Purpose, Function, History

The Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District facilitates natural resource conservation through education, collaboration, and technical assistance.

The RCRCD is a small, government agency charged with conserving the natural resources of portions of western Riverside and San Bernardino Counties in Southern California. The RCD promotes sustainability and natural resource stewardship and is responsible for advising land users and others about natural resources and their conservation.

Projects of the Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District include:

• Habitat restoration projects including invasive species removal,
• Irrigation water management evaluations,
• Education programs concerning storm water, trees, soil, etc.,
• Retrofit of the Resource Conservation Center to serve as a demonstration facility and to facilitate sustainability efforts,
• Development of the LandUse Learning Center, a 3 ½ acre demonstration garden with museum and indoor exhibits,
• An onsite native plant nursery, part of a Plant Material Center

The Riverside-Corona RCD operates as an "independent special district", which is a legally constituted unit of government created under Division 9 of the State of California's Public Resources Code. It does not operate under a City, County, State, or Federal agency, but is run by its own Board of Directors.

In 1953, 126 local farmers owning 6,700 acres, with the help of Soil Conservation Service staff, sent a petition to the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, which requested formation of a "Soil Conservation District". In 1953 an election was held and five landowners were elected as the first directors. By forming the District, federal programs were made available to local farmers.

In the late 1950's, Colorado River water became available to local growers through Western Municipal Water District pipelines. Citrus was planted around Woodcrest, Eagle Valley, Gavilan Hills, Temescal Canyon , and Riverside-Highlands. The RCRCD gained over 400 cooperators. Farmers installed practices to help control erosion, such as cover crops, check dams, grassed waterways and to help conserve water, such as sprinkler systems.

The population in the 1950's was about 50,000. Today it is around 500,000.

Cooley Ranch Area

District Map and Location

The Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District serves the communities of Riverside, Corona, Norco, Woodcrest, Gavilan Hills, Temescal Canyon, Grand Terrace, Highgrove, and parts of Colton, Canyon Lake and Reche Canyon. The RCRCD's northwest boundary is the Santa Ana River. Click here to view a map of our district in PDF format!

The District includes 200,000 acres, or 312 square miles of land in Western Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Approximately 85,000 of these acres are urban areas. Principal tracts of public lands in or adjacent to the RCD include:

• The Cleveland National Forest
• Lake Mathews and the Prado Flood Control Basin, about 75,000 acres
• Riverside County Parks holdings, in excess of 6,000 acres.

Elevations range from 400 feet in the Santa Ana River Canyon to 5,000 feet in the Santa Ana Mountains.

The RCRCD lies within the Santa Ana River Watershed. The Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District office is located at 4500 Glenwood Drive, Building A, Riverside, CA 92501; at 14th Street and Glenwood Drive, at the base of Mt. Rubidoux. PH: 951-683-7691 FAX: 951-683-3814 RCRCD@RCRCD.com.

Resource Conservation Center

The Conservation District (RCRCD) is in the process of developing a Resource Conservation Center, a facility that will demonstrate conservation methods and serve as a location for information exchange and forums on resource issues.

The purpose of creating the Resource Conservation Center is to facilitate locally led conservation efforts to create more sustainable communities. The Center provides a meeting room for interested individuals, groups, and agencies to collaborate and to solve resource problems.

The 9½-acre facility was formerly the Soil Salinity Laboratory of the Agricultural Research Service. The facility is being renovated and has been renamed the Resource Conservation Center.

Agencies that are housed onsite now include:

• the Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District in Building A; lead agency
• the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
• the Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) office for the South Coast bioregion
• the California Department of Food and Agriculture's research project on the Glassy-winged Sharpshooter, a Pierce's Disease vector. Pierce's Disease is a bacterial malady of some kinds of landscape plants and crops, including grapes and citrus.
• California Department of Fish and Game

Conservation agencies and grassroots organizations, such as the Riverside Land Conservancy and California Native Plant Society use the newly renovated conference room for programs, training, and meetings.

