What Placer Resource Conservation District does

Placer Resource Conservation District (Placer RCD) is a California special district founded in the mid-1940s (operating since approximately 1952) and headquartered in Auburn, California. It is a non-regulatory, government-funded entity covering approximately 1,400 square miles of Placer County (excluding the Tahoe Basin) and delivers free, confidential technical assistance to private landowners, agricultural producers, community gardeners, and tribal and local government partners. The organization's mission centers on advancing sustainable management of natural resources through action, education, and outreach across eight program areas: Forest Health, Soil Health, Wildfire, Agriculture, Backyard & Community Agriculture, Watershed Health, Climate, and Habitat.

Placer RCD operates eight program areas supported by approximately 11-50 staff, including a four-person Forestry Department, plus program managers, directors, and a dedicated Prescribed Fire Program. Major initiatives include the $5 million Mosquito Fire Recovery and Reforestation program (targeting 800+ acres and 200,000+ seedlings by spring 2029), the Placer Prescribed Burn Association, the Forestry and Natural Resources Career Mentorship Program, the Dry Creek Watershed Red Sesbania Removal Program, the Placer County Chipper Program, and the Pollinator Habitat Restoration Program. Educational deliverables include the proprietary Rx Fire Field Guide, a landowner framework for navigating prescribed fire permitting, liability, and burn complexity classification.

The business model is grant-funded rather than revenue-generating. Funding sources include CAL FIRE, the Wildlife Conservation Board, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the National Association of Conservation Districts, CDFA Climate Smart Agriculture, Coalitions and Collaboratives Inc., Sierra Pacific Industries, and One Tree Planted. Services to landowners are provided at no cost and are non-regulatory; the Chipper Program is the only partially fee-based offering, with cost-share waivers available. The district has no parent company, no venture backing, and is governed by a Board of Directors under California special-district law.

Name

Placer Resource Conservation District

Legal name

Placer Resource Conservation District

Website

https://placerrcd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Placer Resource Conservation District is a California special district providing free, non-regulatory conservation technical assistance to private landowners, farmers, and communities across Placer County through wildfire, forestry, agriculture, watershed, habitat, and climate programs funded primarily by government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (11531), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Support Activities for Forestry (115310)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC), Biodiversity Conservation & Habitat Banking (AFAMAMAC), Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH)

Keywords

• Conservation technical assistance
• Natural resource management
• Wildfire resilience programs
• Watershed restoration services
• Agricultural conservation planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Auburn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Grants and Government Funding: Placer RCD is a non-profit special district that operates primarily through grants from government agencies including CAL FIRE, US Forest Service, Wildlife Conservation Board, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, National Association of Conservation Districts, and other federal and state programs. Services to landowners are provided at no cost.
2. Technical Assistance Services: Provides free conservation technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, backyard gardeners, community gardens, small-scale farmers, and forestland owners. Services are non-regulatory, confidential, and provided at no cost to landowners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Placer Resource Conservation District is a non-regulatory California special district that provides free, confidential, and voluntary conservation technical assistance to private landowners, agricultural producers, and community members across Placer County. It delivers programming across Forest Health, Soil Health, Wildfire, Agriculture, Backyard & Community Agriculture, Watershed Health, Climate, and Habitat program areas, and operates specialized offerings including the Placer County Chipper Program, Prescribed Fire Program, Mosquito Fire Recovery and Reforestation, Pollinator Habitat Restoration, Conservation Agriculture Planning Grant Program (CAPGP), and the Forestry and Natural Resources Career Mentorship Program.

