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SACRAMENTO -- The
California Department of Conservation
today announced grants totaling $120,000
to 10 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. There are 103 RCDs in the
state. 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.
"Resource
Conservation Districts are involved in
important local conservation efforts and
we're pleased to support their valuable
work through this annual grants
program," Department of Conservation
Director Darryl Young said.
This year's grants
range from $3,000 to $21,608 and involve
resource conservation districts
headquartered in South Lake Tahoe,
Riverside, Tehachapi, Cedarville, San
Jacinto, Redding, Reedley, Greenville,
Patterson and Ontario. The grants will
provide for such diverse activities as
improving irrigation methods, preventing
wildfires and weed abatement. DOC
received 19 applications requesting more
than $294,000.
Tom Wehri, executive
director of the California Association
of Resource Conservation Districts,
noted: "This grants program helps our
districts deliver vital services in
their local areas. Our districts can do
a great deal of beneficial work with
this money."
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 local contact person is
noted in bold.
Tahoe RCD of S. Lake Tahoe ($20,035) –
To promote backyard conservation and
implementation of Best Management
Practices for local homeowners through
education, outreach, and technical
assistance. The RCD will conduct on-site
evaluations for homeowners and assist in
implementing projects to reduce
contaminants flowing into Lake Tahoe.
Contact: Jennifer Heath, 530-573-2756.
Riverside-Corona RCD of Riverside
($8,500) – To develop a LandUse Learning
Center that educates the public about
personal stewardship and depicts current
scientific understanding of local
habitats, issues, and habitat
conservation applications and efforts.
Grant funding will be used to develop
permanent interactive signage to
promote, educate and enhance the Native
Habitat Area within the LandUse Learning
Center. Contact: Diana Ruiz,
909-683-7691.
Tehachapi RCD ($21,608) – To expand the
RCD's Yellow Starthistle Spray and
Manual Removal Program from simply
controlling Yellow Starthistle to
actually eradicating the noxious weed
from the district. Also, to continue to
build public support and participation
through outreach, educational activities
and workshops. Yellow Starthistle is an
invasive, noxious, non-native weed that
negatively effects most wildlife habitat
and is toxic to some animals. Contact:
Edward Duggan, 661-822-6853.
Surprise Valley RCD of Cedarville
($4,300) – To survey all private lands
in the Surprise Valley Watershed for
Yellow Starthistle and Perennial
Pepperweed in order to develop a
database that identifies areas requiring
intensive eradication efforts. The RCD
will partner with various private
groups, including a local Boy Scout
troop, to map the infested areas and
distribute educational flyers throughout
the community. A newsletter will be
developed and distributed to educate
local residents about the RCD and
ongoing projects. Contact: Matthew
Brown, 530-279-2522.
San Jacinto Basin RCD ($18,124) – To
expand the custom irrigation scheduling
service (the PRISM Program) to another
810 acres within the district. The PRISM
program is a computerized irrigation
scheduling program that provides grape
growers with critical information to
improve the irrigation process. Funding
will expand the program to cover 70
percent of the total planted acreage in
the valley. Improved irrigation not only
benefits the farmers but also reduces
chemical runoff that adversely affects
both ground and surface water. Contact:
Jim Gilmore, 909-654-7733.
Western Shasta RCD of Redding ($15,752)
– To construct a fuel break in the Lower
Clear Creek Watershed to protect the
community and the environment from
wildfires. In addition, the RCD will
conduct two community meetings to
educate landowners about fire-safe
practices. Fire-fighting crews can also
use the fuel break for wildfire defense.
Contact: Mary Schroeder, 530-224-3250.
Feather River RCD of Greenville ($3,000)
– To sponsor a community team to attend
the 2001-2002 Adopt-A-Watershed
Leadership Institute. The collaborative
effort between the RCD, the
Adopt-A-Watershed Organization, and the
Round House Council will facilitate the
building of a core group of residents
dedicated to watershed stewardship.
Contact: John Schramel, 530-284-7954.
West Stanislaus RCD of Patterson
($12,650) – To implement a Total
Irrigation Management (TIM) Program. The
RCD will analyze the soil, weather, and
other factors to develop a comprehensive
individualized management plan that
empowers landowners to better manage
their crops. Using TIMs, farmers should
increase water efficiency and reduce
non-point source pollution. At the end
of the first year, a workshop will be
held to educate landowners on the
benefits of using this management
system. Contact: Norman Crow,
209-892-3026.
Inland Empire West RCD of Ontario
($8,531) – To conduct workshops that
educate local residents and result in
the removal of trash and other debris
from creeks within the Prado Basin.
During each workshop, Best Management
Practices will be presented to the group
and water quality testing will be
conducted to determine the project’s
effectiveness. An internship program
also will be implemented. The intern
will build community support and
facilitate communication within the
watershed. Contact: Renee Latu,
909-930-2779.
Nevalencia RCD of Reedley ($7,500) – To
develop reference materials that educate
landowners and increase the RCD’s
involvement within the community.
Throughout the year, the RCD will
publish and distribute additional
information focusing on seasonal issues
and concerns. Contact: Linda Ballentine,
925-855-7185.
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