Difference between revisions of "Resource Conservation District of Monterey County (RCDMC)"

From CCoWS Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
(Summary)
(Governance)
Line 5: Line 5:
  
 
==Governance==
 
==Governance==
RCDMC is governed by a Board of Directors who are appointed by the county board of supervisors and represent a wide range of experience and interests. There are seven directors, the number of which can be changed by resolution adopted by a majority of the members. Directors serve four year terms and vacancies are filled by the board of supervisors from the pool of candidates who have filed an application<ref name="dlrp">.
+
RCDMC is governed by a Board of Directors who are appointed by the county board of supervisors and represent a wide range of experience and interests. There are seven directors, the number of which can be changed by resolution adopted by a majority of the members. Directors serve four year terms and vacancies are filled by the board of supervisors from the pool of candidates who have filed an application as specified by Division 9 of the California Public Resources Code <ref>[https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayexpandedbranch.xhtml?tocCode=PRC&division=9.&title=&part=&chapter=&article= CaliforniaPublic Resources Code. 1975. DIVISION 9. RESOURCE CONSERVATION [9001 - 9972]</ref>.
  
 
Funding is supported solely through grants and contracts, and donations are accepted. Over 160 farmers and land managers in Monterey County have voluntarily participated in RCDMC conservation and restoration programs <ref name="rcdmc"/>.
 
Funding is supported solely through grants and contracts, and donations are accepted. Over 160 farmers and land managers in Monterey County have voluntarily participated in RCDMC conservation and restoration programs <ref name="rcdmc"/>.

Revision as of 11:06, 2 April 2019

Figure 1: RCDMC. [1].
An environmental summary created by the ENVS 560/L Watershed Systems class at CSUMB.

Summary

The RCD of Monterey County (RCDMC) is one of the several Resource Conservation Districts in California's Central Coast Region. The RCDMC was established in 1942 with the mission to conserve and improve natural resources, integrating the demand for environmental quality with the needs of agricultural and urban users [1].

Governance

RCDMC is governed by a Board of Directors who are appointed by the county board of supervisors and represent a wide range of experience and interests. There are seven directors, the number of which can be changed by resolution adopted by a majority of the members. Directors serve four year terms and vacancies are filled by the board of supervisors from the pool of candidates who have filed an application as specified by Division 9 of the California Public Resources Code [2].

Funding is supported solely through grants and contracts, and donations are accepted. Over 160 farmers and land managers in Monterey County have voluntarily participated in RCDMC conservation and restoration programs [1].

Services

RCDMC provides services to farmers, ranchers, landowners and the public through effforts in which they address conservation and land management in the region.

Natural Resource Management

  • Soil stability and health
  • Water quality management
  • Water conservation
  • Stream and pond management
  • Livestock Areas
  • Vegetation management

Professional Services

  • Irrigation efficiency evaluations
  • Nutrient management assessments
  • Erosion control planning
  • Biological monitoring
  • Vegetation management and restoration
  • Project permit assistance
  • USDA financial and technical assistance
  • Trainings and workshops (in both Spanish and English)

Current Projects

The RCDMC has several current (2019) projects [1] that include many voluntary landowners and are achieved in partnership with other RCDs and organizations and agencies such as Monterey County Water Resources Agency, The Nature Conservancy, the Central Coast Wetlands Group, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, and Grower Shipper Association of the Central Coast. These projects demonstrate the RCDMCs function to conserve and improve natural resources, especially in consideration of production agriculture and environmental sustainability in the region.

Figure 2: Invasive, non-native Arundo donax along the Salinas River. [1]
  • Salinas River Invasive Plant Control and Restoration Program [3] [4]- Eradication of invasive, non-native plants, including arundo donax, along 90 miles of the Salinas River. As of 2019, RCDMC has successfully controlled of over 450 acres of previously infested areas and aims to complete the project by 2030 [5].
  • Salinas River Stream Maintenance Program - Flood prevention and stream riparian habitat improvement
  • Integrated Watershed Restoration Program - Addresses improvements to fish and wildlife habitat and water quality by facilitating and coordinating projects through technical and financial assistance since 2009. Several projects have been completed and even more are in the process of review or completion.
  • Nutrient Management Cooperatives Development - Pilot cooperative program addressing multi-farm drainage runoff management, including water quality treatment wetlands and irrigation and nutrient management.
  • Winter Preparedness Program - 20-year ongoing technical and financial assistance to growers on hilly landscapes to reduce soil erosion and non-point source pollution, resulting in an estimated 35% reduction in annual sedimentation load to Elkhorn Slough.
  • Santa Rita Creek Watershed Project [6] - Integrated Regional Water Management Program[7] grant to address irrigation management, nutrient management, and hillside farming erosion control in the Santa Rita Creek Watershed to reduce sedimentation, non-point source pollution, and improve water quality and streambank habitat.

Education and Outreach

RCDMC engages with and informs the public of conservation-related issues in the region through a variety of ways, including:

  • Trainings and Workshops - On-farm demonstrations and workshops that address a variety of conservation practices and resource management for landowners and farmers, including nutrient management, irrigation efficiency and erosion control. Available in English and Spanish.
  • Range Camps - Summer camp in Half-Moon Bay for high school students to learn about rangeland and natural resource management from professional staff and university faculty.
  • RCD "Speak-off" Competition - Conservation-themed speech contest for high school students with cash prizes and opportunities to advance to regional and state-level contests.
  • Land Judging Contest - Hands-on soil science competition for high school students with opportunities to advance to regional, state and national Future Farmers of America-sponsored competitions.
  • Volunteering and Internships - need-based positions for local college students to gain experience with conservation science, and community members to share their time and skills for RCDMC projects.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 RCDMC (Resource Conservation District, Monterey County) Homepage
  2. CaliforniaPublic Resources Code. 1975. DIVISION 9. RESOURCE CONSERVATION [9001 - 9972
  3. California Natural Resources Agency. Bond Accountability. Project: Salinas River Riparian Enhancement. 2015
  4. California Environmental Quality Act. SCH Number 2011091078. 2019.
  5. The Californian. Hold back the tide: Cutting invasive grasses could mitigate Salinas River floods. Kate Cimini. Dec. 2018.
  6. Conservation Action Tracker. Santa Rita Creek Watershed Project (Resource Conservation District). 2016.
  7. Greater Monterey County Integrated Regional Water Management Program. Current Projects. 2012

Links

Disclaimer

This page may contain student work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate. It does not necessary reflect the opinion or policy of CSUMB, its staff, or students.