INLAND EMPIRE

RESOURCE CONSERVATION DISTRICT

2014 - 2015 ANNUAL REPORT

Contents

Meet Inland3Conservation & Restoration4Empire RCD

Water Conservation7 Projects & Programs

General10 Education

1314

Financial Report

District Map

Photo: Etiwanda Creek in winter

11 Grant Programs

IERCD Annual Report 3

MEET INLAND EMPIRE RESOURCE CONSERVATION DISTRICT

PresidentPaul Williams

Vice-PresidentCheryl Avent

Secretary-TreasurerTim Johnson

Directors Alison MathisenTerrie Andrews

Brad BullerJim Earsom

Associate Directors Jim Harrington

Molly Bogh

District ManagerMandy Parkes

Project ManagerKatie Heer

Field EcologistAaron Echols

Education CoordinatorAmy Bonczewski

Conservation EducatorShari Tindall

Education AssistantAlma Eichman

Sr. Administrative AssistantKate Warren

Administrative AssistantJennifer Arellano

District ConservationistKim Lary Forester

Peter Hoagland Archeologist

Daniel Grijalva Soil ConservationistCindy Montepagano

Mission: The purpose of the Inland Empire Resource Conservation District is to promote the understanding that the quality of the environment determines the quality of life. In cooperation with landowners, local, state and federal agencies, the agricultural community, environmental and community groups, we will promote good stewardship of our soil, water and other natural resources. We will provide strong education programs that will encourage today’s youth to accept the responsibility of conserving our natural resources for tomorrow’s generations.

IERCD STAFF

NRCS PARTNERS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

4 IERCD Annual Report

CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION

The focus on conservation, enhancement, and restoration of a variety of habits for the benefit of dependent spe-cies is one of the key functions of the IERCD. As part of this mission cornerstone, IERCD field, project manage-ment, and administrative staff spent the bulk of 2014-15 furthering physical progress within current resource

uplift projects and performing tasks required to advance projects that remain in the development phase. Departmen-tal improvements in the 2014-15 operating period including elevated use of remote monitoring; increased accuracy and volume of species data through use of field laptops, ipads, and trail cameras; and elevated partnership with key District cooperators.

Project highlights included:• 2,485 native plants installed • 115 acres conserved • 462 acres enhanced and restored

Mitigation Program and General ISR

SPECIFIC SITE HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED:

The IERCD is in its 11th year of proj-ect work, in partnership with the

Santa Ana Watershed Association, on the 34.56 acres of conservation, restoration, and education/outreach mitigation assigned in response to impacts from flood control improve-ments to San Timoteo Creek. Work in cooperation with this assign-ment began in 2004 with a focus on control of target invasives such as Arundo donax, Tamarix spp. and the brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater), in addition to comprehensive monitoring of key native species with a focus on the endangered least Bell’s vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus).

Previous assignment of conser-vation of riparian property adjacent to the creek transitioned to active restoration of degraded habitat, and 2014-15 represented ongoing maintenance of the 2-acre Phase I, completion of 2-acre Phase II and design of 2-acre Phase III of this el-ement of the project. Phase II con-sists primarily of establishment of riparian forest, while Phase III will be established with an eye to increased diversity and development of critical edges, both of which are projected to attract additional food sources for least Bell’s vireo and other native wildlife in the region.

Approximately 1,060 mixed pole cuttings were installed as part of Phase II, which has also seen tremendous recruitment of a variety of native Atriplex spp.

Reach 3B Phase II Enhancement and Restoration Projects Move Forward

IERCD’s 11-year efforts have transformed much of San Timoteo Canyon.

IERCD Annual Report 5

Site preparation, including soil treatment, invasives remov-

al, and determination of presence of small mammals took place throughout this 6.18-acre prop-erty owned by the IERCD, in ad-vance of active enhancement and restoration for the benefit of area burrowing owls. Following this work, biologists from IERCD part-ner agency the Santa Ana Water-shed Association (SAWA) installed artificial burrows which were then regularly monitored by SAWA in partnership with students from the University of Redlands.

Site seeding was also conduct-ed in an effort to reintroduce na-tive shrub cover and forbs suitable for attracting and sustaining small mammals to support a future bur-

Chino-Bickmore Burrowing Owl Restoration

rowing owl presence anticipated on site. Work in 2015-16 will include on-going monitoring, additional seed-ing and container stock installation,

and control of invasive plants for increased site function for the ben-efit of burrowing owls.

