Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs) are the state’s only grassroots conservation delivery system that identifies local conservation problems and guides solutions on a voluntary basis. There are 97 Districts throughout California – each covering a different geographic area. RCDs are established under California law to be locally governed with independent boards of directors that are accountable to our communities.
Our relationships with the communities we serve are crucial to how we accomplish our work on agricultural, rural and urban landscapes. RCDs are not part of county government, but rather are special districts, a form of local government created by the community to meet a specific need, similar to districts created for needs such as fire protection, open space, or flood control.
As trusted stewards of public and private funds, RCDs are subject to transparency and accountability laws that require public meetings, open records, annual audits and financial reporting.