Goals & Needs

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The RCD of Greater San Diego County seeks two Fellows to assist in our Regional Forest and Fire Capacity (RFFC) program. The RFFC program is funded by the California Natural Resources Agency/DOC, and aims to increase regional capacity to prioritize, develop, and implement projects to improve forest health and fire resilience and increase carbon sequestration in forests throughout California. 

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Fellows will gain experience at the San Diego regional level with local project partners such as: local Tribes, USFS, BLM, CAL FIRE, State Parks, SDSU, SD Canyon Lands, Fire Safe Councils. Tasks may include: tracking demonstration project progress, visiting demonstration project sites, planning and conducting meetings, collecting and organizing data, developing outreach materials and conducting outreach, promoting the project, updating our website, assisting with compilation of a regional priority plan and project list, and assisting partners with project development. Fellows also have the opportunity to work with the other 9 regional entities state-wide that are also using block grants to conduct regional planning, develop projects, conduct outreach, and implement landscape-level forest health projects consistent with the California Forest Carbon Plan and Executive Order B-52-18.

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Broad and inclusive outreach and involvement in decision-making is a priority of the program. Regional block grantees are expected to partner extensively across their region to identify priorities and develop projects. Current block grantees partner heavily with state, federal, tribal, and local governments as well as water agencies, resource conservation districts, fire safe councils, and other nonprofits. 

The program funds local partner capacity development to ensure equitable participation and representation in planning and project development. 

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Capacity Building Projects

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San Diego County Regional Priority Plan: As part of our CNRA Regional Forest and Fire Capacity (RFFC) Program grant , we are working to develop a Regional Priority Plan (RPP) for San Diego County, promoting healthy forest practices through demonstration projects, developing a coordinated effort to reduce the Gold Spotted Oak Borer threat, providing fire management resources to local communities and partners, and developing a Community Wildfire Protection (CWPP) training course.

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The role of the Fellows in this project will be: assist with outreach and stakeholder meetings, data collection and organization for demonstration projects, assist with development of the RPP story map and project lists in collaboration with partners, attending outreach events, traveling throughout the County to meet with partners at treatment sites, develop outreach materials, organize progress report data. Potentially update our website with current program information, map projects, and provide TA and support to partners for project development.

Upon conclusion of the term, we hope to have a RPP completed, and published so that we can use this tool to secure funds for our region to implement forest and fire resiliency projects.

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Organizational & Community Highlights

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The RCD of Greater San Diego County office is located in Lakeside, CA, a suburb of San Diego. Working with our organization, you will have the opportunity to work with numerous partners throughout the County including Tribes, State and Federal agencies, private organizations, non-profits, and community members. Work will primarily take place at the main office in Lakeside, however, fieldwork and site visits will be necessary.

 

The RCD main office encompasses 11 team members who work on an array of program areas such as: pollinator habitat, school gardens, watershed education, regenerative farming, soil health, forest health, and fire prevention. We also manage three other sites: a regenerative educational farm, and two community gardens. Fellows will interact with each of these team members, and also gain familiarity with special districts, grants, budgets, and administrative functions, as desired.

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