Artificial burrow installation with IERCD partner SAWA

The IERCD partnered with the City of Big Bear Lake to acquire

a conservation easement over this 6-acre property purchased by the City as part of their valley-wide

CONSERVATION, RESTORATION AND MITIGATION, continued from page 4

trails project. While a portion of the property owned by the City will be used in trail development, the full site encumbered by IERCD’s easement will be uplifted through a

combination of conservation, en-hancement, and restoration work necessary, given the site’s history as a commercial trout pond.

Decades of artificial water reten-tion and sedimentation have con-tributed to overall quality impair-ment within Rathbun Creek where this property is located, which is a major tributary to Big Bear Lake. Remediation of the site’s function-al impairment is critical for proper-ty and Lake function, and will range from elevated monitoring and pre-vention of site trespass to removal of invasives and trash to reintro-duction of historic aquatic value prior to development of the pond.

The work done on this property will also be monitored in perpetu-ity by IERCD and supported via un-derlying fee title ownership by the City.

Big Bear Trout Pond: Conservation, Enhancement and Restoration

IERCD aims to improve the water quality and function of Rathbun Creek.

6 IERCD Annual Report

CONSERVATION, RESTORATION AND MITIGATION, continued from page 5

SECTION II: Enhancement and Mitigation TablesIERCD Mitigation Program: Enhancement and Restoration/New and Maintained Former Removal Areas

Project Location Mitigation Type Size (Acres)13th Street Sports Park Yucaipa Restoration 0.57Alabama Street Culvert Jurupa Valley Restoration 0.11

Bella Strada Chino Restoration 6.16CalNev Pipeline Cajon Pass Enhancement 1.08

Chino Hills - Custom Home Chino Restoration 0.7ESRI Jurupa Valley Restoration 2.96

Highpointe San Timoteo Canyon Enhancement 0.5Nevada Business Park Jurupa Valley Restoration 0.003

ProLogis - Offsite Project Jurupa Valley Enhancement 0.55Reach 3B San Timoteo Canyon Enhancement 419.78Reach 3B San Timoteo Canyon Restoration 10

RCFCD - Day Creek Stage 6, Phase 2 Jurupa Valley Restoration 2RCFCD - Day Creek Stage 6, Phase 2 Jurupa Valley Enhancement 2.1

RCFCD - Day Creek Line J Jurupa Valley Enhancement 0.6Rialto Channel Devil's Canyon Enhancement 3.3

Riverside Flume Pipeline Jurupa Valley Restoration 1San Sevaine Devil's Canyon Enhancement 8.95

SCE - El Casco Jurupa Valley Restoration 0.42SoCal Gas - Smith Creek Banning Restoration 0.4

Wilson Creek Turnout Banning Enhancement 1.2YVWD - San Tim Outfall Jurupa Valley Restoration 0.005

Total: 462.388 acres

IERCD Mitigation Program: ConservationProject Location Mitigation Type Size (Acres)

Big Bear Pebble Plain Big Bear Lake Open Space Preservation 12Big Bear Single Owner Mitigation Big Bear Lake Open Space Preservation 0.28

Big Bear Trout Pond Big Bear Lake Open Space Preservation 6Centex Sycamore Heights Chino Hills Open Space Preservation 25

Chino Basin Desalter Authority Big Bear Lake Open Space Preservation 1

Chino-Bickmore Property Chino Open Space Preservation 6.18

Goose Creek Jurupa Valley Open Space Preservation 45Joseph Nicholas Homes Redlands Created Habitat Preservation 6

Oak Glen Basins Yucaipa Open Space Preservation 2

ProLogis LogisticsCoopers Creek/

BeaumontCreated Habitat Preservation 8.45

Prologis Ontario Etiwanda Channel Created Habitat Preservation 4Total: 115.91 acres

Mitigation Grand Total: 578.298 acres

IERCD Annual Report 7

WATER CONSERVATION

The IERCD’s geographic position in the state in combination with its organizational mission and goals placed water conservation programming near the top of District 2014-15 priorities. Existing partnerships with seven separate water providers continued in 2014-15, in the form of youth classroom programs, adult service club

presentations, installation of drought-tolerant demonstration gardens, and focused invasive vegetation removals. In addition to water provider partner-funded work, the IERCD also performed District-funded supplemental education, outreach, and invasive control work within its nearly 1,300-square-mile service area. Ongoing drought and increasing mandates for conservation resulted in elevated need for water use efficiency education and outreach, both in this current and in future fiscal years.

