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REGION:  BAY DELTA
LOCATION:  STANISLAUS COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

ADDRESS:  3800 Cornucopia Way Ste. E, Modesto, CA 95358
MEETINGS: third Tuesday at 8:30 am every other month
PHONE:  (209) 491-9320
FAX:  (209) 491-9331
EMAIL:   not available
WEBSITE:  not available

DISTRICT SIZE:  984 square miles

The East Stanislaus RCD includes the area east of the San Joaquin River to the Tuolumne and Calaveras County lines and is bordered by San Joaquin County to the North and Merced County to the South. The communities of Modesto, Ceres, Turlock, Oakdale, Salida, Hughson, Hickman, Riverbank, Denair and Waterford are included within the District. The East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District encompasses 984 square miles.

YEAR DISTRICT FORMED:  1996

The East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District (RCD) was formed through consolidation of the Salida Resource Conservation District, S.T.& J. Resource Conservation District, portions of Ballico Resource Conservation District in Stanislaus County, and portions of La Paloma Resource Conservation District in Stanislaus County. Each of the participating districts were established under the same enabling legislation, Public Resources Code, Section 9000, et.seq. or predecessor legislation. The sphere of influence of the reorganized East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District encompassed the relative sphere of influences of the previous participating districts, which in general encompasses those lands in Stanislaus County east of the San Joaquin River.

WATERSHED PROJECTS:  

The East Stanistaus Resource Conservation District's prioritizes 'local' resource conservation concerns and the implementation of planned activities by assisting District cooperators, landusers and landowers by providing technical assistance, financial assistance such as cost-sharing, administrative assistance and representation at various workshops, meetings and public hearings.

The East Stanislaus RCD has sponsored major state and federal projects that have resulted in significant funding for on-farm improvements. Economic evaluations of the benefits provided by the RCD/NRCS partnership indicate an 8:1 multiplier effect in the community and a 6:1 private investment to government incentive ratio.

Recent Projects Sponsored Include:

1. Grayson River Ranch Wetlands Reserve Program perpetual easement and restoration with NRCS. The East Stanislaus RCD received grants for partnership acquisition of easements from the Anadromous Fish Restoration Program and CALFED and a grant for restoration from CALFED in partnership with the Friends of the Tuolumne.
2. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission grant to the East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District in partnership with City and County of San Francisco, Friends of the Tuolumne and the Tuolumne River Preservation Trust.
3. Environmental Quality Incentives Program Education grant for practical solutions to Dairy Waste Management practices in partnership with the University of California's Cooperative Extension Service, Stanislaus County.
4. Sponsor Environmental Quality Incentives Program Educational Outreach Proposals funded to Western United Dairymen, California Dairy Campaign, California Poultry Federation, and UC Cooperative Extension Dairy Waste management team in Stanislaus County.
5. Sponsor additional Environmental Quality Incentives Program Educational Outreach Proposals either not funded or presently under consideration with Sustainable Conservation, Committee for Sustainable Agriculture, and the Coalition for Urban/Rural Environmental Stewardship.
6. Sponsor USDA Environmental Quality Incentives Program - Water Quality - BMP implementation - East San Joaquin Valley Irrigated Cropland geographic priority area (dairy waste/nutrient management/pest management).
7. Dairy Waste Management 3 19 Demonstration Project grant to provide transfer of practical technology to dairymen
8. Sponsor U: SDA Environmental Quality Incentives Program - Air Quality BMPs
9. Co-Leader with the West Stanislaus Resource Conservation District of the USDA Local Work Group prioritizing resource concerns in Stanislaus County.
10. Mobile Irrigation Laboratory Program - Improved Irrigation Drainage Outreach with the Modesto Irrigation District grant
11. Publish and distribute the full color brochure, "East Stanislaus RCD - A Guide to Your Resource Conservation District".

IMPORTANT AGRICULTURE:  

Agriculture is a 1.33 billion industry in Stanislaus County and consistently ranks in 7th in the state and in the top ten counties of the nation. Keeping agriculture vibrant is central to the efforts of the East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District. The District attempts to anticipate natural resource related issues and tries to respond with positive solutions.

Top five crops in 1997 were Milk, Almonds, Chickens, Walnuts, and Eggs according to the Agricultural Commissioner.

DISTRICT OVERVIEW:

Principles that guide East Stanislaus RCD include:

1. The East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District is a non-taxing body
2. The East Stanislaus Resource District is a local decision-making body that directs and and coordinates activities of USDA and other local, state and federal agencies within the district.
3. The East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District should be the focal point through which agencies provide services.
4. The East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District can establish priorities.
5. The East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District is locally driven and voluntary.

CLIMATE: Eastern side of Stanislaus County is located in a semi-arid region with hot summers and mild winters. During normal years, rain can be expected from mid-October through April, with an average rainfall of 12-16 inches. There are approximately 295 frost-free days each year.

SOILS: There are over 60 different soil series and 265 soil mapping units within the East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District. Some of the best soils in the world exist in Stanislaus County and are one of the most important resources in the District. These soils produce over 200 agricultural commodities and provide native and naturalized vegetation for grazing and wildlife habitat. (Soil Survey of the Eastern Stanislaus Area, California issued September 1964).

WATER: Within the East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District, 3 major river systems are present. The Tuolumne River and the Stanislaus River are major tributaries to the San Joaquin River. These river systems are host to a wide variety of threatened and endangered species including the fall-run chinook salmon. Irrigation Districts include the Modesto Irrigation District, Turlock Irrigation District, Oakdale Irrigation District and the Eastside Irrigation District. Water is a precious resource that needs to be conserved for all users and future generations.

AIR: The San Joaquin Valley is classified as a serious non-attainment zone for PM-I 0. The East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District continues to pursue solutions for this very complex issue.

CRITICAL RESOURCE CONCERNS:  

The following areas of concern have been identified in the RCD's Long Range Plan. Many of these concerns have been chronic resource problems since the 1950s when the precursor Soil Conservation Districts were organized.

1. Water Quality - Priority Category I Watershed - Unified Watershed Assessment
• Organophosphate Pesticides (TMDL)
• Low Dissolved Oxygen (TMDL)
• Salt and Boron (TMDL)
2. Endangered Species - Salmonids - critical riparian habitat
3. Dairy Waste Management - nutrient management plans
4. Soil Erosion - best management practices (BMPs).
5. Water Conservation and recycling - mobile irrigation lab.
6. Assist Agriculture remain a viable economic engine in Stanislaus County.
7. Important Farmland Series Mapping (Prime Farmland).
8. Conservation Education - outreach to schools and colleges.
9. Coordinate with local agencies to facilitate and implement plans.
10. Funding For RCD employee(s) and projects - Watershed Coordinator Grant.
11. Urbanization pressures on prime Farmland - agriculture vs. urban conflicts

CRITICAL PARTNERSHIP NEEDS:  

The District cooperates with individuals, groups, cities, county, farm organizations and local, state and federal agencies to coordinate and implement natural resource conservation programs and projects.

CRITICAL OPERATIONAL NEEDS:  

Operating fund requirements will be provided to the Board of Supervisors of Stanislaus County on an annual basis. State, Federal and Private Foundation funds will be applied for to help fund District activities. Funding is needed to retain staffing to carry out RCD programs.

 

DISTRICT MAPS:    Boundary and Topography   PLANS:    Long Range Plan    Annual Plan For full page view, use More Data

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