Resource Conservation District of Monterey County (RCDMC)

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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]. The Board of Directors are appointed by the county board of supervisors and represent a wide range of experience and interests. 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 [2] [3]- 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.
  • 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 [4] - Integrated Regional Water Management ProgramCite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag


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