The following section details 2014-15 reporting period projects and programs, designed and implemented by the IERCD to address the urgent need for water conservation.

2014 - 2015 PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS

YOUTH WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAMS/EVENTS:

Classroom programming focused on water conservation contin-

ued for all requesting districts with-in the IERCD service area, including those within the boundaries of water provider partners. These include the Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water Dis-trict, the City of San Bernardino Mu-nicipal Water Department, the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District, the San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District, the San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency, the

West Valley Water District, and the Yu-caipa Valley Water District.

Programs are offered to students in Kindergarten through 12th grade, and are designed and presented con-sistent with the Next Generation Sci-ence Standards for California Public Schools. Each program includes in-teractive Prezi presentations and games, engaging with the hands-on water conservation watershed mod-el and/or planting native climate-ap-propriate seeds to take home, and a post-program content quiz.

Classroom Water Conservation Programming for Youth

Water Poster Contest

Total water conservation classroom presentations: • 13,350 students reached

in 445 programs

In addition to general classroom programming, the IERCD partnered

with the City of San Bernardino’s Mu-nicipal Water Department to facili-tate their annual water poster calen-dar contest. The IERCD performed outreach and coordination between the water department and schools within the San Bernardino City Joint Unified School District, which ulti-mately resulted in a very successful contest with hundreds of entries spanning 1st to 12th grades.

Conservation Educator Shari Tindall shows students how to be water-smart.

8 IERCD Annual Report

WATER CONSERVATION PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS, continued from page 7

ADULT WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAMS/EVENTS:

Drought-Response Activities Table: Adult Water Conservation Presentations

Group Date City AttendeesRialto Rotary Club 11/4/2015 Rialto 30

Redlands Evening Kiwanis 1/29/2015 Redlands 20Colton Rotary Club 1/16/2015 Colton 15

Redlands Lions 2/12/2015 Redlands 15Rialto Business and Profes-

sional Women2/17/2015 Rialto 20

Feldhym Library 2/19/2015 San Bernardino 20Redlands Democratic Club 2/21/2015 Redlands 40

Rowe Library 2/24/2015 San Bernardino 20WVWD Hosted Event 3/14/2015 Rialto 50

Grimes Elementary Par-ents Group

3/18/2015 Rialto 40

Redlands Horticultural Society

3/19/2015 Redlands 40

Villasenor Library 3/24/2015 San Bernardino 10Torch Club 4/6/2015 Redlands 28

Highland Library 4/22/2015 Highland 40Redlands HOA 5/22/2015 Redlands 15

Redlands Rotary 6/4/2015 Redlands 40Rialto Lions Club 6/12/2015 Rialto 20

Cali-Caipa Lions Club 6/17/2015 Yucaipa 25

During the 2014-15 fiscal year the IERCD continued to offer

water conservation outreach pro-grams to local community groups through a renewed partnership with San Bernardino Valley Mu-nicipal Water District and a new partnership with West Valley Water District.

Between both service areas, 18 presentations were given to groups including the Redlands Horticul-ture Club, the Yucaipa Women’s Club, and the Rialto Lion’s Club.

These presentations outline drought conditions, California wa-ter capture and provision history, and provide updated information on conservation need and individ-ual provider incentives and poli-

cies for residents. At the end of the presentations, all attendees are entered into raffles for drought tolerant plants or copies of native/climate-appropriate landscaping books, and also receive informa-

tional handouts and small give-aways such as native seed and re-usable bags.

These programs focus on en-gaging residents in understanding critical need for increased resource conservation, and to increase con-nection between residents and wa-ter provider partners. The IERCD remains excited to provide such a core service for area water retailers and wholesalers as they attempt to gain resident cooperation in reduc-tion in residential and commercial use as mandated throughout Cali-fornia.

Total direct adult outreach: 18 presentations, 488 Attendees

Adults attend a water conservation educational event at the Smiley Library in Redlands jointly presented by the IERCD and San Bernardino Valley MWD.

