A Half Century of Stewardship
A programmatic review of conservation by Marin RCD and partner organizations
History of the Marin RCD
The Marin RCD was established in accordance with Section 9208 of Division 9 of the Public Resources Code. A public vote elected the original five members to the Board of Directors on May 19, 1959 (Appendix A) and the first Board Meeting was held on June 24. The district’s land area encompassed the rural areas of Marin County originally totaling 294,456 acres (88% of the county) with approximately 500 farms and ranches on 236,956 acres. Agricultural production included over $10 million of Grade A milk with over 18,000 cattle and nearly 14,000 sheep sold (SCS 1959).
Though Marin County agriculture has undergone various changes (Fischer et al. 1996), Marin RCD began with similar goals and objectives as it has today. The original Conservation Program & Work Plan, finished in July 1959, states:
“The principle aim of this district is to effect, gradually but surely, a steady improvement in the use of Marin County’s vital resources of soil, water, vegetation, and wildlife. It is our firm conviction that the land of this district should be so used that it will produce crops and livestock of good quality, in amounts commensurate with land-use capabilities, permanently without soil depletion…. Our district has been formed to serve its landowners at their request, with no thought of domination or interference with their affairs, but to assist them in making the safest and most efficient use of their farms and ranches.”
With the Work Plan’s focus on controlling soil erosion, it also explained, “Wastage of irreplaceable topsoil is weakening our land. It is also depleting the absorptive ability of our watersheds, causing more loss of precious moisture and greater harm from flash floods.” Other important issues included flood control, rangeland improvement, forest management, conservation of arable lands (irrigation, crop choice, weed control, soil health, etc.), watershed projects (stock ponds and water rights), and education and public relations to deliver a comprehensive district-wide program for Marin County land managers.
Landowners and managers began working with Marin RCD as official cooperators by forming voluntary agreements between the district and the individual land occupant or group, association, or entity of government to provide services according to their Farm/ Ranch Conservation Plan or engineering plans. These Cooperator Agreements enabled technical assistance to be available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service (now Natural Resources Conservation Service) for implementing each conservation practice (Appendix B). By 1968, over 200 cooperators were working with Marin RCD (SCS 1968), increasing to 280 by 1979 (SCS 1980).
Board Leadership
Monthly public meeting were held by the Board of Directors with a dedicated Recording Secretary paid for by an annual grant from the County of Marin. Multiple elections have occurred over the last 50 years to fill available director seats. The minimum commitment is still a voluntary four-year term, with most staying much longer and devoting enormous amounts of time and energy to sustain local agriculture by delivering the Marin RCD mission. The following individuals have served or are serving as Marin RCD Board members:
- Waldo Giacomini (President) 1959–1990
- Domingo Grossi, Jr. 1959–1973
- David Leveroni, Jr. 1959–1973
- Louis Albini 1959–1977
- Thomas Furlong, Jr. 1959–1971
- Walter Weyman 1971–1975
- Donald McIsaac (President) 1973–1996
- William Barboni 1973–1995
- Otto Quast 1975–1989
- Edward Pozzi 1977–2000
- Richard Plant 1989–2012
- Hank Corda (President) 1990–2016
- Sally Gale 1996 — present
- Robert Giacomini 1997 — present
- Steve Doughty 2000–2017
- Terry Sawyer 2012 — present
- Mike Moretti 2016–present
- Peter Martinelli 2017–present
By 1979, Marin County agriculture land slightly decreased to approximately 230,000 acres with about 270 farms and ranches. The district boundaries decreased to 257,000 acres (77% of county) reflecting the expansion of urban areas since 1959 (SCS 1980). Public recreational lands had also expanded to 51,400 acres following the development of the Point Reyes National Seashore (PRNS) which maintained certain agricultural operations. As a result, State and National Parks increased their stewardship needs as cooperators with Marin RCD and NRCS. Private pasture and rangeland was the district’s top priority which totaled 147,700 acres. The conclusion of the 1980 Long Range Plan includes the “Eleventh Commandment” first delivered in 1939 by the Assistant Chief of the US Soil Conservation Service:
“Thou shalt inherit the Holy Earth as a faithful steward, conserving its resources and productivity from generation to generation. Though shalt safeguard thy fields from soil erosion, thy living waters from drying up, thy forests from desolation, and protect thy hills from overgrazing by thy herds, that thy descendants may have abundance forever. If any shall fail in this stewardship of the land, thy fruitful fields shall become sterile stony ground and wasting gullies, and thy descendants shall decrease and live in poverty or perish from the face of the earth.” (Lowdermilk 1954)
Since 1980, landowners’ need for conservation assistance increased during an era of watershed management and planning. This growth process occurred iteratively through each watershed as Marin RCD provided service — Lagunitas during the early 1980s, Walker Creek in the late 1980s, and Stemple Creek in the early 1990s. This watershed approach is reflected in Marin RCD’s 1990 Conservation Program Work Plan which reiterates the overall mission and purpose “to reduce soil erosion and improve water quality in rural Marin County” while focusing on (SCS 1990):
- Walker Creek watershed — enhancement projects focusing on reducing sedimentation into Tomales Bay;
- Stemple Creek — begin watershed plan to reduce soil erosion and protect Estero San Antonio;
- Dairy Waste — continue technical support to dairy farmers; and
- Range management — continue making recommendations to ranchers to improve pasture and range conditions.
The above article is adapted from a report entitled “A Half Century of Stewardship: programmatic review of conservation by Marin RCD & partner organizations (1959‐2009)” published by the University of California Cooperative Extension-Novato. The full report can be found at this link.
The Resource Conservation Network gathers and shares the stories and ideas from its partners and colleagues. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the RCDs managing this publication.
