Helping restore New Mexico’s land for the people who call it home

A drone rises above a former Chevron well site in southeastern New Mexico, capturing a desert landscape that's difficult to fully view from ground level. Below, Raven Littlejohn carefully studies the images, looking for signs of erosion and other visual clues that can help guide what's next for that land: restoration.

Littlejohn is one of about 60 drone pilots at Chevron. Part of his role includes using drones to help teams monitor site conditions and plan restoration work across the region. Chevron's drone programs use aerial imagery, thermal views and other advanced technology that can track vegetation growth, identify drainage patterns and evaluate conditions before crews arrive onsite.

What the drones show from above helps guide what happens on the ground. "A bird's-eye view is going to be way better than me standing on the ground," he said. "You can see drainage and erosion already developing."

The imagery reveals how a former well site is changing over time, allowing teams to identify potential problem areas, monitor recovery and plan restoration work more precisely-all of which will help return the land to as close as possible to its natural state.