Ms. Lemon has worked for the Surface Water Quality Bureau (SWQB) of the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) for 20 years. The mission of the SWQB is to preserve, protect, and improve New Mexico’s surface water quality for present and future generations. As Bureau Chief, She currently manages and oversees three technical teams that fulfill the state’s responsibilities under both the federal Clean Water Act and state Water Quality Act, such as developing and revising water quality standards, collecting and assessing water quality data, managing and reducing nonpoint source pollution, protecting and restoring wetlands, and implementing surface water protection regulations related to point source discharges. Ms. Lemon is a Board member for the national Association of Clean Water Administrators. Prior to joining the Department, She was a high school and middle school science teacher, outdoor educator, and dive master. Ms. Lemon earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology and a master’s degree in Hydrology from the University of Arizona.

Ms. Russo Baca is the staff attorney and Ombudsman Program Director at the Utton Transboundary Resources Center at the University of New Mexico (UNM) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In both roles that she fulfills, her mission is to support and represent constituents in a fair and unbiased manner. As the Ombudsman Program Director, she guides the activities of the Joe M Stell Ombudsman Program, a statewide program that provides impartial adjudication information and procedural guidance to unrepresented water rights claimants in the State of New Mexico. Ms. Russo Baca also manages the Native American Water Right Settlements E-Repository. She contributes significantly to the Utton Center’s overall mission of providing objective research-based public service to New Mexico’s communities on energy, climate change, ecological conservation, food systems, and international natural resource management issues. Ms. Russo Baca undergraduate degree is in agroecology, and she holds both Indian Law and Natural Resources and Environmental Law Certificates from the UNM School of Law. She has also served on the Tribal Law Journal as a staff member and editor and received the Dean’s Award upon graduation. During the Spring 2024 semester, she taught the inaugural Agricultural Law class at the UNM School of Law. Ms. Russo Baca is currently the Chair of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District Board of Directors, holding Position No. 1, At-Large.

Quinn Scott Simons was born and raised in Santa Fe and is a fourth generation New Mexican. After attending undergraduate school at Colorado College (B.A. 1997), Quinn, an avid mountain climber, attempted an unclimbed route on a remote, 25,245’ peak in the Tibetan Himalayas. Due to an unexpected storm and highly technical climbing conditions at high altitude, Quinn suffered severe frostbite, costing him his fingers and feet. Undaunted by the challenges and adversity that ensued, Quinn started and ran a successful construction company in Santa Fe for several years, before moving to Kentucky to train horses.

After years in the horse business, Quinn reunited with his high school girlfriend, Veree, and chose to settle down and raise his family in Santa Fe. Quinn attended the University of New Mexico School of Law (J.D. 2013), and now maintains a successful law practice focused on construction and real estate law and litigation, general business law and litigation, and insurance law. He is licensed to practice in both New Mexico State and Federal courts with an emphasis on trial practice.