By Tim Peterson, Corvallis
Most of you that are around my age have heard the adage “Behind every successful farmer, is a wife that works in town.” I’d like to take that a step further with “Behind many of the successful ventures in Ravalli County, is the Bitter Root Resource Conservation and Development Area, commonly known as the RC&D.”
Fifty-three years ago the Agriculture Act of 1962 established the Resource Conservation and Development Councils to accelerate the conservation, development, and utilization of natural resources, improve the general level of economic activity, and to enhance the environment and standard of living in designated RC&D areas, most of which represented “Rural America”. The Bitter Root RC&D was the twelfth to be established in the entire nation in 1965. The mission of the Bitter Root Resource Conservation and Development Area, Inc. is to provide leadership and support on natural and community resource issues and projects in our service area of Missoula, Mineral, and Ravalli counties and beyond by facilitating the planning, coordination, and implementation of initiatives which promote a sustainable rural lifestyle for current and future generations.
During the 50 years the Bitter Root RC&D has been in existence, they have been the incubator and umbrella 501(c)(3) for many highly recognized organizations in western Montana. In the 1980s the Bitter Root RC&D provided fiscal management for the Bitterroot Valley Public Television (BVTV). In the 1990s Lake Como Dam Enhancement Project, Darby hazardous tree inventory, Bitter Rooters for Planning, Good Nations Pow Wow, S.A.F.E. and the Bitter Root Land Trust all received fiscal management and start up assistance. After the fires of 2000, the Bitter Root Interagency Recovery Team was managed and implemented by the Bitter Root RC&D; through this effort more than 250 local people were employed for the term of the project. In 2001, they assisted the Bitter Root Water Forum with publication of “State of Water Quality in the Bitter Root” and the wetland riparian inventory. In total, the Bitter Root RC&D has accomplished over 1,900 projects in Ravalli, Mineral and Missoula counties since its inception.
Since the Fires of 2000, the Hazardous Fuels Mitigation Program has paid out over $8 million to local contractors and land owners to improve timber stand health and reduce the risk of wildland fire on private property through cost share grant funding operated by the Bitter Root RC&D. Additionally, the Bitter Root RC&D is a partner with the Trapper Creek Job Corps Community Relations Council and actively manages projects for NeighborWorks – First Time Home Buyer Education Program, Healthy Kids – Healthy Forests, and the Ravalli County Tourism Business Improvement District, just to name a few of the 38 projects currently active at the Bitter Root RC&D.
Just like the farmer’s wife who works in town never asks for recognition but appreciates a night out on the town once in a while; the Bitter Root RC&D will continue to support rural development and provide support so that many organizations can operate. The Bitter Root RC&D would sincerely appreciate your support through a donation for the price of just one night out on the town. Thank you Pam, Angie, Linda and Byron for all that you do.