2024
Year In Review
The VCRCD saw significant growth during 2024. Jamie Whiteford, our previous Director of Programs and Grants, stepped into the role of Executive Director. His leadership has brought in 4 new staff members with a focus on habitat restoration, administrative duties, and wildfire. Our team has continued to serve our core program areas, Water Quality, Soil Health, Habitat Restoration, Education, and Wildfire Preparedness. We managed over 40 grants and programs serving Ventura County.
The Ventura County Resource Conservation District (VCRCD) has made significant strides in supporting environmental stewardship and sustainable agriculture throughout 2024. The organization’s team has enhanced pollinator conservation efforts, particularly focusing on monarch butterflies, by increasing nectar plants and planting new native trees to supplement roosting canopies. Additionally, the organization has continued to offer a variety of programs aimed at improving agricultural practices, such as free soil moisture monitoring, Carbon Farm Plans, and funding for irrigation and water quality improvements. VCRCD has also expanded its wildfire resilience efforts, helping communities prepare for future wildfire risks through prescribed burns, outreach, and planning. With a strong commitment to local education and community engagement, VCRCD has worked with over 1,200 volunteers and reached more than 700 students in 2024, ensuring that its conservation initiatives have a lasting impact on the environment and the community.
Habitat Restoration
The Habitat Restoration team focused considerable time on our pollinator conservation projects, more than doubling the number of nectar plants and trees for canopy cover from last year. These efforts support monarch butterflies from their overwintering areas along their journeys to breeding sites. We’ve continued to work with schools, the girl scouts, city and state parks, a golf course, the county, non-profits and private landowners to restore neglected areas on their properties to support these amazing yet declining species. Our coverage area is from Oak Park on the east, to Ojai in the north, to Carpinteria on the west, to Malibu in the south, encompassing Oxnard, Ventura, and Camarillo in the middle. Even though overwintering sites have been used by monarchs for many decades, some of their roost trees have reached the end of their life cycles and we are supplementing the canopies with new native trees, as well as adding crucial nectar resources for the adult butterflies.
Our team has continued to offer seasonal pollinator newsletters through our Pollinator Alert Network. We have also hosted regional pollinator education through hosting the bi-annual Monarch Regional Advisory Council.
Education and Outreach
The outreach and education team oversaw a wide range of programs in 2024, covering watershed working groups, public outreach, youth education, informational webinars, and volunteer events such as Coastal Cleanup Day. The community we work with and serve is inspiring, on a regular basis we meet people who want to give back to our environment, make a difference, and create change. We have worked with over 1200 volunteers to create and enhance habitat, reached over 700 students through our education programs, and offered over 14 educational opportunities to the public. If you have attended a planting day, read our newsletters, attended our watershed meetings, watched our webinars, stopped by our booths at events, volunteered with us for Coastal Cleanup Day, we thank you! We look forward to continuing this invaluable work in 2025.
The VCRCD coordinates two distinct watershed focused groups, the Ventura River Watershed Council, and the Santa Clara River Watershed Committee. Together these groups held 9 meetings throughout the year to learn and share information relevant to the watershed. We also hosted 2 field trips. In June the Ventura River Watershed Council visited the NOAA weather station in Oxnard and in April the Santa Clara River Watershed Committee toured several project locations along the Santa Clara River in partnership with the Southern Steelhead Coalition. The VCRCD was also awarded 2 million dollars from the California Department of Water Resources to conduction climate resiliency planning in the Ventura River Watershed.
Agriculture
The Ventura County Resource Conservation District (VCRCD) has continued its commitment to supporting sustainable agriculture and improving environmental stewardship in the region. Below are key updates and ongoing programs that have had a significant impact on local farmers and landowners:
Interactive Irrigation Management to Reduce Leaching of Nitrogen (IIMRLN)
VCRCD has renewed its partnership with the State Water Resources Control Board to offer free soil moisture monitoring stations to farmers. These stations help manage irrigation efficiently, reducing nitrogen leaching below the root zone, which benefits both water quality and crop health.Free Carbon Farm Plans
VCRCD offered free, comprehensive Carbon Farm Plans. These plans are tailored to each farm’s specific needs and provide recommendations for carbon sequestration, improving drought resilience, and reducing water usage. Implementing these strategies contributes to soil health, enhanced water retention, and cooler microclimates.
3. Agricultural Environmental Water Quality Assistance (AEWQA)
This program incentivizes the implementation of irrigation, sediment, and nutrient management practices to reduce agricultural runoff.
4. Healthy Soils Program (HSP)
This program supports practices that enhance soil health, improve water retention, and reduce emissions. So far, 27 beneficiaries have been selected to receive over $3 million in financial assistance.
5. State Water Efficiency & Enhancement Program (SWEEP)
After a competitive application process, 30 beneficiaries were selected to receive nearly $4 million in financial assistance to conserve water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This program has been vital in supporting the region’s efforts toward sustainable water use in agriculture.
6. Organic Transition Pilot (OTP)
VCRCD launched a new pilot program to support small and socially disadvantaged farmers transitioning to organic farming. The program helps growers navigate the organic certification process.
VCRCD remains dedicated to helping farmers implement environmentally friendly practices, improve water and soil health, and increase resilience to climate challenges.
Climate & Water Impacts of our Ag Projects
New Funding Secured for Ventura County Agriculture in 2025 and beyond...
Wildfire
VCRCD has continued to serve as a co-coordinator for the Ventura County Wildfire Collaborative, helping to represent several regional organizations working together to prepare for future wildfire threats. VCRCD also serves as the lead agency for the Ventura County Prescribed Burn Association. In 2024 the VCRCD was awarded several grants to do research on post wildfire monitoring, wildfire planning, prescribed burning, and outreach. We conducted one wildfire focused webinar, conducted home wildfire assessments, talked to school groups about wildfire preparedness, and designed defensible space plans. We look forward to continuing this important in 2025 with an expanded focus on our prescribed burn program, a revamped outreach program, and increased post fire support efforts.
The VCRCD is thankful for all of our partners and community members who have contributed to our efforts in 2024. We are excited to expand our work in 2025, bringing new programs, ideas, and services to Ventura County.