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 The RCD works with cooperating farmers, ranchers, landowners and
other land managers to voluntarily prevent erosion, control runoff,
demonstrate management practices, and protect water supplies. We
utilize and facilitate access to state and federal programs to fund
these activities. The RCDMC is a public resource agency and has no
enforcement or regulatory authority. Landowners, be they public or
private, partner with the RCD on a voluntary basis. Operating funds
are derived entirely from grants and contracts.
The RCD provides farmers and landowners planning and design assistance
and coordination of multiple permits to facilitate the voluntary
installation of a range of resource protection and conservation practices. RCD
staff assist farmers to access local, state and federal funding programs
to support these projects. We also work to monitor and evaluate
conservation practices and develop innovative practices to meet the
economic, water quality, and environmental needs of our cooperators. Through the Livestock and Land Program, the Resource Conservation District of Monterey County will actively recruit and train livestock owners on implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) to accomplish goals for water quality improvement.
Our staff partner with local farmers and researchers to conduct
effectiveness monitoring of these practices and develop innovative
conservation management practices. These conservation measures
can reduce soil losses, bank erosion and/or water and fertilizer
consumption. All of the management practices that the RCD promotes
and designs are based on sound science and engineering combined with
local experience. The RCD also works with farmers and partners
to develop innovative technologies and practices to address local
resource concerns.
The RCD educates landowners, growers, ranchers, agency staff, K-12
and college students, and the general public about natural resource
conservation. These educational forums include workshops, educational
presentations, tours, direct mailings, media outreach, special events,
classroom visits, and internship/volunteer opportunities.
The Resource Conservation District is an active member of the local
farming community and acts as a bridge between agricultural producers
and the natural resource scientific community. We stay abreast of
the latest developments in science and regulation to provide this
level of service as well as participate in various Technical Advisory
Committees of a variety of projects led by partner organizations.
The Carmel River Watershed Coordinator is working with landowners, non-profit organizations and agency partners to provide a centralized and neutral role in assisting with the coordination and prioritization of critical resource issues affecting habitat, water quality and supply, flooding, and listed species in the Carmel River watershed. With grant funding from the California Department of Conservation through July 2014, the watershed coordinator will help transform the volumes of assessment information and prioritization and planning to active improvement work in the watershed.
RCDMC has support from the Coastal Conservancy to implement the Integrated Watershed Restoration Program (IWRP) in Monterey County. This includes support for a Rural Roads Erosion Control Technical Assistance Program in Monterey County, which provides landowner and road association assistance with road erosion and drainage improvement evaluations, and potentially road improvement design and permitting assistance for selected sites.
Please note that due to programmatic funding limitations,
not all services are available in all areas of the county.
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