This past year, Audubon supported staff time for three Resource Conservation Districts (RCD) with funding Audubon secured from four public grants, and two private foundation grants. RCDs are California’s only grassroots conservation delivery system. Each RCD identifies its community’s greatest conservation problems, and guides landowners toward voluntary, and often innovative, solutions. There are 98 Districts throughout California – each covering a different geographic territory.

Audubon funded and managed six contracts with RCDs this past year, providing a total of $56,600 to carry out installation and maintenance of ten habitat restoration projects in three counties.  In Merced County, in partnership with the Center for Land-based Learning, we are supporting the development of a volunteer training program, led by the local RCD, which educates high school students and involves them in work days on restoration sites.  Audubon staff has also been working closely with Colusa County RCD staff to ensure that they have the technical skills, professional contacts, and equipment to carry out restoration work. By providing this training and funding, we are building the capacity of these RCDs to carry out their own wildlife habitat projects going forward. The Yocha Dehe Community Fund and Banrock Trust provided funding to support this capacity-building and partnership effort.

Top photo of Audubon, Yolo County RCD, and Putah Creek Council staff at a mile-long slough-side planting carried out together in Yolo County.

Lower photo of Brandon Baker of Yolo County RCD haying a newly planted hedgerow.