Contact Person:   Penny Dockry
Address:   332 5. Juniper Street, Suite 110 Escondido, CA 92025
Phone/Fax: 760-745-2061 FAX: 760-745-3210
email/
  penny@rcdsandiego.org Web site:   http://www.rcdsandiego.org

Purpose:
To help the people of Greater San Diego County protect, conserve and restore natural resources through information, education, technical assistance programs.

Authority:
California Public Resources Code - Division 9

Top Five Watershed Issues:
1.  Water Management ( Conservation, Quality, Pollution Prevention & stormwater)
2.  Exotic Species Removal and revegetation
3.  Habitat Management & Conservation
4.  Green Waste Management
5.  Fuel Load Management for Fire Prevention, Conservation Education & Marketing Programs.

Major Challenge:
To help municipalities coordinate educational efforts on a watershed basis.

Lesson learned:
Greater accomplishments through cooperation with others of similar interests. Have decision makers at the table during stakeholder involvement sessions.

Education Perspective on Watershed Management

The RCD's mission is to provide for the wise use and management of our natural resources through programs that increase awareness and promotion of conservation. The RCD's sphere of influence encompasses eight watersheds in San Diego County including Carlsbad, San Dieguito, Penasquitos, San Diego, Coronado, Sweetwater, Otay and Tijuana.

We believe that education is the key to the protection, conservation and restoration of our natural resources. The RCD develops and delivers educational programs on watershed management and helps coordinate watershed groups. This presentation will focus only on the education programs.

Elements of RCD Watershed Based Education Outreach Program Our focus is water quality, stormwater runoff and nonpoint source pollution, agricultural and construction site erosion & sedimentation.

Watershed presentations
We currently reach between 5 - 6,000 students each year.
Grade K-2 Water Pollution
Grades 3-5 Watershed Awareness
Grades 6-12 Water Quality
Watershed based presentations to community groups through earth day fairs and other special events.
Sweetwater Watershed Summit
A watershed educational conference for high school students that partners 14 agencies and businesses with four high schools in the watershed. Students will develop projects in the watershed to improve water quality.

Workshops-
erosion control (targeted to municipalities)
composting (targeted to agricultural operations)
fire management (targeted to communities)
stormwater staff training (targeted to municipalities)
Brochures, Information & Videos
Successes:
· Partnerships
· Imitation
Challenges:
· Cooperation on a watershed basis among municipalities (i.e. stormwater)
· Funding