Southwest Badger Resource Conservation & Development Council (Platteville, WI)

General

• Mission:

The mission of Southwest Badger RC&D Council is to “Implement natural resource conservation, managed growth, and sustainable rural economic development in Crawford, Grant, Green, Iowa, LaCrosse, Lafayette, Richland, Sauk and Vernon counties." Overall, the Council works to conserve, develop, and utilize local resources to raise the level of economic activity in the area, while enhancing the environment and the standard of living in the area. RC&D provides an area-wide framework for locally directed action, cooperation, concerns and opportunities which are identified by the people experiencing problems first hand. RC&D operates on the premise that local citizens, with coordinated assistance provided by cooperating sources, can develop and carry out action plans which address problems they themselves have identified. Citizens, groups, organizations, or agencies in the RC&D area can contribute by bringing concerns before the council, proposing measures, and keeping the council aware of community needs.

• History:

RC&D is a non-biased rural development program, focusing on the conservation, development, and utilization of natural resources to improve the standard of living in our area. It joins forces with individuals, agencies, and groups to improve the social, economic, and environmental opportunities of the local area.

The RC&D program was established by federal legislation in 1962. This act directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help local units of government conserve and properly utilize natural resources in solving local problems. Local citizens who are aware of the problems or opportunities first hand provide leadership and work together to set program priorities.

The Southwest Badger Resource Conservation & Development area was organized in 1992 and federally authorized on October 10, 1996.

Goals of the Southwest Badger RC&D Council include:
• Protect, conserve, restore and where necessary, improve land, water, and related resources to assure the quality of the natural resource base for future generations.
• Support the development and enhancement of the environment to provide area citizens with an attractive, healthful, and satisfying place to live, work, and play.
• Support and promote social, economic, and natural resource development to improve the standard of living and provide adequate incomes for all area residents.

In all cases, the RC&D Council, with direction from local people -- and not the federal or state government -- decides what needs to be done in local communities. A variety of individuals, government agencies, organizations, environmental groups, and business institutions provide assistance to these local people in accomplishing their program goals.
The county supervisors and the Land Conservation Committees sponsor the Southwest Badger area. The Southwest Badger RC&D area has a council made up of two representatives from each county. In addition, the Council employs an Administrative Coordinator and project staff.

Current projects focus on: collaboration projects for natural resources conservation, the Emerald Ash Borer Management Response Plan, managed intensive grazing, school and community gardens, biomass production, forest invasive species, watershed initiatives, bicycling trails and promotion, and urban storm water management alternatives.

Southwest Badger RC&D is one of nine partners in the Military Ridge Prairie Heritage Area and administers the grants for the project coordinator.

• Year established:1992

Registration

• Organization type:Grantseeker
• Country of registration:United States
• Year established:1992
• Tax Determination Letter:Received Determination Letter
• IRS Section:501(c)(3)
• IRS Subsection:509(a)(1)

Web Listing

• Guidestar listed:Yes
• Charity Navigator listed:No
• Give.org listed:No
• Charity Watch listed:No