Resource Conservation District of Monterey County

What Resource Conservation District of Monterey County does

The Resource Conservation District of Monterey County (RCDMC) is a California special district formed under California Public Resources Code Article 9 and incorporated in 1994 from predecessor conservation districts dating to 1942. Headquartered at 744-A La Guardia Street in Salinas, California, the organization employs an 18-person multidisciplinary staff spanning agronomy, botany, civil engineering, ecology, environmental policy, landscape architecture, plant sciences, and soil science. RCDMC delivers professional conservation technical services — irrigation efficiency evaluations, nutrient management assessments, erosion control planning, biological monitoring, vegetation management and restoration, and project permit assistance — to three primary customer segments: private agricultural landowners (farmers, ranchers, growers), government agencies (federal, state, and county), and nonprofit conservation organizations across Monterey County's approximately 2.1 million acres.

Underlying technology is conventional conservation-services tooling: ESRI Collector and ArcGIS WebMap for spatial project mapping, CIMIS weather stations for evapotranspiration and irrigation scheduling, and the University of California CropManage decision support system. Programs are delivered through bilingual (English/Spanish) on-site consultations, contracted project engagements, and structured partnership programs including the Forest Health and Wildfire Resiliency Program, Salinas River Arundo and Tamarisk Control, Salinas River Stream Maintenance Program, Integrated Watershed Restoration Program (IWRP), Nutrient Management Cooperatives Development, and Winter Preparedness Program.

RCDMC operates as an independent governmental entity with no parent company, no tax-base dependence, and no equity funding. Revenue is sourced from competitive grants (CA Wildlife Conservation Board, California Department of Water Resources, California Department of Food and Agriculture, State Coastal Conservancy, USDA NRCS, US Bureau of Reclamation, CAL FIRE, plus various nonprofits), professional services contracts with private landowners and farming companies (e.g., Dole, Oceanmist Farms, Pisoni Farms, Azevedo Ranch), county contracts (Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner for weed abatement and erosion control), and tax-deductible donations through events like the Annual Spring Barbecue and Harvest Celebration Dinner (EIN 77-0438392). Governance rests with a 7-member Board of Directors appointed by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors; Executive Director Paul Robins has led the organization since 2008.

Name

Resource Conservation District of Monterey County

Legal name

Resource Conservation District of Monterey County

Website

https://rcdmonterey.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Resource Conservation District of Monterey County is a California special district that provides bilingual conservation technical services — irrigation, nutrient management, erosion control, biological monitoring, permitting, and wildfire resiliency — to farmers, ranchers, government agencies, and nonprofits across 2.1 million acres.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Support Activities for Forestry (11531), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conservation, Restoration & Biodiversity Services (Habitat, Wetlands, Riparian) (IMAMAJAH), Ecological Restoration Planning & Monitoring (Habitat, Wetland, Stream) (EUAHAHAF), Disaster Risk Reduction Services (Flood Mitigation, Erosion Control, Landslide Stabilization) (AFAMAMAJ), Forestry & Public Lands Administration (State/National Forests) (BPAIAMAF)

Keywords

• Natural resource management
• Soil and water conservation
• Agricultural conservation services
• Watershed restoration services
• Erosion control planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Salinas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: The RCD is independently-funded through competitive grants and contracts without reliance on a local tax base. Major funders include CA Wildlife Conservation Board, California Department of Water Resources, California Department of Food and Agriculture, State Coastal Conservancy, USDA NRCS, and various local, regional and national non-profits.
2. Professional Services Contracts: Individual landowners and farming companies contract with RCD for professional engineering, agronomic, permit assistance and biological services. Salinas River landowners and land managers contract for biological monitoring and permitting assistance.
3. County Contracts: Contracts with County of Monterey Agricultural Commissioner's Office for weed abatement and landowner erosion control assistance.
4. Direct Donations: The RCD solicits direct donations through special events such as the Annual Spring Barbecue and Harvest Celebration Dinner to support conservation education and program development efforts. All donations are tax-deductible (EIN: 77-0438392).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Resource Conservation District of Monterey County provides professional conservation consulting and technical services to landowners, farmers, ranchers, government agencies, and non-profits throughout Monterey County. Its service portfolio spans irrigation efficiency evaluations, nutrient management planning, erosion control planning, biological monitoring, vegetation management, project permit assistance, and facilitation of USDA financial and technical assistance. The organization also designs and implements large-scale habitat and watershed restoration projects, including invasive species removal, riparian restoration, and native revegetation.

Product overview

The Resource Conservation District of Monterey County offers a portfolio of professional consulting services and project programs rather than a unified software product. Core services include Irrigation Efficiency Evaluations, Nutrient Management Assessments, Erosion Control Planning, Biological Monitoring, Vegetation Management and Restoration, Project Permit Assistance, USDA Financial and Technical Assistance, and Trainings and Workshops (bilingual). Major project programs include the Forest Health and Wildfire Resiliency Program, Salinas River Arundo and Tamarisk Control, Salinas River Stream Maintenance Program, Integrated Watershed Restoration Program, Nutrient Management Cooperatives Development, and Winter Preparedness Program. The organization also provides Education and Outreach programs including Range Camp, Speak-off competitions, and Land Judging contests.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Irrigation Efficiency Evaluations