IERCD Annual Report 9

WATER CONSERVATION PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS, continued from page 8

LIFE AFTER LAWNS:TEACHING NATIVE REPLACEMENT

DROUGHT-TOLERANT DEMONSTRATION GARDENS

In the 2014-15 reporting period, the IERCD began working with local

resident Molly Bogh on facilitation of free presentations for residents based on her Life After Lawns book. These presentations are designed to provide interested residents with the tools necessary for conversion of traditional sod-based landscapes to those focused on inclusion of pri-marily native, climate-appropriate species.

Two presentations took place with area water provider partners—one half-day with the East Valley Water District in Highland and one full day presentation with the Yucaipa Val-ley Water District in Yucaipa. The

former presentation brought just over 20 interested residents to learn about the benefits of landscape con-version in water savings and wildlife support, while the latter drew over 60 attendees for an in-depth look at the sod removal and native replace-ment process.

Drought Response Activities Table: Life After LawnsActivity Event/Location Partner Est. Reach

Presentation Highland East Valley Water District 21Presentation Yucaipa Yucaipa Valley Water District 62

Booth Sustainability Festival

Redlands Sustainability Net-work

800

Booth Inland Empire Resources Fair

IEfficient 150

In addition to focused presenta-tions, the IERCD has also featured Ms. Bogh’s expertise at events in the past fiscal year including the Inland Empire Resources Fair and the annu-al Sustainability Festival, both held at the University of Redlands.

Totals: 4 events; 1,033 residents reached

During this reporting period, the IERCD was able to continue the

execution of drought tolerant gar-dens through new and expanded partnerships with San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District (SBVWCD) and West Valley Water District (WVWD). Contracts with both districts combined to result in six gardens established at schools through shared service areas, each of which received 25 to 35 drought tolerant plants, mulch, and IERCD staff time in planning and implemen-tation.

Each participating classroom also received an in-class lesson on water conservation to prepare the students for their garden activity. Interest this fiscal year was high, which resulted

in elevated requirements for partic-ipation including formal application process to ensure interest in partic-ipation and long-term garden stew-ardship and use prior to selection.

The development of student-fo-cused school gardens is accompa-nied by a diverse suite of associated benefits, including establishment of useful habitat for local wildlife, de-crease in water usage over similar areas of landscaping, and elevated soil health.

For students, these gardens rep-resent outdoor classrooms capable of illustrating a number of stan-dards-based concepts in a variety of subjects. These demonstration gar-dens also allow parents to get a bet-ter understanding of landscaping op-tions available to them as traditional grass turf landscaping is becoming impractical with the drought condi-tions facing Southern California.

Drought Response Activities Table: Native Plant Mini-Garden GrantSchool Location Water Provider Partner Students

Bloomington Christian School Bloomington West Valley Water District 40Moore Middle School Redlands San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District 120

Morris Elementary Colton West Valley Water District 35North Verdemont Elementary San Bernardino San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District 40

Zimmerman Elementary Bloomington West Valley Water District 40Totals 275

10 IERCD Annual Report

GENERAL EDUCATION2014 - 2015 EDUCATION AND OUTREACH

YOUTH GENERAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS

SPEAK-OFF COMPETITION

Performance of free class-room presentations that are

standards-correlated and con-servation-themed is one of the longest-standing elements of IERCD’s education and public out-reach programming. The total programming performed in 2014-15, excluding water programs and students reached (which is accounted for in a separate sec-tion of this report) included 525 presentations to 15,750 students.

Program Topic Programs Performed Residents Reached

Wonders of Wetlands 118 3,540Toil of Soil 77 2,310

Stormwater Pollution 40 1,200Reduce, Reuse, Recycle 114 3,420

Growing Native 72 2,160Energy Conservation 30 900

Backyard Conservation 74 2,220

Totals 525 15,750

On November 1st, the IERCD hosted its 2014 Speak-Off

competition, an annual event invit-ing high school students within the District’s service area to address a rotating conservation topic in a 3-5 minute speech. The current

topic invited contestants to discuss increasing fuel loads statewide and implications on potential for cata-strophic wildfire and impacts on de-pendent species.