Product overview

Placer Resource Conservation District operates as a non-regulatory government agency offering a comprehensive suite of conservation programs and technical assistance services organized across eight program areas: Forest Health, Soil Health, Wildfire, Agriculture, Backyard & Community Agriculture, Watershed Health, Climate, and Habitat. The district's core offerings include landowner technical assistance, the Placer County Chipper Program, Prescribed Fire Program with the Placer Prescribed Burn Association, Mosquito Fire Recovery and Reforestation, Pollinator Habitat Restoration, and the Forestry and Natural Resources Career Mentorship Program. Additional services include the Rx Fire Field Guide educational resource, Accessible Raised Garden Bed Design Plans, Conservation Agriculture Planning Grant Program, Placer County Ag Tour, and Regional Conservation Partnership Program. Major projects include the North Fork American River Shaded Fuel Break, Placer Sierra Fuels Reduction Project, and Placer Riparian Restoration. All assistance is provided free of charge and is non-regulatory and confidential.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Forest Health Program A program area focused on improving forest management, wildfire resiliency, and forest ecosystem health in Placer County through landscape-scale fuel breaks, post-fire restoration, and reforestation efforts, delivered to private forestland owners.
• Soil Health Program A program area dedicated to promoting soil conservation, improving soil structure, and supporting regenerative agricultural practices among landowners in Placer County.
• Wildfire Program A program area providing community wildfire resilience services including defensible space assistance, vegetation management, and fire prevention education.
• Agriculture Program A program area supporting agricultural producers through technical assistance, conservation planning, and programs like the Conservation Agriculture Planning Grant Program.
• Backyard & Community Agriculture Program A program offering free technical assistance and resources for backyard gardeners, community gardens, urban farms, and small-scale farmers in Placer County.
• Watershed Health Program A program area focused on protecting and restoring watershed health, stream corridors, and water quality across Placer County through riparian restoration and invasive species removal.
• Climate Program A program area addressing climate resilience through habitat restoration, carbon sequestration projects, and support for climate-smart agricultural practices.
• Habitat Program A program area dedicated to creating, enhancing, and protecting wildlife habitat including pollinator habitat restoration on public and private lands.
• Placer County Chipper Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Reforestation of 800+ acres of private property damaged in Mosquito Fire through $5M CAL FIRE grant
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• U.S. Fish & Wildlife ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023Entered into cooperative agreement for riparian restoration activities in Placer County, including $50,000 for invasive species removal (red sesbania) and habitat enhancement.
• CAL FIREcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2023Primary funding partner for forest health and fire prevention programs. Provides major grants including $5M for Mosquito Fire reforestation, $2.19M for fire prevention, and $250,880 for forestry mentorship program. Funds prescribed burning and shaded fuel break projects.
• Sierra Pacific IndustriesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2023Partnering with Placer RCD for Mosquito Fire reforestation efforts to maximize benefits across property boundaries.
• One Tree PlantedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing financial support for Mosquito Fire reforestation through seedling planting coordination.
• UC Cooperative ExtensioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-publishing partner of Forestland Steward newsletter and collaborator on prescribed fire and forest health programs.
• U.S. Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-publishing partner of Forestland Steward newsletter and partner on Mosquito Fire reforestation across boundaries.
• Sierra HarvestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating on soil health workshops and farmer/rancher education events. Co-hosted soil health and erosion control workshop at Stock Family Orchard.
• Xerces Society for Invertebrate ConservationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing pollinator conservation expertise. Senior Pollinator Conservation Specialist delivers training on native pollinator habitat creation for agricultural producers.
• Auburn Area Recreation and Park District (ARD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Atwood Ranch Open Space Preserve management and wildfire recovery at Atwood Nature Preserve.
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint Local Working Group meetings and EQIP program coordination for conservation financial assistance to landowners.
• Lincoln Salt MineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to establish urban orchard at Lincoln Salt Mine Thrift Store location for community food security.
• United Auburn Indian CommunityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partner in prescribed burning workshops and Placer Prescribed Burn Association activities.
• Todd's Valley Miwok Maidu Cultural FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partner in prescribed burning workshops and educational programs.
• Placer Air Pollution Control DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for smoke management and prescribed burn permitting coordination.
• 40 Acre Conservation LeagueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost site for Placer County Forestry Tour, showcasing partnership and recreation projects in High Sierra.
• Sugar Bowl ResortminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost site for forestry tour showcasing fuels management efforts and trails development for wildfire safety.
• California Association of Conservation Districts (CARCD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed statewide Wildlife Conservation Board funding initiative; provides implementation support for pollinator habitat program.
• Audubon CaliforniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization acknowledged for pollinator habitat program knowledge and resources.
• Monarch Joint VentureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization acknowledged for pollinator habitat program knowledge and resources.
• Point BlueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization acknowledged for pollinator habitat program knowledge and resources.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• California Association of Resource Conservation Districts (CARCD): The state-level association representing all California RCDs; provides coordination, advocacy, and training. Placer RCD is a member and partner. Functions as an ecosystem enabler rather than direct competitor.

Direct peers

• Yuba County Resource Conservation District: Another Sierra Nevada RCD with a similar mandate around forest health, agriculture, and natural resource conservation. Comparable in scale, funding sources, and service delivery model.
• Nevada County Resource Conservation District: Neighboring California RCD providing nearly identical non-regulatory conservation technical assistance to private landowners, including forestry, wildfire resilience, and agricultural programs. Directly comparable in structure, funding model, and program mix.
• Sacramento County Resource Conservation District: Larger California RCD providing conservation technical assistance, agricultural, and habitat programs to landowners in the Sacramento Valley. Closely comparable in mission, structure, and funding model.
• El Dorado County Resource Conservation District: Adjacent California RCD that co-managed the Mosquito Fire response with Placer RCD across jurisdictional boundaries. Operates the same special-district model delivering forestry, fire prevention, and conservation services to landowners.

Broad incumbents

• Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) - California: Federal USDA agency delivering the EQIP program and conservation planning that Placer RCD helps landowners access. A core partner but also a broader incumbent offering overlapping technical assistance at scale.
• The Nature Conservancy - California: Large international conservation organization with active California operations in forest health, climate, and habitat. Operates at a much larger scale and engages in similar conservation partnerships and grant programs across the state.

Regional players

• Sierra Fund: Regional foundation supporting Sierra Nevada communities on environmental health, including forest resiliency and watershed protection. Comparable in geographic focus and grantmaking to conservation projects that overlap with Placer RCD's mission.
• Sacramento Valley Conservancy: Regional land trust operating across the Sacramento Valley with conservation easements, habitat restoration, and education. Comparable in regional conservation focus and landowner engagement, but different legal structure (501c3 land trust).
• Placer Land Trust: Local Placer County conservation nonprofit focused on land conservation easements, while Placer RCD handles stewardship and technical assistance. Complementary in mission; compete for some landowner attention and conservation funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PlacerRCD
• Facebookfacebook.com/PlacerRCD
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/placer-resource-conservation-district

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Placer Resource Conservation District