“Doctor” Gardiner to You Cuate!
On Saturday, the University of New Mexico awarded water maven Ron Gardiner an “Honorary Doctor of Science†degree. We know it’s difficult for you to believe so we’re posting pictures of the event. Notice the medieval cap and gown Doctor Gardiner is wearing. We expect the County Commissioners to address Mr. Gardiner as “Doctor†Gardiner from now on just as Senator Carlos Cisneros did on graduation day. Below from the UNM event we post pics and press:
Few individuals living in New Mexico have looked at water from as many different angles as Ron Gardiner. Gardiner has seen water with oars in his hands as a river guide and in boots and saddle at the start of the hydrologic cycle in the headwaters as a wilderness ranger and ski patroller. Unlike many resource professionals, 
Gardiner has the perspective of his subject from hands-on user and outdoors man to legislative theorist. It’s a rare combination he brings the state of New Mexico.
As a field biologist, watershed technician and wilderness ranger, Ron has traveled on all public watersheds and wilderness areas in the upper Rio Grande Basin. He has performed wildlife and wilderness inventories and worked on five forest service districts along the Sangre de Cristos.
Ron & Carlos
Of note is his Ute Mountain Bird of Prey Study monitoring Golden Eagles along the Rio Grande Gorge and the subsequent recommendations for the Rio Grande National
Conservation Area. His work was recognized in 1989 by Pres. G.H.
Bush, Take Pride in America and Outdoor Magazine.
Ron has looked at water from the perspective of a watershed professional analyzing water bills for New Mexico’s legislators and performing community planning. As a senior legislative bill analyst for more than a decade, Ron has worked with all water and natural resource law and policy in New Mexico. Serving Senator Carlos Cisneros he assisted the passage of many historically significant legislative initiatives for water policy. He was awarded the 2009 NM Earth Science Award for contributions educating and writing in the field of watershed management.