What a Natural Resource Conservation District Is
In Arizona, conservation districts are called natural resource conservation districts, or NRCDs. A State Land Department summary of the law says Arizona created NRCDs in 1941 to restore and conserve the state's lands and soil resources (A.R.S. 37-1001). The state has 32 NRCDs administered by the Arizona State Land Department (ASLD), plus 10 Soil and Water Conservation Districts created under Tribal law. The nonprofit Arizona Association of Conservation Districts represents all 42, according to a National Association of Conservation Districts article.
The State Land Department describes NRCDs as locally controlled bodies, governed by elected Boards of Supervisors and supported financially and administratively by ASLD. They act as regional experts on conservation needs and practices, and many run education centers for their communities.
What Districts Do
Under current law, summarized in the legislative document above, NRCDs can conduct research, run soil health programs, enter conservation agreements, develop comprehensive resource plans and establish education centers (A.R.S. 37-1054). ASLD says it partners with districts to direct federal, state and non-profit grant funding to conservation projects on State Land, support grazing and agricultural productivity, provide technical assistance on land management planning, conduct educational outreach and advise on natural resource issues. Districts and NRCS can also sign memoranda of understanding.
What a particular district offers depends on its staff, grants and geography. Call before you assume a service exists.
Examples From Around the State
- Tonto NRCD (Gila County). The NACD article says federal lands dominate the district, limiting opportunities to directly assist private landowners. Its historical focus has been education, with programs such as the Ag Awareness Program, Noxious Weed Program, Livestock Nutrition School and Range Management and Monitoring Workshops. It also works with the U.S. Forest Service under Good Neighbor Authority, including wildlife-friendly fencing, and it locally administered an Arizona Department of Energy grant that helps farmers and ranchers shift from fossil fuel systems to renewable energy.
- Pima NRCD (Tucson). Listed at 3241 North Romero Road, Tucson, phone 520-220-1221, website pimanrcd.org, per Working Lands for Wildlife. It is described as a hybrid of a state agency and an independent local unit of Arizona government, with a Board of Supervisors that includes elected and appointed members.
Statewide, the Arizona Association of Conservation Districts and partners secured $24.5 million through USDA's Regional Conservation Partnership Program, according to the NACD article. The effort aims to restore 35,000 acres in the Colorado River Basin through practices such as invasive species removal and grassland restoration.
Who Runs Your District
Per the legislative summary, each NRCD is run by a five-member Board of Supervisors: three elected supervisors and two appointed by the ASLD Commissioner. Supervisors serve six-year terms (A.R.S. 37-1051). The State Land Department oversees districts through its Natural Resource Conservation Division. Current duties listed there include assisting supervisors, supervising district activities, requiring annual audits and seeking federal assistance.
Elections
An ASLD election notice template shows how the process works, though the copy we read left dates and polling places blank. It says:
- Voters are "qualified electors": a District cooperator who is also a qualified elector of the state.
- A cooperator is someone who has entered into a cooperative agreement with the district. People who are not cooperators can get an agreement form from the Board of Supervisors.
- Candidates for supervisor must live within the district.
- The notice sets polls open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on an election day in May, with mail ballots due before polls close.
- A mail-ballot mailing address must be filed at least 30 days before the election.
- Write-in petitions are due at least 40 days before the election, and regular nomination petitions at least 10 days before. Petitions are available from the district board.
Another ASLD reports and notices page says each district sets its own election times and locations. Because the notices we found were templates or old, ask your district for the current election date and place before you plan to vote or run.
How Districts Are Funded
ASLD says districts are supported financially and administratively by the department. Districts also work with grant programs, such as the RCPP effort described above and the Arizona Department of Energy grant administered by Tonto NRCD. We did not find a published statewide funding amount, so ask your district about its budget and any cost-share it knows of.
How to Find and Contact Your District
- Start with the State Land Department's NRCD page, which describes the program but lists no addresses.
- Search by your county name plus "natural resource conservation district" to find your local office and meeting notices, as with the Pima NRCD listing above.
- Ask the district about meeting dates, grants, grazing and land management planning help, and education programs.
- Bring a map or description of your property and a clear description of the problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many conservation districts does Arizona have?
Thirty-two NRCDs administered by the State Land Department, plus 10 tribal Soil and Water Conservation Districts, for 42 in all.
How many supervisors sit on a board?
