The Verde Natural Resource Conservation District (NRCD) has worked with local landowners to help conserve the soil and water resources of the Verde Valley since December 15, 1941.
Today, the Verde NRCD facilitates the availability of technical and financial assistance to private property owners who want to make better use of their soil and water while protecting our environment, too.
The Verde NRCD's top priority is keeping water in the Verde River so that the people, plants, animals and economies which depend on this precious resource can continue to thrive. The District helps educate the public about the importance of riparian habitat, water resources and the region's unique wildlife. The District works with various local, state and federal organizations and agencies to foster sustainable and balanced usage of the area's natural resources.
The District boundaries encompass all of the Verde Valley as well as Munds Park, Kachina Village and Clint's Well. All of the Verde River stretching from Sycamore Canyon to Horseshoe Reservoir lies with The District's boundaries.
The Verde NRCD is organized under Arizona State Laws (ARS 37-100 to 37-1057) and is governed by a five-member Board of Supervisors. The District is subject to Arizona's Open Meeting Laws and all records are public. The District maintains an office at 285 E. Highway 260 in Camp Verde and conducts a public meeting each monthly.
The Verde NRCD receives the bulk of its operating funds from the Arizona Legislature. Grants and donations make up the remainder of each year's annual budget. The District is required to have a 10-year Long Range Plan and an Annual Plan of Work for each fiscal year.
There are about 3,000 Conservation Districts in America. They were created shortly after the Depression-era Dust Bowl Days to help funnel federal technical assistance to cash-strapped farmers and ranchers. The Verde NRCD was the first District formed in Arizona. Today there are 38 such Conservation Districts in the state.
Over the past 58 years, the Verde NRCD has been involved in some interesting projects.
Local volunteers from the Verde helped form the National Association of Conservation Districts in 1946.
In 1948, over 4,000 people turned out to help remake a Verde River "Farm In A Day." The event gained national attention. The Verde has received the coveted Goodyear Grand Award three times since 1961, most recently just last year.
The Verde helped pioneer the development of Environmental Education Centers in the mid-1980's. Today, their number has grown to 19.
In the late 1980's, the Verde stepped up its efforts to help local residents understand and appreciate the value and importance of the Verde River and its water, riparian, and wildlife resources. The popular Verde River Days began as a concept proposed by The District Board. Today, this annual event draws about 4,000 people to Dead Horse Ranch State Park and is made possible by a broad-based partnership of private and public interests.
The District created a riparian species nursery at Dead Horse in 1991.
The District has conducted extensive mapping efforts and studies regarding the irrigated lands and irrigation diversion structures in the Verde River system.
In the mid 1990's The District received grant funding to publish and distribute The Confluence newsletter on behalf of the Verde Watershed Association.
Former District Chairman Richard Thompson played a key role in the Verde Corridor Project and the formation of the Watershed Association. He served as its Chairman for the first two years of its existence.
The District conducts annual tree planting activities at various sites on the Verde River.
This year, The District conducted a grant writing workshop to help local volunteers become better prepared to solicit financial support for their organizations and causes.
All of the Verde NRCD's programs and activities are made possible by an extensive array of Conservation Partners. The District's two primary Conservation Partners are the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Forest Service. The NRCS was formerly known as the Soil Conservation Service. Long time area farmers and ranchers can provide lengthy testimony to the valuable role of the SCS/NRCS in local agricultural since the 1940's.
The Verde NRCD has work alongside local landowners from the days when the farms numbered over 300 and there were over 14,000 acres of farmland in the Verde Valley. Over the years, these farms have fallen fallow or been sold and subdivided to "grow houses." Today, precious few major agricultural operations remain and their days are probably numbered.
As a result, the Verde NRCD believes in working to support sustainable small scale agricultural and educating the public about the importance of soil and water conservation even on a small residential scale. Unfortunately, many small tract owners appear to make far more inefficient use of water than their large-scale ancestors.
As the Verde Valley area becomes more urbanized, the pressures tend to increase on dwindling riparian and precious water resources.
If all the small tract owners over irrigate, over pump and overdraft their water resources will any water be left for the river? What about the riparian area and the wildlife which depends on them? Can more people work together to conserve those few resources important to so many?
Just 34 years ago there were 297 farming operations in the Verde Valley. Today, 90-percent of those operations are gone. Will any remnants of our agricultural heritage survive much longer? What will happen in another 30 years?
The Verde NRCD believes that soil and especially water conservation are absolutely vital for a healthy future for our culture, economy and environment. Regardless of whether agriculture survives in any form, the importance of continued soil and water conservation cannot be overstated. Whatever the future may hold, Verde NRCD remains dedicated to champion the cause of soil and water conservation.