dam, Oct. 6, 2022. The hill is also a perfect spot to see the campground and Lake Hasty which is to the south. Photo by Tina Fraker.
Can You See Me?
SAN MIGUEL/MORA COUNTIES, N.M. – After tree-felling operations, part of the district’s response to the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire, a small critter was discovered sunbathing on a burnt tree branch near Blue Canyon Road, Sept. 3, 2022. Photo by Lucy Pillera.
Junior Ranger
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Junior ranger Charlie Bo is learning at a young age that water safety is important. He attended the New Mexico Outdoor Adventure Show and stopped by the district’s Water Safety Education Booth, Feb. 13, 2023. Photo by Gary Cordova.
No Pets on the Beach
COCHITI LAKE, N.M. – While the signs clearly state, “No pets on beach,” some visitors still think that it only applies to dogs. Here park ranger Karyn Matthews poses with a pet bird on the beach, May 29, 2022. Photo by Karyn Matthews.
Resilience
LAS VEGAS, N.M. – Vegetation begins to return above the burn scar from the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, June 1, 2022. Photo by Alexander Norway.
Peterson Dam
LAS VEGAS, N.M. – As part of the district’s response to the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, the district’s Calf Canyon Fire Emergency Response Tiger Team took a look at the city’s waterline infrastructure, June 2, 2022. Photo taken at the base of Peterson Dam which is one of the city’s water supply reservoirs. Photo by Corey Bowen.
After
LAS VEGAS, N.M. – Photo of Gallinas Canyon Reservoir taken July 7, 2022, after a major landslide that occurred during the advance-measures efforts taken by the district in the aftermath of the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire during the summer of 2022. Photo by Capt. Robert Zebrowski.
Before
LAS VEGAS, N.M. – Photo of Gallinas Canyon Reservoir taken mid-June 2022, before a major landslide that occurred during the advance-measures efforts taken by the district in the aftermath of the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire during the summer of 2022. Photo by Capt. Robert Zebrowski.

2023 Photo Drive Entries

Answering the Call
SAN MIGUEL COUNTY, N.M. – A USACE responder hikes a trail between two work sites near Hermits Peak, Nov. 23, 2022. The Albuquerque District managed the 2022 New Mexico Wildfire Debris Mission in the aftermath of the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, the largest wildfire in state history. Photo by Holly Garnett.
Fen Mitigation
SILVERTON, Colo. – This photo is of a wetland mitigation site, Oct. 3, 2022. It demonstrates the difficulties of plant survival at high elevations. Photo by Kara Hellige.
Fall Leaves at the District Office
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – While leaving work at the district office, Nov. 30, 2022, Karyn Matthews saw this beautiful pile of leaves and took a photo.
Whatcha Looking At?
JOHN MARTIN DAM, Colo. – While driving to work, Nov. 10, 2022, this Whitetail popped his head up and Tina Fraker’s first thought was “Whatcha looking at Willis?” a reference from the late 1970's/early 80's sitcom Different Strokes.
Water Pipeline
LAS VEGAS, N.M. – As part of the district’s response to the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, the Calf Canyon Fire Emergency Response Tiger Team did a preliminary investigation of Gallinas Canyon, June 2, 2022. Photo by Corey Bowen.
Finishing the Shotcrete Application
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. – The final applications of shotcrete are applied to the berm area at the Cobalt 60 Test Facility, Sept. 30, 2022. The Sandia Mountains are in the background. Photo by Greg Callister.
Caution: Tree Felling
PENDARIES VILLAGE, N.M. – A Rolling Green Tree Care subcontractor works to fell a tree during tree felling operations adjacent to several electrical power lines, Sept. 7, 2022. The tree felling was part of the district’s response to the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire which affected more than 341,000 acres in San Miguel and Mora counties. Photo by Lucy Pillera.
Throw Bag
ABIQUIU LAKE, N.M. – Ranger Kara Rapp, left, teaches a member of the Abiquiu Volunteer Fire Department to toss a throw-bag to Ranger Jacklyn Rapport (in the water) during a joint rescue training at the lake, Sept. 25, 2022. Photo by Pamela Bowie.
Desert to Mountain
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. – View looking southeast towards the Manzano Mountains, Aug. 11, 2022. Photo by Greg Callister.
Intake Structure
LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The intake structure for the city’s municipal water supply, June 2022. As part of the district’s response to the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, district employees assisted the city to prevent damage to the water supply infrastructure. Photo by Alexander Norway.
Scaling the Dam
JOHN MARTIN DAM, Colo. – A contractor ropes team scales the nose pier on upstream side of dam, Nov. 8, 2022. Three-person ropes teams installed instrumentation cables and conduit up the face of the dam from borings in the lake, assisted by a dive team. The scaler’s shadow is enhanced by late afternoon sun. Photo by Chris Carroll.
Greasing the Gates
JOHN MARTIN DAM, Colo. – Jesse Bradley and Devon Frazier, district maintenance workers at the dam, grease the tanner gates of the dam as a preventative maintenance, Sept. 27, 2022. Photo by Tina Fraker.
Soil Identification
BERNALILLO COUNTY, N.M. – Albuquerque District Regulatory staff characterize soil as part of a wetland delineation training, June 2022. Submitting and completing a wetland delineation is a requirement to obtain a permit under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Photo by Kara Hellige.