A sustainable, regional community with open spaces, clean water and air, and natural habitats in balance with a viable mixed economy that includes agriculture, commerce, industry, and tourism.
History:
The Heart of Ohio (HoO) RC&D is composed of a nine county region within central Ohio including: Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Knox, Licking, Madison, Marion, Morrow, and Pickaway counties. Most of this section of Ohio has seen dramatic changes over the past two decades. These changes have significantly altered the “face” of central Ohio. These changes have caused emerging challenges with respect to protection of this region's air, land and water resources. Realizing there was a need to organize an effort to protect these natural resources, local leaders began to discuss the formation of a Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council in Central Ohio.
In February of 1994, the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) then known as the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) received numerous requests to further explore the formation of an RC&D council in Central Ohio. Central Ohio’s rapid growth and land use changes during the 1980’s and 1990’s accelerated the need to address natural resource conservation issues including land management, water quality, farmland protection, habitat degradation/loss and others.
Through solicited public input, meetings with county government and agencies, analysis of resource inventories and land use information it was determined that a forum was needed to address these issues in a regional context. Based on that determination, the Heart of Ohio RC&D formed in 1994 to bring the needed technical and financial resources to Central Ohio. In 1994 By-laws were developed and officers elected and NRCS selected an Acting Coordinator. In 1997, the Heart of Ohio RC&D Inc. was identified by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501c3 not for profit organization.
The Heart of Ohio RC&D applied for authorization and program support from the USDA in 1994, 1997 and 2000. In January of 2002, the USDA Secretary, Ann Veneman, authorized the first financial program support for the Heart of Ohio RC&D. As a result, $15,000 of assistance, a fulltime Coordinator and vehicle were awarded to the Heart of Ohio. In the spring of 2002, Fairfield County joined the Heart of Ohio RC&D region, bringing the number of counties to 9.
The RC&D program is sponsored locally by County Commissioners and Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD). Each county has three representatives on the RC&D Council: A county commissioner, a SWCD member and a jointly appointed member at large. The RC&D program is a unique program that helps people care for and protect their economy, environment and quality of life.
Contact Us:
Heart of Ohio RC&D
Phone (740) 368-5979
email: info@heartofohiorcd.org
or traci.aquara@oh.usda.gov
For more information about Ohio RC&D programs visit: www.oh.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/RCD
