Intermountain and Northern Regions
Resource
Conservation and Development Partners
What are Resource Conservation
and Development Partners?
The Resource Conservation and
Development Program, better known as RC&D, engages people
to identify and solve human, economic, and environmental problems in
their communities. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
administers the program for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. NRCS
provides funds for a coordinator and gives other support for each
RC&D area. But it is the local council and volunteers that make
each RC&D area unique.
What does RC&D do?
- Land Conservation - Protects the
resource base and finds the best ways to use it.
- Water Management - Protects and
enhances ground water supplies and improves water quality,
agricultural water management, and flood control.
- Community Development -
Establishes and improves community services, facilities, and
infrastructure. Prepares feasibility studies; creates or
improves recreational areas; and develops, improves, and
promotes historic sites and tourist attractions.
- Encourages the best use of
forest lands and resources; and creates and expands
forest-related industries. Focuses on expanding markets and
creating jobs.
- Environmental Enhancement
Projects - Conserving energy, creating and improving fish and
wildlife habitat; developing and improving wetland habitat; and
safely utilizing waste
- Working with the Forest Service
and State Forester, provide critical local facilitation to
establish Community Fire Plans and assist in implementing the
National Fire Plan on private and state lands within the
interface.
Who Is Involved In RC&D and
how do they work?
Most RC&D Councils are
non-profit corporations, comprised of local citizens and agency
employees that represent sponsoring organizations, which include
county governments soil and water conservation districts, towns,
water districts, and other nonprofit groups as well as communities
ranchers/farmers, and businesses. Most members have a mutual
interest in helping with economic development and resource
conservation projects in primarily rural areas. This program is
administered through NRCS in conjunction with non-profit RC&D
Associations.
Key Partners
- National Association of RC&D
Councils
- Forest Service
- County and town governments
- Environmental organizations
- State economic development
agencies
- State tourism departments
- National Association of
Conservation Districts
- State commerce departments
- State Foresters
Opportunities for National
Forests and Grasslands
- Co-leaders with RC&D
organizations in planning and implementing rural development and
environmental programs and projects across all ownerships in a
county or counties within an RC&D area
- Cooperates and coordinates
numerous activities with RC&D's to improve economic and
environmental conditions. RC&Ds can leverage scarce
financial resources into needed project support.
- National Forests and Grasslands
may build MOUs and cost-share agreements to gain community
interest and support for natural resource projects.
RC&Ds can coordinate natural resource projects among various
interests across boundaries.
- Non-profit groups can operate
with great flexibility in many arena's where federal agencies
are restricted. Partnering with non-profits increases an
agency's capacity to serve customers.
Program
Coordinator for ID, MT, NV, ND, UT
For further assistance contact
Margie
Ewing
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