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 35% of annual sedimentation load to Elkhorn Slough prevented by voluntary soil conservation practices
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe partnership between RCDMC and NRCS is integral to local conservation efforts. NRCS shares office space with RCD, making it easy for landowners to interact with both agencies in one visit. RCD works closely with NRCS to provide technical assistance to Monterey County landowners, growers and ranchers. The NRCS is empowered to provide rural landowners with financial and technical assistance for conservation practices.
• Monterey County Agricultural CommissionercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership for weed abatement, erosion control assistance, and Winter Preparedness Program funding (over $616,000 in direct contributions and in-kind support 2014-2025).
• University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Salinas Valley Irrigation and Nutrient Management Program, helping growers increase water application efficiency by 10-40% and nutrient efficiency by up to 30%.
• The Nature ConservancymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Nutrient Management Cooperatives pilot program for multi-farm drainage runoff management in Moro Cojo and Blanco Drain watersheds.
• Central Coast Wetlands GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in treatment wetland projects, nutrient management cooperatives, and watershed restoration. Collaborated on PG&E Constructed Treatment Wetland (18 acres), bioreactors, and vegetated treatment systems.
• Monterey Bay Sanctuary FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Salinas Valley Irrigation and Nutrient Management Program and water quality improvement projects.
• Trout UnlimitedmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in fish passage improvement projects including Riverside Campground, Potrero Creek, Juan Higuera Creek, and Arroyo Seco projects.
• Elkhorn Slough FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Winter Preparedness Program and Elkhorn Slough Eucalyptus Removal Planning Project.
• Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve (ESNERR)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in North County watershed work and Elkhorn Slough conservation efforts.
• Ag Land-Based Training Association (ALBA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partner providing bi-lingual training, demonstration, and implementation support for small-scale and Hispanic farmers.
• California State ParksmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Los Padres Strategic Community Fuelbreak Collaborative Project and Lower Post Creek Fish Passage Improvement (Pfeiffer-Big Sur State Park).
• Fire Safe Council for Monterey CountymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in wildfire preparedness, fuel load reduction, and fire safety planning in Lockwood and Bryson-Hesperia areas.
• RCD of Santa Cruz CountymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in establishing IWRP programs and updating the Rural Road Maintenance Guide to create Central Coast Private Road Maintenance Guide.
• Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Irrigation Training and Research CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in bilingual irrigator water use efficiency trainings and CIMIS station development.
• Upper Salinas-Las Tablas RCDmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in controlling arundo and tamarisk in upper Salinas River watershed in San Luis Obispo County to prevent re-infestation of treated areas downstream.
• Big Sur Land TrustmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject proponent for Glen Deven Eucalyptus Removal Project and Mitteldorf Bridge Replacement Project.
• Grower-Shipper Association of Central CaliforniamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Salinas River Stream Maintenance Program coalition and partner in nutrient management cooperatives.
• US Forest Service Los Padres National ForestmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Los Padres Strategic Community Fuelbreak Collaborative Project and Nacitone Watershed work.
• CSUMB Watershed InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in watershed assessments, Gabilan/Rec Ditch watershed planning, and technical advisory committee participation.
• Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in PG&E Constructed Treatment Wetland project covering 18 acres in Moro Cojo watershed for nutrient reduction and wildlife habitat.
• Sustainable ConservationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPioneer partner in Elkhorn Slough Watershed Permit Coordination Program, streamlining permitting for agricultural conservation projects.
• Carmel River Task ForcemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRCDMC is a partner in the Carmel River Task Force, working on watershed assessment, action plans, and fish passage projects.
• Pathways for WildlifeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner conducting wildlife monitoring in the Salinas River, presenting data on impacts of Arundo control on wildlife movement.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• California Association of Resource Conservation Districts: Statewide membership association representing California's RCDs. Provides legislative advocacy, training, and coordination that effectively sets the operating environment for RCDMC and its peer districts.
• The Nature Conservancy (California): International conservation NGO partnering with RCDMC on the Moro Cojo nutrient management cooperative pilot. Operates at much larger scale and broader geographic footprint but delivers overlapping agricultural-watershed and habitat restoration services in California.
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS): Federal agency that shares office space with RCDMC and provides the financial-assistance counterpart to RCDMC's technical-assistance role. NRCS delivers the same landowner conservation mission at national scale, making it both a partner and the closest functional incumbent.

Direct peers

• Yolo County Resource Conservation District: California RCD where Executive Director Paul Robins previously served for 13 years before joining RCDMC. Comparable mix of agricultural irrigation, nutrient management, and habitat restoration programs in a major California agricultural county.
• Central Coast Wetlands Group: Regional nonprofit that collaborates with RCDMC on treatment wetlands, bioreactors, and habitat restoration projects in the Gabilan and Elkhorn Slough watersheds. Provides overlapping wetland and stream restoration implementation capacity on the same client base.
• Upper Salinas-Las Tablas Resource Conservation District: Upstream RCD partner that works with RCDMC to control Arundo and Tamarisk in San Luis Obispo County to prevent reinfestation of Monterey County treatment areas. Same statutory structure and landowner-facing conservation mission.
• San Mateo Resource Conservation District: California RCD where Ag Projects Manager Kasey Butler previously spent 4.5 years on the Ag Stewardship Team. Comparable bilingual small-farmer outreach, irrigation efficiency, and pollinator habitat programming.
• Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County: Neighboring California RCD that directly collaborates with RCDMC on the Central Coast Private Road Maintenance Guide and IWRP programs. Operates the same special-district model delivering conservation technical assistance to private landowners under California Public Resources Code.

Emerging players

• Trout Unlimited: National coldwater fisheries NGO that partners with RCDMC on fish passage projects (Riverside Campground, Potrero Creek, Juan Higuera Creek, Arroyo Seco). Delivers related stream-restoration and landowner-assistance programming in the same Central Coast watersheds.
• Sustainable Conservation: California nonprofit partnering with RCDMC on the Elkhorn Slough Watershed Permit Coordination Program and nutrient management cooperatives. Operates as an NGO rather than a special district but delivers highly overlapping technical and policy services to agricultural landowners.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RCDMonterey
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rcdmonterey

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Resource Conservation District of Monterey County