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Buckeye Hills RC&D
Coordinator:
Bob First
Address:
21330 St. Rt. 676
Suite D
Marietta, OH 45750-6799
Tel.: (740) 373-7926
FAX: (740) 374-5340
Counties:
Athens,
Belmont,
Hocking, Meigs, Monroe,
Morgan,
Noble,
Perry,
Washington
Buckeye Hills Resource Conservation and Development Council
Our Mission:
To enhance the quality of the environment and to improve the economy of the
area through the conservation development of the total resources of the area.
The RC&D goals are directed towards utilizing local citizens and resources to
accomplish identified problems and concerns.
Upcoming Events
- October 21-22, 2008 Ohio Mineland Partnership Fall Conference, St.
Clairsville, Ohio at the Hampton Inn
- November 20, 2008 – RC&D Council Meeting, Marietta, Ohio
- February 19, 2009 – RC&D Council Meeting, Marietta, Ohio
Location/Area
Located in southeast Ohio and includes Athens, Belmont, Hocking, Meigs,
Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry, and Washington Counties. The nine-county area is
bordered on the south and east by the Ohio River. The river plays a major role
in economic vitality of the area. Of the 451 miles of the Ohio River shoreline
bordering Ohio, 132 miles of the river (29.3%) border the RC&D Area. The river
offers relatively inexpensive bulk transportation for heavy industry and natural
resource products such as coal, sand and gravel, logs, grain, and chemical
products.
Agriculture, forestry, mining, manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, and
recreation and tourism are all important industries to the RC&D Area.
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About the Buckeye Hills RC&D
The Buckeye Hills Resource Conservation and Development Council is a
southeast Ohio nonprofit organization and is sponsored by the Board of
Supervisors of the Soil and Water Conservation Districts and the County
Commissioners for the nine counties. The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy
District and Rush Creek Conservancy District are also sponsors. The council
meets quarterly to discuss needs, opportunities, problems, and concerns.
In August, 1967, the Buckeye Hills RC&D Area was authorized by the US
Secretary of Agriculture. Belmont, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, and Washington
counties were the five counties involved with Ohio’s first RC&D Area. In 1983
the four counties of Athens, Hocking, Meigs, and Perry petitioned the Buckeye
Hills RC&D Executive Council to be added as part of the area. The four counties
were officially approved in January, 1984, expanded Buckeye Hills to a nine
county area.
Purpose
The purpose of the newly formed RC&D Area was to plan for the orderly
development of the social, economic, and natural resources of the counties. A
broad range of issues were addressed, from critical area stabilization to
development of community farm markets. Environmental issues were also addressed,
including development of regulations for oil and gas well drilling, abandoned
mine land reclamation, air pollution control, and multi-flora rose control.
Today’s issues focus on improving water quality and clean air, sustainable
agriculture, low input farming methods and rural development as it pertains to
the social and economic well-being of the rural sector. The RC&D Council has
developed the following goals to guide the work of RC&D.
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Goals
The Executive Council has established goals to help carry out the RC&D
program into the coming years. Goals include:
- Assure a sustainable natural resource base through implementation of
projects that reduce soil erosion and increase productivity.
- Implement ten projects that promote improved standards of living that
benefit residents and landowners by 2010.
- Cooperate with existing agencies and organizations to support the
development of facilities, services, and businesses that make for safer,
improved lives for the citizens of the RC&D area.
- Improve water quality by 10% in identified watershed areas within the
Buckeye Hills RC&D service area by 2010.
- Develop nine tourism and recreation projects to benefit people living in
rural areas over the next five years.
- Provide programs and encourage activities through RC&D that increases
opportunities for all residents of the counties served.
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Project Activity
Some examples of Project activity include:
Lawn & Garden Exposition
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The 2008 Lawn, Garden & Forestry Expo
took place this past spring with over 2000 people attending the two day
event. Buckeye Hills RC&D, Little Kanawha RC&D and WVU Extension worked
together to host the event. Over 60 vendors set up displays and demonstrated
equipment. Families came out and enjoyed the nice weather and the exhibits. |
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Buckeye Hills RC&D continues to enhance and improve the
quality of the environment for its nine county region. Through implementing
specific plans of work to conserve and protect the land, the organization
has made a positive impact on the environment. |
Belmont County, Ohio
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Ferndale Park, Athens County
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Athens County residents are beginning to enjoy a healthier
lifestyle do to the implementation of walking paths set in rural areas. Not
only are the walking paths beneficial to those who enjoy nature and being
outdoors, the paths also provide an alternative to the residents who would
like to start a healthy lifestyle, but want to stay away from the
traditional gym atmosphere, and be outdoors |
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Around 50 people interested in preserving the land
surrounding old mine lands grouped together to learn what they could do to
help during the Fall Conference held in Marietta, Ohio. The highlight of the
event was a dinner cruise on the Valley Gem, where everyone ate and enjoyed
the topic of land preservation. |
OMP Fall Conference
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Staff
Robert L. First -
Coordinator
Jim Williams - Coordinator Assistant
Stephanie Gingrich -
Public Affairs Assistant
Karen Walker - Administrative Assistant
Officers
President:
Ms. Chasity Schmelzenbach, Noble County Member-At-Large
1st Vice-Chairman:
Mr. Larry Steinel, Washington County Commissioner
2nd Vice-Chairman:
Mr. Bill Thompson, Monroe County Commissioner
Secretary: Ms. Amy
Grove, Morgan County Member-At-Large
Treasurer: Ms.
Opal Dyer, Meigs County Member-At-Large
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Athens:
Mr. Lenny Eliason; Mr. Jim Ford; Mr. Bob Eichenberg
Belmont: Mr.
Gordie Longshaw, Mr. Stanley Borovich, Mr. Jim Forshey
Hocking: Mr. Gary
Starner, Mr. Richard Harwood, Mr. Robert Daubenmier
Meigs: Mr. Jeff
Thornton; Mr. Joe Bolin; Ms. Opal Dyer
Monroe: Mr. Bill
Thompson; Mr. Mark Landefeld; Mr. William Thomas
Morgan: Mr. Don
Reynolds, Ms. Kathi Spencer, Ms. Amy Grove
Noble: Mr. John
Carter, Ms. Laura Schafer, Ms. Chasity Schmelzenbach
Perry: Mr. Fred
Shriner, Mr. Denny Young, Mr. Tom Althauser
Washington: Mr.
Larry Steinel, Ms. Mary Campbell, Ms. Joan Beardmore
Muskingum Watershed Conservancy:
Mr. John Hoopingarner
Rush Creek Conservancy:
Mr. Keith Rowe
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RC&D Location Map
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