Ecology Action
“Achieving community and environmental excellence through partnership and innovation since Earth Day 1970”
Ecology Action is a nonprofit environmental consultancy delivering cutting edge education services, technical assistance, and program implementation for initiatives that assist individuals, business and government to maximize environmental quality and community well being.
Since 1970 Ecology Action has combined municipal, foundation, and private funding to establish cutting-edge conservation programs, prove their effectiveness financially and operationally, and establish each program as a permanent community resource.
We continually seek innovative ways to instill environmental awareness, promote pragmatic change, and create opportunities for individuals, businesses, and community agencies to save money, create jobs, and contribute to a sustainable local economy. For more information on Ecology Action and our programs, visit www.ecoact.org.
Resource Conservation Districts
Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs) are independent, non-regulatory, special districts of California. They are authorized by Division 9 of the California Public Resources Code to provide resource conservation leadership within district boundaries. Serving local communities through conservation projects funded mainly through grants and private contributions, RCDs are partners in local conservation and agriculture. RCDs help people to protect, conserve, and restore natural resources through education, technical assistance and collaboration with other organizations to achieve results within their districts on public and private lands
CA
| RCD Santa Cruz https://www.rcdsantacruz.org/ |
RCD Monterey https://www.rcdmonterey.org/ |
| RCD San Benito https://www.rcdsanbenito.org/ |
Coastal San Luis RCD https://www.coastalrcd.org/ |
| RCD San Mateo County https://www.sanmateorcd.org/ |
Cachuma RCD https://www.sbsda.org/local/crcd/ |
| Upper Salinas – Las Tablas RCD https://us-ltrcd.org/ |
RCD Tuolomne County https://www.tcrcd.org |
WA
| Spokane Conservation District https://www.sccd.org/ |
Program Staff
Nick Sudano, Senior Program Specialist, Ecology Action
Nick joined Ecology Action in October 2008 with over a decade of experience in Environmental management and holds an Environmental Studies degree from San Jose State University. Utilizing his background, Nick enjoys collaborating with local organizations and connecting with landowners to provide further assistance for the preservation of our natural resources and an American way of life. His enthusiasm, sense of humor and love for the outdoors is a natural fit for the Livestock and Land program.
Dina Iden, Program Coordinator, RCD of Monterey County
Dina was born & raised in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley with a background in agriculture, particularly livestock management and custom farming. Her educational background includes studies in ecology, biology and livestock management. She comes to us with 20+ years of experience with specific emphasis in livestock marketing, veterinary medicine and animal law & welfare. Since making the move to the Central Coast, she has been involved as a participant in the Livestock and Land Program and joined the RCDMC team in 2007 to launch the Livestock and Land Program in Monterey County. She has served the community in a volunteer capacity, including serving on various boards of directors and technical advisory committees. She is an avid & accomplished horsewoman active in numerous livestock organizations. Dina looks forward to facilitating the continued growth and success of livestock programs in the Central Coastal Region.
Angela Gruys, Program Coordinator, RCD of Santa Cruz County
Angie comes to the RCD with over 12 years of sales and marketing experience from Silicon Valley start-ups and local non-profits. She joined the RCD in May of 2005 as the Livestock Program Coordinator and has been thrilled to see program participation nearly triple since her arrival. She loves supporting local landowners and has been inspired by their enthusiasm and openness for resource conservation on their properties. She looks forward to facilitating the continued growth and success of the livestock program.
Outside of the RCD Angie volunteers for local watershed efforts, is infatuated with exploring local creeks and streams, and is always up for a good rock climb. She attended Cabrillo College and San Jose State University and also served in the United States Airforce Reserves.
Karissa Anderson, Project Coordinator, San Mateo County RCD
Karissa was born and raised on a small farm in northern San Luis Obispo County. She joined the RCD in 2010 after four years at the San Francisco Bay Area Regional Water Quality Control Board, where her work focused on water quality monitoring and data management for the Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography from San Francisco State University and is currently working on her Master’s thesis project. Karissa currently runs several water quality monitoring projects for the RCD and is delighted to be the project coordinator for Livestock and Land in San Mateo County.
