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SACRAMENTO -- The
California Department of Conservation
today announced grants totaling $120,000
to 12 Resource Conservation Districts
throughout the state to promote land and
water stewardship projects at the
grass-roots level.
Resource Conservation
Districts are locally governed agencies
set up as special districts under
California law with their own locally
appointed or elected boards of
directors. RCDs are authorized to
undertake projects such as watershed
planning and management, agricultural
land conservation, recreational land
restoration, irrigation management,
forest stewardship, wildlife habitat
enhancement and conservation education.
There are 102 RCDs in the state.
"Resource
Conservation Districts do a remarkable
amount of work to protect and enhance
local watersheds throughout the state,
and the Department of Conservation is
pleased to support their work through
this annual grants program," DOC
Director Darryl Young said.
This year's grants
range from $2,138 to $18,590 and involve
resource conservation districts
headquartered in Yreka, Redding,
Capitola, Escondido, Fallbrook,
Lakeport, Grass Valley, Woodland, Dixon,
Tulelake and two in the eastern Sierra.
The grants will provide for such diverse
activities as purchasing a no-till drill
that leaves existing ground cover intact
as mulch, expanding public outreach and
education programs, creating a
demonstration garden and upgrading
equipment.
DOC received 33
applications requesting more than
$478,000 -- well up from the 19
applications/$294,000 in requests
received the previous year.
"These grants help
our districts do a great deal of
beneficial work in their watersheds,"
said Tom Wehri, executive director of
the California Association of
Resource Conservation
Districts. "The grants program is a good
example of how state and local
government can work together for
positive change."
In addition to
supporting land conservation, the
Department of Conservation administers
the state's beverage container recycling
program; regulates oil, gas and
geothermal wells in the state; studies
and maps earthquakes, landslides and
mineral resources; and ensures
reclamation of mined lands.
Following are
thumbnail sketches of each of the grants
announced. The RCD’s name is followed by
the city in which it is headquartered
and the amount of the grant received.
The local contact person is noted in
bold.
 Nevada County RCD/Grass
Valley ($17,349) – The RCD will buy a
new no-till drill and expand its No-Till
Drill Soil Conservation Outreach
program. The program provides landowners
the opportunity to rent a no-till drill
in order to renovate or re-establish
mismanaged pastures. The equipment is
designed to seed and fertilize a field
in one application. The soil is not
disturbed or exposed to wind and water
erosion. Local contact: Cyndi
Brinkhurst, (530) 272-3417.
 Mono RCD/Minden, Nev. ($2,138) – The
grant will enable the RCD to conduct a
public tour to educate citizens and
policy makers about local land
conservation issues. The tour will
include several ranches that are good
examples of effective irrigation and
grazing practices. Participants will
receive an informational packet
containing fact sheets, contact names
and various brochures. Local contact:
Kimberly Hansen, (775) 782-3661 ext.
101.
 Mission RCD/Fallbrook ($9,655) – The
RCD will expand its Storm Water
Pollution Prevention (SPP) outreach
program to more schools, including ones
located on Indian reservations. The
program will train teachers, science
coordinators and other staff to conduct
SPP presentations to students at their
schools. Local contact: Judith
Mitchell, (760) 728-1332.
 Yolo County RCD/Woodland ($5,360) –
The grant will allow the RCD to publish
and distribute a guide for farmers about
monitoring on-the-ground projects -- for
example, measuring water quality. The
100-page Monitoring on Your Farm guide
provides information about the equipment
needed, costs, procedures, time
requirements and other issues involved
in effective monitoring. Local contact:
Paul Robins, (530) 662-2037.
 West Lake RCD/Lakeport ($8,310 ) – The
RCD plans to increase public awareness
of local watershed issues by developing
a display that will be used throughout
the county. The display will highlight
the role that the RCD plays within the
community and promote good stewardship
of the land through education. Local
contact: Greg Dills, (707)
263-4180.
 Ulatis RCD/Dixon ($18,590) – The RCD
will create a demonstration garden of
watershed-friendly plants. Local
residents will be able to learn about
the benefits of native plants and their
impact on the community. The garden will
provide landowners with information
about which plants can be used to
stabilize and hold stream banks and
soil, and how to reduce chemical input
into the landscape. Local contact:
Kathleen Robins, (707) 678-1655 ext.
109.
 Western Shasta RCD/Redding ($15,604) –
Using the grant money, the RCD will
prepare five educational hands-on
workshops, organize and conduct a tour,
and expand the distribution of its
newsletter to enhance community outreach
within the Cow Creek Watershed. The RCD
coordinator will work closely with a
local watershed management group to
ensure a coordinated effort in
addressing the watershed’s problems.
Local contact: Mary Schroeder,
(530) 224-3250 ext. 1.
 Lava Beds-Butte Valley RCD/Tulelake
($13,320) -- Recently established to
assist landowners in the Klamath Valley
in addressing critical water issues and
concerns, the RCD is in the process of
building and expanding its capacity. It
will develop a newsletter to inform
local residents of the district’s
mission and capabilities. The RCD's
emphasis will be on building support,
increasing public awareness, identifying
additional funding sources, and
addressing local resource concerns.
Local contact: Mike Byrne, (530)
667-2068.
 Alpine RCD/Minden, Nev. ($4,565) – The
RCD will survey and collect information
about noxious weed infestations along
the Carson River corridor. A report will
be developed that identifies the type
and extent of the infestation, and
recommended treatments for eradication.
Local contact: Kimberly Hansen,
(775) 782-3661 ext. 101.
 Shasta Valley RCD/Yreka ($4,476) – The
grant will be used to upgrade the
district's equipment and software. The
district will use the equipment to
produce and distribute educational
materials, newsletters, maps, and
databases. Local contact: Richard
Christie, (530) 842-6121 ext. 10.
 Santa Cruz RCD/Capitola ($17,333) -
The RCD plans to increase awareness
about the danger of wild land fires
among local residents by developing
three fuel load management demonstration
projects, such as the removal of
invasive plants or the implementation of
a fuel break. The RCD will partner with
state, federal and local agencies to
develop a coordinated program that
includes the demonstration projects and
targeted outreach and educational
materials. Local contact: Ms. Carey
Cooper, (831) 464-2950.
 Greater San Diego RCD/Escondido
($3,300) – The grant funds will be used
to upgrade the district's display module
to enhance outreach activities and
educate the public. The display will be
used at various events to publicize
conservation topics such as non-point
source pollution, water and air quality,
and storm water runoff. Local contact:
Ms. Marty Leavitt, (760) 745-2061
ext. 3.
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