RC&D or RCD: What's the Difference?

“Sometimes I feel that I spend half my time answering that question,”
—Bill Brooks, former Coordinator, Central Coast RC&D.

RC&D or RCD? It’s very confusing. Often people fail to realize that these are two different entities. But one is a national government program, the other a local special district. Both work on local conservation issues and can assist landowners with their projects.

RC&D stands for Resource Conservation & Development, a program of the Natural Resource Conservation Service which is under the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). RC&Ds have been around for over 30 years and work to link land conservation and utilization with economic development and improvement of social conditions.

RCDs, on the other hand, are local Resource Conservation Districts governed by locally-elected or appointed boards. RCDs were authorized by State Law in 1938 to carry out local resource conservation programs. There are approximately 104 RCDs in California.

The RC&D process also recognizes that local people are best able to determine their needs and create solutions for their community. The RC&D Program is carried out by volunteer RC&D Councils. There are six Councils in California (with two more proposed), each of which has a paid Coordinator who is an employee of the NRCS.

Each RC&D Council encompasses several counties and is made up of representatives from local government entities such as Boards of Supervisors as well as other groups. And this is where it gets even more confusing: RC&D Councils in California often include representatives from RCDs.

Councilmembers work together to identify the problems in their area and adopt an Area Plan which establishes the goals and objectives of the area. The Council then works in partnership with public and private resources to find funding and technical support to accomplish projects that will allow them to achieve their objectives. For example, the Central Coast RC&D identified two broad goals to address:

1. Enhance and sustain the good health of regional watersheds while providing for human needs.
2. Implement rural economic development consistent with developing a long-term sustainable economy.

RCDs also work on local projects, often in partnership with other agencies. Their role has expanded over the years from primarily flood control and agricultural projects to now include most conservation-related issues including land-use and watershed planning, wetland preservation, soil and water management, wildlife habitat enhancement, restoration, education, economic development, and forest stewardship.

For more information, contact your local RCD or local RC&D Council or call the Forest Stewardship Helpline at 1-800-738-TREE.