Five: three elected and two appointed by the ASLD Commissioner, serving six-year terms.
Who can vote in a district election?
Per the election notice template, a district cooperator who is a qualified elector of the state.
Are districts a state agency?
Pima NRCD describes itself as a hybrid of a state agency and an independent local unit of Arizona government.
Arizona Listings Covered by This Guide
- Agua Fria-New River NRCD
Agua Fria-New River NRCD serves landowners around Phoenix in Maricopa County, acting as the local voice for natural resource conservation and a partner to federal and state agencies.
Phoenix, AZ - Arizona Association of Conservation Districts
Statewide association in Phoenix that brings Arizona natural resource conservation districts together to share training, advocacy and coordination with NRCS and state agencies.
Phoenix, AZ - Big Sandy NRCD
Big Sandy NRCD is a locally led conservation district based in Kingman, Mohave County, working with landowners and NRCS on soil, water and rangeland practices.
Kingman, AZ - Buckeye Valley NRCD
Conservation district headquartered in Buckeye that helps Maricopa County farmers and ranchers plan erosion control, irrigation efficiency and habitat projects as Buckeye Valley NRCD.
Buckeye, AZ - Chino Winds NRCD
Based in Prescott Valley, Chino Winds NRCD is one of Arizona's conservation districts, offering Yavapai County producers a path to technical help and cost-share conservation programs.
Prescott Valley, AZ - Coconino NRCD
Based in Flagstaff, Coconino NRCD is one of Arizona's conservation districts, offering Coconino County producers a path to technical help and cost-share conservation programs.
Flagstaff, AZ - East Maricopa NRCD
East Maricopa NRCD is a locally led conservation district based in Chandler, Maricopa County, working with landowners and NRCS on soil, water and rangeland practices.
Chandler, AZ - Eloy NRCD
Eloy NRCD serves landowners around Casa Grande in Pinal County, acting as the local voice for natural resource conservation and a partner to federal and state agencies.
Casa Grande, AZ - Florence-Coolidge NRCD
Conservation district headquartered in Casa Grande that helps Pinal County farmers and ranchers plan erosion control, irrigation efficiency and habitat projects as Florence-Coolidge NRCD.
Casa Grande, AZ - Fredonia NRCD
Conservation district headquartered in Fredonia that helps Coconino County farmers and ranchers plan erosion control, irrigation efficiency and habitat projects as Fredonia NRCD.
Fredonia, AZ - Gila Bend NRCD
Gila Bend NRCD serves landowners around Buckeye in Maricopa County, acting as the local voice for natural resource conservation and a partner to federal and state agencies.
Buckeye, AZ - Gila River NRCD
Conservation district headquartered in Chandler that helps Maricopa County farmers and ranchers plan erosion control, irrigation efficiency and habitat projects as Gila River NRCD.
Chandler, AZ - Gila Valley NRCD
Conservation district headquartered in Safford that helps Graham County farmers and ranchers plan erosion control, irrigation efficiency and habitat projects as Gila Valley NRCD.
Safford, AZ - Hereford NRCD
Hereford NRCD is a locally led conservation district based in Sierra Vista, Cochise County, working with landowners and NRCS on soil, water and rangeland practices.
Sierra Vista, AZ - Laguna NRCD
Laguna NRCD is a locally led conservation district based in Yuma, Yuma County, working with landowners and NRCS on soil, water and rangeland practices.
Yuma, AZ - Moenkopi NRCD
Based in Keams Canyon, Moenkopi NRCD is one of Arizona's conservation districts, offering Navajo County producers a path to technical help and cost-share conservation programs.
Keams Canyon, AZ - Navajo County Natural Resource Conservation District
Conservation district covering the southern part of Navajo County, from pine forest to desert shrub, working on soil erosion, water, invasive plants and education.
51 West Vista Drive, Suite 3, Holbrook, AZ 86025 | (520) 524-2652 - Navajo County NRCD
Navajo County NRCD is a locally led conservation district based in Holbrook, Navajo County, working with landowners and NRCS on soil, water and rangeland practices.
Holbrook, AZ - Navajo Mountain SWCD
Based in Kayenta, Navajo Mountain SWCD is one of Arizona's conservation districts, offering Navajo County producers a path to technical help and cost-share conservation programs.
Kayenta, AZ - Parker Valley NRCD
Parker Valley NRCD serves landowners around Parker in La Paz County, acting as the local voice for natural resource conservation and a partner to federal and state agencies.
