September 2023

Pollinator Habitat Program

Recently, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) awarded $1.6 million through its Pollinator Habitat Program (PHP) to the Cachuma Resource Conservation District, and its partners (Community Environmental Council, Santa Barbara Botanical Garden, and Ventura County Resource Conservation District), to boost pollinator habitat on agricultural lands.

Interested farmers and ranchers in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties can reach out today to be considered for up to $200,000 in funding to plant and maintain pollinator habitats such as hedgerows, cover crops, or riparian forest buffers on your land. We are here to support you through every step of the process, from application to implementation. Check out more on our webpage: vcrcd.org/php/

California Wildfire Conference

October 24th -26th

Coastal Quest, in partnership with Ventura County Wildfire Collaborative, is proud to present the first California Wildfire Conference. This three-day exchange will bring together a diverse community of practitioners to focus on understanding, preventing, and recovering from wildfires. The conference will be held from October 24-26, 2023, in Ventura County at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Participants will be drawn from California, Western US States and globally where wildfire and communities’ interface.

Classroom Lessons

US Fish and Wildlife staff partnered with the VCRCD to deliver several classroom lessons in Santa Paula. Students were able to touch fossils, examine native plant seeds, touch slimy seaweed and learn about local bird species. Many of the students loved tasting lemonade berries and local cherries.

Heirloom Festival

The Ventura County Resource Conservation District was invited to table at the Heirloom Festival at the Ventura County Fairgrounds earlier this month.

We enjoyed the opportunity to connect with local growers and spread awareness and education for our agriculture and pollinator programs.

Beach Field Trip

Santa Paula 5th graders and VCRCD staff enjoyed a fun day at the beach. Students were able to take surreys on the bike path at San Buenaventura State Beach, make beach art, learn how to use binoculars, and dug for sand crabs. This is one of several field trips being funded by the California Coastal Commission through their Whale Tail license plate grant program.

If you would like to partner with VCRCD for future youth grant opportunities please email us at Heidi.Ortloff@vcrcd.org

Santa Clara Valley Wildfire Expo

The VCRCD and the City of Santa Paula hosted a Wildfire Expo for residents of Santa Paula, Fillmore, and Piru.

This event featured speakers from the Ventura County Fire Department, Department of Insurance, and Southern California Edison.

To learn more about wildfire programs in Ventura County please email us at Mason.Thurmond@vcrcd.org

Monarch and Pollinator Regional Advisory Committee

General Meeting

September 28

2 pm - 4pm

For more information visit the MRAC webpage

Ventura River Watershed Council

General Meeting

October 5th

9 am -11:30am

For more information visit venturawatershed.org

Santa Clara River Watershed Committee

General Meeting

October 26

9am - 11:30am

For more information email Heidi.Ortloff@vcrcd.org

Monarch Butterflies Begin Their Migration In Fall

Every year monarch butterflies migrate to Mexico and the California coast to overwinter. While their population levels are alarmingly low there are actions we can take to help. Refrain from pesticide use this fall, while monarchs are migrating to avoid unwanted exposure to chemicals that could harm monarchs and other pollinators.

To stay up to date on monarch and pollinator news join our Monarch Alerts mailing list.

Join Monarch Alerts

VCRCD offers several planting and weeding events throughout the year. To receive emails when these events arise please sign up at the link below.

Become a Volunteer

If you can't volunteer your time consider making a donation to the VCRCD. Donations can help pay for resources that may not be covered by grant funds.

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