The Panhandle Lakes Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council joins the 375 RC&D Councils across the country in celebrating "RC&D Week."  The week of September 20-26 is designed to raise greater public awareness of the program and the activities in local communities and commemorates the anniversary of the founding of the RC&D program.

Panhandle Lakes RC&D (then known as Idaho-Washington) was one of the first 10 designated areas in the United States in the early 1960s.  The current 375 designated areas cover over 85 percent of the United States and its territories.  RC&D Councils initiate and direct the USDA program at the local level.  The program, which is administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) strives to find a balance between development and conservation by bringing together the private sector and local, state and federal agencies to work together to find answers to local needs and opportunities.  The purpose of the program is to accelerate the conservation, development, and utilization of resources to improve economic activity, and to enhance the environment and standard of living.  The local RC&D Council determines their needs and creates solutions.

Nationwide, RC&D Council's accomplishments last year included:

• 802 new businesses were created, 1,525 businesses expanded, and 3,606 businesses retained.

• 10,940 jobs were created or retained due to Council activities.

• Councils helped improve 2,428,301 acres of wildlife habitat, 1,327,308 acres of lakes, and 19,298 miles of streams.

• Organized over 5,400 training sessions on leadership development, grant writing, business development, non-profit management and environmental education.

• Created move than 750 natural resource related school curriculum.

• Assisted 1,283 farm or ranch operations with agri-tourism activities.

• Assisted 874 farms or ranches with direct marketing from the field to the consumer via Community Supported Agriculture groups (CSAs), restaurants, commercial stores, or public access farmers markets.

• Assisted with 1,736 instances of Tribal Nations being served.

• Preserved or protected over 610,800 acres of agricultural land.

• One hundred and forty-three RC&D Councils in 24 states implemented renewable energy projects.

• Assisted with the construction or rehabilitation of 36 flood control structures.

• RC&D Councils brought a return of $5.40 for every dollar the federal government provided.