High Country Resource Conservation and Development  (RC&D) Council

"Local People Meeting Together to Solve Local Challenges"

   What is RC&D?

  Communities, all levels of government and grassroots organizations work together as an RC&D    

  Council to develop opportunities that sustain and improve our communities, local economies and 

  natural resources. Over 40 years ago, Congress established a program within the U.S. Department

  of Agriculture that empowered people in rural areas to help themselves.  The USDA focus was to

  assist local people by providing tools and technical support to stabilize and grow their own

  communities  while protecting and developing natural resources. To carry out the RC&D concept,

  diverse groups of local volunteers  (The RC&D Council) are brought together to find solutions to

  their problems. Local people are best able to determine needs and create solutions for their

  community. The focus on local direction and control has made RC&D one of the most successful

  rural development programs of the Federal Government.

  NEW BUDGET UPDATE:

  In light of the recent decision by Congress to eliminate the NRCS's funding for the RC&D program,

  we wanted to let you know that High Country RC&D is still open for business!  Nationally, the

  RC&D 's were created by an act of Congress 40 years ago, and this recent budget action does

  not negate our existence.  Instead, it eliminates the federal funding for an RC&D coordinator and

  other contributions by the NRCS to the RC&D program.

  Here at High Country, we have been in business for nearly 32 years as a 501(c) 3 non-profit.  We

  look forward to the future with optimism and renewed enthusiasm.  As ever, our programs will

  continue to provide valuable assistance to farmers, ranchers, forestland owners and communities in

  our region.

 High Country RC&D Area:

The High Country RC&D Area, one of nine RC&D's in Idaho,  was authorized in August 1979 and now serves over 185,000 people. The Area covers over

12.5 million acres encompassing nine counties in East- Central Idaho (Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Custer, Fremont, Jefferson, Lemhi, Madison, Teton) and a portion of Teton County, Wyoming. Seventy-six percent of the land is federally owned. 

The High Country RC&D Area is sponsored by counties, cities and conservation districts in the region.  An Area-Wide Council of elected members and

appointed officials represents our sponsors and acts as the policy-making

body for the RC&D Area. One member from each county serves on our Board of  Directors. The Council has developed an area-wide  plan which includes long-range priorities, objectives, and courses of action. 

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