A Brief History of Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs)

In the 1930s, years of poor land use practices and an extended drought resulted in the "Dust Bowl." This disaster led to the creation of the USDA Soil Conservation Service (SCS) in 1935. The primary purpose of the SCS was to help farmers and ranchers manage their land, to minimize soil erosion, and maximize soil productivity. The agency is now called the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

In order to deliver these services locally, a federal "Standard Act" was passed in which formation and operation of conservation districts were outlined, from which states could develop their own legislation. Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs) were formed under California State law in 1938. These districts, governed by locally elected or appointed boards, were to develop and carry out local resource conservation programs with technical help from the SCS and state agencies.

These early districts concentrated on soil and water conservation on private agricultural land, an emphasis resulting from the Dust Bowl disaster of the '30s.

RCDs today help landowners, groups, and public officials conserve soil and water, including forests and related habitats, through the proper management of those resources. Districts work to secure the voluntary adoption of conservation practices which help control water runoff, prevent erosion, stabilize soil, improve forest lands, conserve urban and recreational lands, conserve wildlife areas, and enhance watersheds.

Modern day RCDs are governed by the California Public Resources Code, Division 9, which establishes the framework for conducting the business of resource conservation districts in the state. California has 103 RCDs covering approximately eighty percent of the state. Assessments on real property fund some of the RCDs while others receive donations from the public and hold fundraising activities.

The role of RCDs has expanded over the years from assisting individual land users with erosion control and development projects on agricultural land to a much broader range of functions which include:

• Community and land use planning
• Agricultural land protection
• Watershed planning and management
• Wetland preservation
• Water conservation and water quality protection and enhancement
• Soil and water management on nonagricultural lands
• Wildlife habitat enhancement
• Recreational land restoration
• Irrigation management
• Conservation education
• Economic development
• Forest stewardship

As a forest landowner, your local resource conservation district is your key to locally led conservation activities, technical assistance and cost-share programs to help you manage your land.

To find a district near you, contact California Association of RCDs, 801 K Street, Suite 1318, Sacramento, CA 95814, phone: 916-447-7237; e-mail: carcd@ns.net; web site: http://ceres.ca.gov/carcd/. You can also get information from the Forest Stewardship Helpline at 1-800-738-TREE.

Jean Saffell is Area IX Coordinator for California Association of RCDs. Information in this article provided by Coarsegold RCD at: http://www.sierranet.net/web/crsercd/.