Pima Natural Resource Conservation District

Pima Center For Conservation Education, Inc.

2.14 Million Acres of Soil and Water Conservation in Eastern Pima County, Arizona

Our Mission

as defined by the Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S. §37-1001):

TO PROVIDE FOR

  • Restoration and conservation of lands, water and soil resources
  • Preservation of Water Rights
  • Control and prevention of soil erosion
  • Public Education

AND THEREBY

  • Conserve Natural Resources
  • Conserve Wildlife
  • Protect the Tax Base
  • Protect private, State and federal lands
  • Protect and Restore the State’s Rivers, Streams and associated Riparian Habitats
  • Including livestock, fish and wildlife dependent on those habitats

IN SUCH MANNER TO PROTECT & PROMOTE

  • Public Health
  • Public Safety
  • General Public Welfare

About Us

In 1942, the Arizona State Legislature created the Natural Resource Conservation Districts, including the Pima Natural Resource Conservation District. Presently, Arizona has 31 Districts. The Districts continue to be governed under Chapter 6 of Title 37 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. The State of Arizona now also recognizes 10 Tribal Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

The Pima Natural Resource Conservation  District (District or Pima NRCD)  is structured as a local unit of Arizona government. It is presently funded by the Arizona State Legislature through the Arizona State Lands Natural Resources Division. The District may also accept private donations. The District’s Board of Supervisors consists of three elected and two Governor-appointed Supervisors. The expertise of the Pima NRCD and all other Natural Resource Conservation Districts in Arizona is recognized by Arizona statute 37-1054 (A) as follows:

“This state recognizes the special expertise of the districts in the fields of land, soil, water and natural resources management within the boundaries of the district.”

The District works together with and represents “cooperators,” who are persons having natural resources under their control and who have each voluntarily signed an agreement to pursue soil and water conservation efforts in cooperation with the District.

Click here to view a map of land ownership within the Pima NRCD 

    Next Public Board Meeting:

    Tuesday, June 17, 2025,  1:00 PM

    Location:
    NRCS Plant Materials Center Conference Room (west adobe building, north door)
    3241 North Romero Road, Tucson, Arizona 85705

    For the latest meeting announcements and agendas, click here.

    On the Agenda:

    • District resource issues assessment
    • FY ’26 Budget  requests and  plans of work
    • Consider proposals for conservation projects
    • Update long range plan
    • Begin planning for fall Local Workgroup Meeting
    • Welcome new cooperators!

    Become a Cooperator

     Why become a Pima NRCD District Cooperator?  

    The Pima NRCD can help connect you with federal, state, and/or local funding resources and help you find experts and contractors to assist you with your natural resource conservation projects. 

    Moreover, as a local unit of Arizona government, a Natural Resource Conservation District has the unique legal authority to coordinate with individual landowners and with other units of government at the local, state, and federal level to resolve resource management issues.  Coordination occurs as equal partners.  Federal laws including the National Environmental Policy Act and the Federal Land Planning and Management Act require federal agencies to coordinate with local units of government.

    As a cooperator in a Natural Resource Conservation District, you get a seat at the table in advising  the USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service  to prioritize local resource issues and focus on priority geographical areas. The NRCDs are directly involved annually in helping the NRCS create its ranking system to prioritize applications for federal Farm Bill conservation grant, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Conservation Reserve Program and other Farm Bill related grant funding.

    “District Cooperator” means any person who has entered into a cooperative agreement with the District for the purpose of protecting, conserving and practicing wise use of the natural resources under his or her control (A.R.S. ‘ 37-1003).

    A District cooperator who resides within the District boundaries and is registered to vote in the State of Arizona

    a) may vote in biennial Pima NRCD District Supervisor elections,

    b) is eligible to run for a Pima NRCD Supervisor office, or

    c) is eligible for appointment to the office of Pima NRCD Supervisor.

    To become a District cooperator, click this link to be taken to an encrypted online Cooperator Agreement.

    Perennial grasses re-establish behind a semicircular one-rock dam called a media-luna. The dam slows sheet flooding, reduces soil erosion, and prevents gullying.

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    Contact Us

    Address

    3241 North Romero Road
    Tucson, Arizona 85705

    Phone

    1+ (520) 250-9314