Students from Colton, Highland, Mira Loma, Rancho Cucamonga, and

San Bernardino participated, with senior Valerie Kwee from Eleanor Roosevelt High School taking first place. Following the competition, students and their families were invited to tour the competition lo-cation, Cucamonga Valley Water District’s Frontier Project located in the City of Rancho Cucamonga. This LEED platinum building was constructed with many interior and exterior conservation features including heating/cooling systems and climate-appropriate land-scaping, and was selected for the competition location given its dual environmental and conservation education focus.

Following the IERCD’s compe-tition, Ms. Kwee took first at the SoCal Inland Region competition before moving on to the statewide contest at the California Associa-tion of Resource Conservation Dis-tricts’ conference in Ventura.

Finalists in the IERCD Speak-Off competition pose at the Frontier Project.

IERCD Annual Report 11

NATIVE PLANT WORKSHOP: REDLANDS SUSTAINABILITY NETWORKGENERAL EDUCATION AND OUTREACH, continued from page 10

In October of 2014, the IERCD put on the second annual native plants

workshop in partnership with the Redlands Sustainability Network (RSN). More than 125 participants arrived to listen to a lecture by local native plant expert Linda Richards, who then took audience questions on multiple aspects of use of cli-mate-appropriate native species in landscaping.

Following the lecture, participants were invited to attend a plant sale adjacent to the presentation area, where an assortment of species best-suited for this region of Cali-fornia had been provided for sale by Riverside-based Mockingbird Nurs-ery. All participants received lecture booklets, native seed mixes, and an assortment of native plant informa-

tion for use in post-lecture imple-mentation.

The final product of the IERCD-RSN collaboration was multiple levels of information and example conveyance to attendees on need for and methods for installation of native landscaping, both for wildlife benefit and increased water conser-vation.

IERCD Outreach Events (excluding water conservation)Event Location Residents Reached

Arbor Day Mary Vagle Nature Center, Fontana 275Earth Day Frontier Project, Rancho Cucamonga 175Earth Day Chino Wetlands Earth Day 75Earth Day Chaffey College, Rancho Cucamonga 125

Healthy RC/ Earth Day Victoria Gardens Cultural Center, Rancho Cucamonga 125Highland Trail Days Historic Iron Bridge Trailhead, Highland 100

Huerta Del Valle Community Event Huerta Del Valle Community Garden, Ontario 75Kid’s Day San Timoteo Canyon, Redlands 75

Landscape/Water Conservation Festival Chino Basin Water Conservation District 125Morongo Earth Day Potrero Park, Cabazon 175

National Public Lands Day Mary Vagle Nature Center, Fontana 125Native Plant Workshop Redlands 125

Reach Out Event Sam Alba Park, Ontario 100

Rialto Pollution Prevention Fair Rialto City Hall 200

IERCD GRANTS2014 - 2015 PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS

NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (NRCS)

The IERCD entered into a coopera-tive agreement with federal part-

ner entity the NRCS, to cover District work on behalf of Service programs focused on assistance for adoption of practices to elevated health and function of forested areas and agri-cultural lands within their shared ser-vice areas. The agreement enabled training of multiple IERCD employ-

ees and partner agencies to enable provision of assistance in areas in-cluding but not limited to biological monitoring, mapping, outreach to eligible participants, and administra-tive items including documentation and meetings with partners.

Assistance from the IERCD proved critical in advancing the work nec-essary for success in improving the

health and function of key regions of the San Bernardino National For-est, and also improved Service com-munications with Spanish-speaking producers, through bilingual District staff help. Additional cooperative agreement work between the Dis-trict and Service is planned for future fiscal years.

Totals: 14 events. 1,875 people reached

12 IERCD Annual Report

HABITAT CONSERVATION FUND

In the current period, the IERCD continued its collaboration in the

current period with the County of San Bernardino on implementation of the K-12 field trip program at the North Etiwanda Preserve (NEP), a 1,700-acre, and growing, open space in the hills above Rancho Cucamon-ga. Fourteen trips consisting of 454 students were facilitated over the 2014-15 fiscal year, with an addi-tional eight trips cancelled due to extreme heat and presence of dan-gerous wildlife in proximity to the Preserve’s trail system.

