pacific region

By Desiree Van Dyke, NACD Southwest Region Representative Hans Hunt has spent much of his first several months as NRCS Assistant Chief for the Western Region traveling throughout the West, meeting with producers, field offices, and conservation leaders.  “The most important part of it is being out on the road and meeting with people,” said…… Continue reading →

From May 5 to 7, 2026, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), in partnership with the USDA National Agroforestry Center and the California Agroforestry Network, hosted the San Diego Agroforestry Workshop for Natural Resources Professionals in Encinitas, California. The training brought together resource conservation district staff, conservation professionals, technical service providers, nonprofit staff, producers,…… Continue reading →

By Kyle Venell, NACD Pacific Region Representative  Farm Journal Trust In Food, in collaboration with Blue Diamond Growers and Agriland Farming Company, Inc., recently hosted growers, industry leaders, and conservation partners for an in-field event focused on advancing innovation in California almond production. The takeaway was straightforward: growers are already testing and using new technologies. The challenge now is “scaling adoption in ways that…… Continue reading →

By Ellie Stuckrath, NACD Communications Coordinator, and Allie Hostler, KTRCD District Coordinator When the Klamath Trinity Resource Conservation District (KTRCD) formed in 2007, economic development, food security, and tribal sovereignty were just as integral to their mission as natural resources conservation.    Food Hub   For KTRCD, fostering tribal food sovereignty meant creating and maintaining sustainable markets for farmers. Thus, the…… Continue reading →

How one RCD forester is scaling from single landowners to landscape-level action. by the Sonoma Resource Conservation District Jason Wells never thought he’d return to Sonoma County, California, as no forestry positions existed. But after the 2017 Tubbs Fire tore through Santa Rosa, destroying over 5,000 homes, everything changed. Not only is Jason back where…… Continue reading →

On September 14, 2025, a brushfire erupted in south Seattle, damaging four homes and hospitalizing two people—proof that wildfire is an increasing threat to both rural and urban areas. Yet Washington’s conservation districts (CDs) saw an 83% cut in state funding for wildfire resiliency work this biennium. For Jenny Coe, Forest Health and Community Wildfire…… Continue reading →

In 2024, the Polk Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) used a Friends of NACD grant to initiate a community engagement project at their 87-acre property in Dallas, Oregon, named Cornerstone. This grant enabled Polk SWCD to update their brochures and signage, buy tools dedicated to removing invasive species, and engage a broad group of…… Continue reading →

In California, the Resource Conservation District of Tehama County (RCDTC) continues to grow its reach through hands-on conservation and wildfire preparedness efforts. This spring, RCDTC’s Arbor Day activities in Red Bluff offered a glimpse into the district’s year-round work. From planting native oak and conifer saplings to leading educational activities on forest health, the outreach…… Continue reading →

By Mary Malone Executive Director, Pend Oreille Conservation District [caption id="attachment_62520" align="alignleft" width="449"] The Newport Community Garden committee had helping hands of all sizes during the garden’s grand opening in July 2022. Photo by Mary Malone.[/caption] When the ribbon was cut and the gate swung open for its grand opening in July of 2022, the…… Continue reading →

Luta Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) in The Northern Mariana Islands created The Cultivating Roots project with support from a Friends of NACD district grant. This project immersed youth on Rota Island, NMI in a transformative experience that blended environmental education with the rich tapestry of Chamorro culture. The project evolved to align with…… Continue reading →