Conservation Practices
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Prescribed Grazing Practices
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Watering Facilities & Pipe/Spring Development
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Irrigation Management & Efficiencies
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Fencing Lines
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Seeding Trails
Primary Resource Concerns
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Soil Erosion
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Water Quantity & Quality
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Soil Condition
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Air Quality
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Animal/Plant Conditions
District Contact Information
District Meeting Information
Meetings are held quarterly
Please visit the Winkelman website for the next meeting, agendas, and minutes
About the District
Winkleman Natural Resource Conservation District (NRCD) encompasses 1.6 million acres and lies within eastern Pinal County, but is inclusive of parts Gila, Graham, and Pima Counties. The San Pedro River and Aravaipa Canyon are two very special ecological areas in the District. The District has been very active in protecting these areas by coordinating with Federal Agencies on NEPA-related projects. There has also been scientific input into the decisions to list endangered species such as the Sonoran Desert Tortoise.
Winkelman NRCD works with and provides guidance to rural property owners, farmers, and ranchers for the protection, restoration, and conservation of land, water, and soil resources of the District and State, including:
- Water rights preservation
- Soil erosion control and prevention
- Fish and wildlife and their habitat conservation
- Rivers and streams and associated riparian habitats conservation
Physical Features
- Elevation: 1,550 ft. near Florence at Gila River to 8,400 ft. at the Catalina Mountains
- Terrain: Chihuahuan-Sonoran, Semi-Desert Grasslands, to Upper Sonoran Desert, and Mexican Oak-Pine Forest
- Precipitation: Average of 7-25” annually, varying with elevation
Land Use
There are 24 farm units and 50 ranch units that utilize 795,155 acres or 97% of the land resource. Much of the mining property is used in conjunction with livestock grazing. Agronomic croplands, approximately 4,920 acres, produce varied commodities. Listed in respective order of acres planted these crops are: irrigated pasture, hay, small grains, grain sorghum, cotton, pecans, apples, citrus, and smaller amounts of other varied crops.
- Federal: 397,523 acres
- State Trust: 889,777 acres
- Private: 292,938 acres
Board Members
- Bill Dunn, Chairman
- Steve Turcotte, Vice-Chairman
- Frances Meyer, Supervisor
- Gary Vinson, Supervisor
- Carol DuBois, Supervisor
District Highlights
Stock Pond Cleaning & Sealing
The District has recently conducted stock pond cleaning and sealing projects withfunding from the Arizona Game & Fish Department. After the areas are cleaned and shaped, ESS-13 is applied to the area. Click here to learn more about ESS-13.
Three ranches have so far participated, and the District hopes to keep this an on-going grants project. Please contact Chris Postel if you are interested in learning more about the project and how you can participate.
Urban Ag Grant
In February 2019, the District was awarded a $50,000 Urban Ag Grant from the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) to provide technical assistance for conservation best-management practices, utilizing and collaborating with our partner the Oracle Community Learning Garden, as a District-wide demonstration hub. This hub enables three goals:
- Hoop house installation (two hoop houses were purchased by the Winkelman and Redington NRCDs in 2018)
- Community-wide vermicomposting system
- Water conservation system
In terms of education, the hoop house will be used for training in botany, growing native landscape plants and vegetable starts, and for teaching the propagation of plants. Land was donated by Pinal County.
