Background

In 1937, as a result of the national "Dust Bowl" crisis, (when millions of acres of farmland were destroyed due to drought and erosion) the federal government passed legislation that established the Soil Conservation Service (SCS). To increase the ability to respond to specific  local needs, the states formed "Soil Conservation Districts" that were controlled by local boards of directors.  In California, Soil Conservation Districts began forming in the 1940s, and today there are 103 districts throughout the state. The first Soil Conservation District in Yolo County was formed in 1955, after which two others formed. Those three districts (Western Yolo, Hungry Hollow and Capay Valley SCDs) consolidated in 1977 to form the current Yolo County RCD.  In the early 1970s, these districts that were originally empowered to address soil and water issues, expanded their emphasis to also include "related resources" such as fish and wildlife habitat enhancement, restoration and the control of exotic plant species.  This broadening of scope was reflected in the name change in 1971 from "Soil Conservation" to "Resource Conservation Districts".

Organization

Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs) are empowered to conserve resources within their district boundaries through implementing projects on public and private lands, and by educating landowners and the public about resource conservation.  RCDs function independently of county government, and derive their powers from state law.  Division 9 enables districts to have 5, 7, or 9 directors, who make decisions via a majority vote of the full board. Board members are appointed or elected based on their experience as being active conservation partners in the community.  Board composition reflects a broad spectrum of conservation practices that represent a district's diverse interests.

The RCD and NRCS partnership

The relationship between RCDs and the US Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), previously known as the SCS (see above), has spanned several decades.  As was described above, the NRCS was originally developed to address the Dust Bowl crisis, with local, state-level districts forming shortly thereafter.  Since then, RCDs and NRCS have worked closely together, with NRCS appointing a District Conservationist to provide technical assistance to the local RCD by acting as a liason between district-level and federal programs.  Local offices of the NRCS often employ other specialists such as engineers and soil conservationists to provide additional technical expertise to the RCD board.  The NRCS and RCDs formalized their relationship over 50 years ago through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), to establish a partnership and define roles between districts and the USDA. This MOU was updated in 1994, to "modernize and reinvent their historic partnership" and to add state level conservation agencies to the agreement.  To read further about the history and function of RCDs, link to the website of the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts.

Our Mission Statement

Protecting, improving and sustaining local resources

The Yolo County Resource Conservation District (RCD) commits to protect, improve and sustain the natural resources of Yolo County.  We promote responsible stewardship by:

• Demonstrating conservation practices through cooperative land users;
• Educating agencies and the public in resource conservation & enhancement;
• Sponsoring partnerships and networks;
• Providing technical guidance and on-site expertise.