"While the CRMP process is supported by the California CRMP Council, the primary focus of all CRMP efforts remains at the local level. Local participation and control are what make the CRMP process unique and is the key to success."

THE CA CRMP COUNCIL:

The CRMP Council is a statewide partnership of 15 state and federal natural resource agencies and 14 organization sponsors in California that support, encourage and educate about the use of the CRMP process. The Council was formed by a voluntary Memorandum of Understanding signed in 1990 and is supported by annual dues paid by each of the 15 signatory members. The Council has one part-time staff member, the Program Director, who is housed at the California Association of Resource Conservation Districts. 

The CRMP approach to land management and planning originated in the early 1950s. “Speed” Agee and Chet Cleary of the Soil Conservation Service, now the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), established a model program in northeast Nevada. E. William Anderson, also working for NRCS, pioneered a similar approach in Oregon. Coordinated management and planning efforts in California began in the early 1960s, mainly involving public land administrators, private landowners and public grazing land permittees. Increasing demand for natural resources and their byproducts resulted in intensified conflicts between interests, groups and individuals. This prompted an agreement between NRCS and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in 1971, sanctioning coordinated resource planning nationwide. Further governmental recognition of the utility of the CRMP process continued throughout the 1970s. By 1980, 11 state and federal agencies had signed a Memorandum of Understanding that outlined their authority to engage in and commit resources to CRMP. In 1990 4 additional agencies signed. 

In California today, there are hundreds of local CRMP type groups. They deal with issues of soil erosion and sedimentation, fuel load management, noxious weed management, creek, stream and river restoration, stewardship education, endangered species habitat protection and enhancement, watershed management, non-point source pollution and more. Many have citizen monitoring monitoring efforts established. For more examples of what local efforts are working on look at the Find Groups Near You page. 

Each group is unique to it's local people and resource issues.  Each groups begins and evolves in it's own way and with it's own direction. Local participation and control are what distinguishes the CRMP process from other planning efforts and is the key to success. The California CRMP effort is dedicated to stimulating and facilitating this local action. Resolutions are reached at the local level and decisions are reached by consensus of the local participants. CRMP plans are implemented through appropriate agreements between participating individuals and agencies.

STRUCTURE:

There are two 'arms' within the Council, the Executive Council (EC) and the Technical Advisory Council (TAC). The EC consists of the heads of the signatory agencies and functions to provide overall direction to CRMP in California. The Council meets annually to review progress, set Council policy and offer guidance to CRMP groups. The second arm is the Technical Advisory Council (TAC), consisting of 'technical' representatives from the 15 agencies. TAC functions to promote the CRMP process, support selected plans, monitor process effectiveness, and identify and resolve field problems. TAC meets several times a year and encourages participation by individual CRMPs. The MOU allows for a 60% time position, the Program Director, to help coordinate the activities and services of the CRMP Council. 

The Program Director coordinates the TAC and the EC, organized workshops, acts as a "point of contact" for the Council, provides direct organizational assistance to groups and acts as an "information clearinghouse".  The Program Director is available to consult and meet with groups in addition to connecting them with the appropriate resources (people or otherwise) for technical assistance or information. For more information or to contact the Program Director please visit the direct assistance section of this website.  

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU): 

To view the California CRMP Council MOU click here:  CA CRMP MOU

The Memorandum of Understanding signed by the 15 agencies and organizations supporting CRMP.