Winter Wonder Inland Empire

Welcome to the Winter Edition of District Digest, IERCD's quarterly newsletter! This issue features several opportunities to get involved in our district, program updates, and highlights from our staff. We hope this issue will inspire you to join us in our mission to promote the understanding that the quality of the environment determines the quality of life. Enjoy the read!

Woof!

Meet Rick Gomez

Greetings! I'm Rick Gomez, the Board President of the IERCD. I’ve been a key member of the Board since 2015, but the esteemed title of President was bestowed upon me in 2022. It's been a humbling journey

earning the trust and respect of my colleagues and staff. It is my honor and privilege to serve as a leader within the District and our community in order to achieve our mission of protecting and restoring the environment.

Among the myriad of projects we've undertaken, developing the District's Strategic Plan has been one of the most captivating. It's a roadmap to fulfill our goals of preserving open spaces, elevating forest health & fire resilience, rehabilitating wildlands, supporting sustainable approaches to regional agriculture, and engaging the community through education & outreach. Through the Strategic Plan, we set our vision and direction for our budgets and operational planning activities for the coming years.

It’s a lot of hard work, but it’s all worth it! The real joy comes from watching our staff bloom professionally, seeing their dedication to the District’s tasks, and witnessing this great group of people enjoy this moment of their lives- both professionally and personally! As President, I always strive to balance the professional decorum of our meetings with a healthy dose of not taking ourselves too seriously. Most importantly, I make sure that we always see the bigger picture and remember our purpose: we serve our community and the environment. Together, we work to make a greener future!

Partner Spotlight: Master Gardeners

Through the years, IERCD has formed a valuable partnership with the UC Master Gardener Program. Their extensive knowledge in gardens, plants, native species, drip irrigation, and eco-friendly landscaping perfectly aligns with IERCD's conservation-driven mission. Recently, we connected with the Master Gardeners of Riverside County to bring free, exciting workshops to the Louis Robidoux Parkland & Pecan Grove in Jurupa Valley! The Louis Robidoux Parkland & Pecan Grove (LRPPG) serves as the scenic backdrop for monthly workshops, where community members engage in an hour-long presentation followed by a 30-minute Q&A. Typically, the workshops offer free food to those who RSVP and end with prize giveaways related to the topic.

We hope that you’re able to attend one of our upcoming workshops below!

Click here or on the flyers below to RSVP!

Volunteer with us!

Are you interested in making a positive impact on our environment? Join us for a monthly volunteer day!

RFFC Program Update

Congrats to our Speak-Off Winner!

A speech competition hosted by the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts (CARCD) recently brought together four students from across the state. Each year, "Speak-Off" invites students from all 96 Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs) to speak about environmental issues and conservation. Winners of the local and regional competitions advance to CARCD's annual conference for the state competition. This year’s prompt was groundwater recharge and how RCDs can assist with projects at a local level.

Avery Chang, a sophomore from Chino Hills High School, was among the four students who qualified for the state competition. She entered the competition through the IERCD, which serves not just Chino Hills, but nearly 1,300 square miles of public and private land across San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. Avery’s five-minute speech focused on how RCDs can collaborate with farmers to implement sustainable practices that would benefit groundwater recharge. She urged RCDs to bridge the gap between fellow government agencies and the community by providing public education focused on water conservation, encouraging landowners to divert water to aquifer systems, and promoting the development of water treatment facilities. She concluded her speech by emphasizing the importance of collaboration between all stakeholders to ensure the success of sustainability initiatives. Ultimately, the judges were swayed and Avery won first place!

Avery will receive a total of $750 in prize money for her local, regional, and state-level wins. Congrats, Avery!

Exciting News for Farmers!

We have an exciting update for farmers in our region! IERCD recently awarded $375,000 in direct payments to drought-impacted farmers through the California Underserved and Small Producer Drought Relief Grant Program (CUSP). We‘re serving as a block grant administrator supporting Inland Empire farmers who have been impacted by drought. Farmer’s in California are facing increased costs due to drought conditions ranging from higher water and energy bills to decreased crop yields. These impacts are especially difficult for smaller farms, BIPOC farmers, immigrant farmers, and other socially-disadvantaged farmer and ranchers. The CUSP Drought Relief Assistance Program allows farmers to received up to $20,000 in direct funding support to recover more quickly from drought impacts!

In Round 1, IERCD provided $375,000 in funding to 23 small and underserved farmers. With these relief payments, farmers will be able to invest back into their farm and recoup some of the financial losses that have occurred due to drought conditions including making irrigation upgrades and buying new seed. The overall goal of this program is to create more resiliency for our small and underserved farmers in the face of worsening drought conditions.

Round 2 of the program is open now and closing on February 29th. To apply please visit IERCD’s website and reach out to a technical service provider if you need support with your application.

Photos from the Field: Toyon

Toyon, also known as Christmas berry or by its scientific name, Heteromeles arbutifolia, is popular for its bright red fruits that bring vibrant color to California valleys and foothills during the winter months. These berries, which resemble tiny clusters of apples, also provide sustenance for birds and mammals, including coyotes and bears, during this time. Toyon can be arborescent (tree-shaped) if pruned correctly. Their average height is about 10 feet tall, but they’ve been observed at heights of over 30 feet. Without pruning, it forms a tall, evergreen shrub, which, along with its relatively fast growth, makes it great to use for privacy hedges. With its many uses, Toyon is a great addition to any type of garden situation.