Throughout the 9 ½ -acre Center, renovations will further demonstrate conservation applications. For example, outdoor solar lighting, drought tolerant landscaping, and permeable surfacing materials have been installed at the newly renovated parking lot.

A Plant Material Center has been developed from abandoned sand tanks and shade structures. The plant types being propagated are those that are native, but not readily available from local businesses. They serve some type of conservation function, such as for habitat restoration or as a host plant.

In development at the Resource Conservation Center is the LandUse Learning Center (LLC), a 3 ½ -acre garden area that will demonstrate conservation measures for three main land uses of Southern California: native habitats, urban areas, and agriculture.

The LLC will provide a one-stop source of information concerning all areas of natural resource conservation; soil, water, air, energy, and native plant and animal life.

The Resource Conservation Center is located at 4500 Glenwood Drive, Riverside, CA 92501; at 14th and Glenwood Drive, at the base of Mt. Rubidoux. Directions: From the 91 Freeway, exit west at 14th Street, toward downtown Riverside and Mt Rubidoux. Continue on 14th St., through Evergreen Cemetery, and turn left on Glenwood Drive, then left into the first gated drive to the parking lot.

Cooperators and Partners

Technical service is provided to landowners and users who are interested in conserving natural resources while using or developing property. Land users enter into a cooperative agreement with the District to obtain assistance. The District works with cooperators to find practical solutions to solve resource problems. Cooperators may be individuals, businesses, organizations, or agencies. The District has over 450 cooperators.

Cooperators complete the cooperative agreement, which gives staff permission to visit their properties. Onsite service may also be provided by conservationists from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), formerly the Soil Conservation Service. The NRCS, a division of the United States Department of Agriculture, is the federal agency that supports local conservation district efforts.

The two cooperating agencies, the RCD and NRCS, share the common objective to bring about the wise use of land, water, and related resources. For questions concerning erosion control, planting recommendations and other resource problems, please contact District Conservationist Bob Hewitt at (951) 654-7733, or e-mail Robert Hewitt. If you are seeking assistance with a community project, please contact Diana Ruiz or District Manager, Shelli Lamb at (951) 683-7691 ext. 202.

We need partners to:

• collaborate on conservation projects
• help develop, or simply supply, support materials and educational programs for the LandUse Learning Center.

Many community partners are involved in coordinated conservation efforts and in the development and use of the Resource Conservation Center.

Volunteer Opportunities

OPPORTUNITY #1
The Conservation District is currently seeking volunteers to help monitor bluebird nest boxes and to test water quality in local streams. If you are interested in volunteering for either program, please contact Erin Snyder at (951) 683-7691.

The bluebird nest box monitoring volunteers will regroup in February. Training is provided.

If you are interested in volunteering or just learning more about bluebirds, please contact Erin Snyder, Resource Educator of the Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District at (951) 683-7691.

OPPORTUNITY #2
The RCRCD is also seeking volunteers, community partners, and donors to assist with the construction and maintenance of the LandUse Learning Center. To become involved, please contact Diana Ruiz (951) 683-7691 ext 217.

The RCRCD invites businesses, individuals, groups, agencies, and educational institutions to join forces to create more sustainable communities. There are many ways that you can become involved:

• Volunteer your time
• Share your expertise
• Sponsor an exhibit, sign, or planting
• Provide materials or donate what you can afford
• Make positive change at your home and in your community
• Collaborate on support materials, displays, or demonstrations.

Board and Staff

The District is self-governed by a five member Board of Directors and an associate director. The Board is comprised of landowners who have knowledge of local resource issues. The Board plans and directs the district programs. Board members are appointed by the County Board of Supervisors or elected, and serve four-year terms, without pay.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

District Board Meetings are held the third Tuesday of every month at 1:00 pm at the RCRCD Office. Please call (951) 683-7691 ext 202 for more Board Meeting information. We welcome your input.

STAFF
(951) 683-7691

NRCS STAFF

The RCRCD receives limited technical assistance from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.