The nationwide Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) program is established through the Agriculture Act to assist multi-county areas enhance conservation, water quality, wildlife habitat, recreation, and rural development.
What will eventually become WRCD is founded as the South Central Washington RC&D in Yakima and Kittitas counties; the Yakima/Kittitas Resource Conservation and Development Project Plan is published.
Throughout this time, the RC&D supported several projects, including the rehabilitation of the Manastash Irrigation Ditch in 1976, the development of Irene Rinehart Waterfront Park in Ellensburg in 1986, and the implementation of an international trade development strategy in 1993.
The RC&D achieves 501(c)(3) non-profit status and the Yakima Tributary Access & Habitat Program (YTAHP) is established.
WRCD fiscally sponsors several groups key to advancing forest health, prescribed fire, and wildfire adaptation in Washington State: Tapash Sustainable Forest Collaborative, Chumstick Wildfire Stewardship Coalition, and Washington Prescribed Fire Council (WPFC).
Washington Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network (WAFAC) is established as the first state-wide Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network in the nation.
WRCD helps implement Washington’s first Prescribed Fire Training Exchange (TREX) is held in Leavenworth.
After a learning exchange in California, WRCD staff bring Prescribed Burn Associations (PBAs) to Washington. To date, four PBAs have formed in the state.
In partnership with the WA Department of Natural Resources, WRCD launches After the Fire Washington, a statewide wildfire recovery resource library.