Parker, AZ - Pima Natural Resource Conservation District
State political subdivision serving Pima County outside the Tohono Oodham reservation, working with landowners, lessees and agencies on natural resource management in southern Arizona.
3421 N. Romero Road, Tucson, AZ 85705 | (520) 292-2999 - Pima NRCD
Pima NRCD is a locally led conservation district based in Tucson, Pima County, working with landowners and NRCS on soil, water and rangeland practices.
Tucson, AZ - Redington NRCD
Based in San Manuel, Redington NRCD is one of Arizona's conservation districts, offering Pinal County producers a path to technical help and cost-share conservation programs.
San Manuel, AZ - San Carlos Apache Tribe NRCD
San Carlos Apache Tribe NRCD is a locally led conservation district based in San Carlos, Gila County, working with landowners and NRCS on soil, water and rangeland practices.
San Carlos, AZ - San Carlos NRCD
Conservation district headquartered in Peridot that helps Gila County farmers and ranchers plan erosion control, irrigation efficiency and habitat projects as San Carlos NRCD.
Peridot, AZ - San Pedro NRCD
Conservation district headquartered in Benson that helps Cochise County farmers and ranchers plan erosion control, irrigation efficiency and habitat projects as San Pedro NRCD.
Benson, AZ - Santa Cruz Natural Resource Conservation District
District helping Santa Cruz County landowners with grazing management, water quality, erosion control, conservation education and projects such as check dams.
PO Box 3247, Nogales, AZ 85628 | (520) 761-3117 - Santa Cruz NRCD
Conservation district headquartered in Nogales that helps Santa Cruz County farmers and ranchers plan erosion control, irrigation efficiency and habitat projects as Santa Cruz NRCD.
Nogales, AZ - Tohono O'odham SWCD
Tohono O'odham SWCD serves landowners around Sells in Pima County, acting as the local voice for natural resource conservation and a partner to federal and state agencies.
Sells, AZ - Tonto NRCD
Tonto NRCD serves landowners around Payson in Gila County, acting as the local voice for natural resource conservation and a partner to federal and state agencies.
Payson, AZ - Triangle NRCD
Triangle NRCD serves landowners around Prescott in Yavapai County, acting as the local voice for natural resource conservation and a partner to federal and state agencies.
Prescott, AZ - University of Arizona School of Natural Resources
Tucson school whose extension specialists work on range management, watershed resources and forest stewardship for Arizona ranchers and landowners.
325 BioSciences East, Tucson, AZ | 520-621-7621 - Verde NRCD
Based in Camp Verde, Verde NRCD is one of Arizona's conservation districts, offering Yavapai County producers a path to technical help and cost-share conservation programs.
Camp Verde, AZ - Wellton-Mohawk Valley NRCD
Conservation district headquartered in Wellton that helps Yuma County farmers and ranchers plan erosion control, irrigation efficiency and habitat projects as Wellton-Mohawk Valley NRCD.
Wellton, AZ - West Pinal Natural Resource Conservation District
District focused on irrigated agriculture, offering free irrigation system evaluations with partner districts and backing local youth agricultural programs.
520 North Camino Mercado, Suite 2F, Casa Grande, AZ 85222 | (520) 836-1960 - West Pinal NRCD
West Pinal NRCD is a locally led conservation district based in Casa Grande, Pinal County, working with landowners and NRCS on soil, water and rangeland practices.
Casa Grande, AZ - Whitewater Draw NRCD
Whitewater Draw NRCD serves landowners around McNeal in Cochise County, acting as the local voice for natural resource conservation and a partner to federal and state agencies.
McNeal, AZ - Willcox-San Simon NRCD
Willcox-San Simon NRCD is a locally led conservation district based in Willcox, Cochise County, working with landowners and NRCS on soil, water and rangeland practices.
Willcox, AZ - Winkelman Natural Resource Conservation District
Based in Kearny, Winkelman Natural Resource Conservation District is one of Arizona's conservation districts, offering Pinal County producers a path to technical help and cost-share conservation programs.
Kearny, AZ - Yuma NRCD
Based in Yuma, Yuma NRCD is one of Arizona's conservation districts, offering Yuma County producers a path to technical help and cost-share conservation programs.
Yuma, AZ
Guide checked Nov. 11, 2026. Rules and dates change; confirm with the organizer.