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Ohio RC&D
Resource Conservation and Development

What is the RC&D Program?

In 1962, Congress passed the Food and Agricultural Act authorizing the Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) program. Administered by the United States Department of Agriculture, the purpose of the program is to expand opportunities for conservation districts, county governments and individuals to improve their communities in multi-county areas through the formation of regional non-profit organizations.

Ohio Counties Served by the RC&D Areas

  • Buckeye Hills RC&D
    Counties: Athens, Belmont, Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Perry, Washington
  • Crossroads RC&D
    Counties: Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, Holmes, Jefferson, Mahoning, Muskingum, Stark, Tuscarawas, Wayne
  • Erie Basin RC&D
    Counties: Ashland, Crawford, Erie, Huron, Ottawa, Richland, Sandusky, Seneca, Wood, Wyandot
  • Heart of Ohio RC&D
    Counties: Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Knox, Licking, Madison, Marion, Morrow, Pickaway
  • Maumee Valley RC&D
    Counties: Allen, Defiance, Fulton, Hancock, Henry, Lucas, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert, Williams
  • Miami Valley RC&D
    Counties: Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Greene, Fayette, Hamilton, Montgomery, Preble, Warren
  • Ohio Valley RC&D
    Counties: Adams, Brown, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross, Scioto, Vinton
  • Top of Ohio RC&D
    Counties: Auglaize, Champaign, Clark, Darke, Hardin, Logan, Mercer, Miami, Shelby, Union
  • Western Reserve RC&D
    Counties: Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage, Summit, Trumbull

For more information about the RC&D area nearest you, click on your county on the RC&D map below.

RC&D AREAS - OHIO

The premise of the RC&D program is that local people know what is best for their communities. Local people create and organize their own RC&D areas, define their own goals, and work with a broad range of public and private entities to achieve their objectives. And because RC&D areas are locally organized, sponsored, and led, the program provides an ideal way for residents to join together to decide what is best for their community. 

USDA provides technical and financial assistance to RC&D areas while local sponsors obtain additional funding and services from other public and private sources.  There are nine RC&D areas in Ohio which address economic, environmental, and community issues.