The Edmunds County Conservation District was instrumental in promoting and organizing the Dakota Central Conservation Association. The respective conservation districts of McPherson, Edmunds, and Faulk counties formed the Dakota Central Conservation Association, Inc. (DCCA) to better promote and accomplish resource conservation and development activities in the three county area. The Association was governed by a board of directors who were Conservation District Supervisors from their respective county district. DCCA, whose official office was located with the Edmunds County Conservation District in Ipswich, SD, is filed as a not-for-profit corporation with the State of South Dakota. DCCA is also recognized as a not-for-profit organization with the Internal Revenue Service. In 2001, Hand County Conservation District joined the DCCA.

In 2002 DCCA completed and submitted an application for Resource conservation & Development (RC&D) authorization which also includes Brown, Spink, and Beadle counties. Through this process, the name has been changed to the Dakota Central RC&D area.

Some of the projects DCCA (and now Dakota Central RC&D) have been involved include: Mina Lake Water Quality Diagnostic Assessment, Loyalton Dam Water Quality Diagnostic Assessment, and The Cresbard Lake Water Quality Diagnostic Assessment from which data will be used to develop Water Quality Implementation Plans. Also DCRC&D has and will be promoting one or more Weed Management Projects within the area.