Students from nine schools in cit-ies including Bloomington, Chino Hills, Colton, Rialto, and San Ber-nardino participated, all of whom engaged in age-appropriate, stan-dards-correlated pre-hike stations focusing on various biological and culturally significant aspects of the Preserve. Following station partic-ipation, students engaged in varia-

tions of the 3.25-mile Preserve loop, during which time trail docents fa-cilitated activities focusing on use of GPS and compass equipment; scav-enger hunts; and wildlife monitoring and documentation. Planning for the 2015-16 academic year is pro-

jecting a significant increase of total field trips performed, with accom-panying goals regarding diversity of school location and grade level to ensure participation remains open to all area residents interested in the property.

SEMPRA ENERGY GRANT

The IERCD continued work on the funding provided by Sempra En-

ergy for performance of educational programming in the Creative After-

school Programs for Success (CAPS), the subsidized aftercare in the San Bernardino City Unified School Dis-trict. This grant was originally re-

quested in 2009 in cooperation with IERCD partner the Santa Ana Water-shed Association, and it is the Asso-ciation who continues maintenance and oversight of these grant funds with IERCD charged with primary implementation of activities.

Major updates to IERCD Sempra programming this year included per-formance of bilingual presentations, continual refinement of Prezi mes-sage and formatting, and inclusion of outdoor activities accompany-ing IERCD programs such as insect capture and identification as part of Backyard Habitat instruction. The IERCD also increased coordination with CAPS management staff to better design and facilitate presen-tations for maximum content recep-tion and retention from students. The grant remains active for the next academic year.

GRANT PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS, continued from page 11

Students take a break and compare notes at the North Etiwanda Preserve

Hands-on learning is a big part of the Backyard Habitat instruction.

IERCD Annual Report 13

IERCD Audited Financial Statements Summary 2014-15

Statement of activitieS for Year ending June 30, 2015

   PROGRAM EXPENSES  Salaries and Benefits $422,578Services and Supplies 639,561depreciation 9,330   total Program expenses 1,071,469   PROGRAM REVENUES  

SaWa Projects 110,876mitigation funds  880,875capital contributions  17,495reimbursable grant revenue 65,007total Program revenues 1,008,996net Program revenue - $62,473

GENERAL REVENUESProperty taxes 1,167,946investment earnings 18,742other 6,150total general revenues 1,192,838change in net Position 1,223,139

net Position- Beginning  9,750,163

net assets- ending $10,973,302

Statement of net PoSition for Year ending June 30, 2015

ASSETS  cash and cash equivalents $9,367,289due from other governments 67,408interest receivable 2,940taxes receivable 6,029other receivables 73,280Prepaid expense 6,508restricted assets   cash and cash equivalents 92,774

net Pension asset 63,953capital assets, net of depreciation 1,489,646total assets 11,178,794

   LIABILITIES  accounts Payable 86,120deposits 53,564accrued Payroll 2,663compensated absences payable  19,690total Liabilities 162,037   NET POSITION  invested in capital assets 1,489,646restricted for mitigation Projects 3,410,119unrestricted 6,073,537

total net assets $10,973,302

14 IERCD Annual Report

The Inland Empire Resource Con-servation District is a special dis-

trict responsible for the preservation and wise management of the resourc-es of 823,390 acres, or approximately 1,286 square miles, of public and pri-vate land in the Inland Empire of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.

Our 21st century resource conser-vation district emerged from the mul-tiple area soil conservation districts, the first of which was the Mira Loma SCD, established in 1941. Area SCDs merged together to form the Inland Empire West End Resource Conserva-tion District and the East Valley Re-source Conservation District.

On July 1, 2005 the Inland Empire West Resource Conservation District and the East Valley Resource Con-servation District were consolidated by the San Bernardino County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAF-CO) to form what is now the Inland Empire Resource Conservation Dis-trict.

Today, the board and staff of the Inland Empire RCD work tirelessly to preserve both the original mission of the Soil Conservation Act of 1935 and the additional resource concerns since identified, including increasing num-bers of invasive species, loss of wild-life habitat, and diminishing water supply and quality. Continuing to find new ways of efficiently confronting re-source issues is an ongoing challenge, addressed primarily through restoring natural wildlife habitat, eliminating exotic species and putting increasing emphasis on conservation-focused public outreach and youth education.

Today’s IERCD

IERCD Annual Report 15

Additional Information is available by request or online at:25864-K Business Center Drive, Redlands, Ca 92374 | 909) 799-7407 | www.iercd.org

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