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The Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County(RCD) helps people protect, conserve, and restore natural resources through information, education, and technical assistance programs.
ObjectivesAs the County’s population grows, so do the demands on natural resources. Through responsible land use planning and conservation management, the RCD is working meet the present and future needs of the community.
The RCD’s services have been augmented recently to respond to community needs (e.g., watershed enhancement projects) and by the RCD continuing to leverage County funding with new sources of funding (e.g., partnerships and grants). Conservation information, assistance, and support are made available to county landowners in the form of trainings, workshops, written materials, facilitating information exchange, technical and design assistance for conservation projects, and cost-share programs for implementing conservation practices on private lands. While there is a minimal cost for some publications and workshops, most services are free of charge. The RCD continues to maintain and expand relationships with many organizations and agencies. One goal is to continue partnerships with these groups in related activities and collaborative grant applications. The RCD also continues its long-term ties with the NRCS in responding to soil and water management needs of land users who reside within the RCD’s boundaries.
The RCD serves the entire unincorporated County of Santa Cruz and the City of Capitola. Three incorporated cities (Santa Cruz, Watsonville, and Scotts Valley) are outside the RCD boundaries, though dialogue continues with them regarding incorporation and services have been provided on a contract basis.
The 2006-2007 Annual Work Plan outlines conservation objectives and activities of the Resource Conservation District. Every years Work Plan objectives address RCD priority actions listed in the RCD’s Long Range Conservation Program.