Western Reserve RC&D

Coordinator: John Niedzialek
Address: 125 E. Erie St.
Painesville, OH 44077
Tel.: (440) 350-2034
FAX: (440) 350-2063
 

Counties:
Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga,
Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage,
Summit, Trumbull

Western Reserve Resource Conservation and Development Council

... to plan, promote, and implement conservation and sustainable use of natural resources, in both rural and urban areas.

Our Vision...

"A sustainable regional community with wild and open spaces, creeks and lakes, clean water and air, in balance with a viable mixed economy that includes agriculture, commerce, industry, and tourism."

Northeast Ohio- The Western Reserve RC&D Area

Located in Northeast Ohio, the Western Reserve Resource Conservation and Development Council (RC&D) area includes Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage, Summit, and Trumbull Counties. This rapidly growing area is challenged to balance urban development with agricultural vitality and environmental quality.

About the Western Reserve RC&D Council

The Western Reserve Resource Conservation and Development Council is a nine county Northeast Ohio nonprofit tax exempt organization and is sponsored by the Soil and Water Conservation Districts and County Commissioners. The RC&D was formed in 1991. On January 4, 2001, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture announced funding for a full-time staff person and the establishment of a permanent office for the Western Reserve RC&D. Council’s office is in Painesville with John Niedzialek of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service serving as RC&D coordinator. The Council meets quarterly to facilitate projects. Some examples of projects include the following:

• Grand River Watershed Protection Project
• Grant Support for High Schools Competing in Envirothon
• Established the Farmland Center to preserve farmland and promote agricultural viability in the region.
• Establishing the Countryside Program, now housed at Cleveland State University, to promote Conservation Development
• Protecting Streamside Properties with Conservation Easements
• Promoting Farmer’s Markets
• Promoting Agriculture to our youth through the Food, Land, and People Project
• Grant funding for Dry Hydrants
• Publishing a booklet to promote Entrepreneurial Farming
• Preserving Farmland with Agricultural Easements
• Established the Collaborative Learning for Environmental Action Network (CLEAN) Project to promote environmental service learning opportunities for students in Northeast Ohio Universities.

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Volunteers are Key to RC&D Success

The all-volunteer Western Reserve RC&D Council is responsible for directing the program at the local level. Our council members are county commissioners, Soil and Water Conservation District supervisors, and private citizens representing local organizations and efforts. The dedication of these volunteers is the key to RC&D success. The Council's responsibilities are:

• to provide opportunities for public input on RC&D goals and objectives
• to develop an Area Plan and work toward identified priorities
• to form resource teams and committees to accomplish needed work
• to direct the activities of local, state, and federal personnel on RC&D projects
• to oversee administration of RC&D operations
• to provide citizens with information about RC&D projects

USDA's Resource Conservation & Development Program

In 1962, Congress passed the Food and Agricultural Act authorizing the Resource Conservation and Development program. 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. For every dollar appropriated by U.S. Congress, RC&D councils across the Nation leverage $14 from other sources for local guided projects. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service facilitates activities and provides technical assistance to RC&D councils across the nation.

Partnering Makes Our Work Possible

The Western Reserve RC&D Council is a true partnership between private sector and all levels of government. In addition to the technical and organizational support from USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Western Reserve RC&D works with ODNR, Divisions of Forestry and Soil and Water Conservation, Ohio EPA, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, U.S. EPA, U.S. Forest Service, Ohio State Cooperative Extension Service, Ohio Dept. of Agriculture, County Planning Departments, County Commissioners, County Park Districts, and The Lake Erie Protection Office.  We also work with non-profit organizations at the local, regional, and state level.  Partnering organizations include: George Gund Foundation, Storer Foundation, Frohring Foundation, Cyrus Eaton Foundation, GAR Foundation, Nord Family Foundation, Cleveland Foundation, Kent H. Smith Foundation, Arthur Holden Jr., Dominion East Ohio, The Illuminating Company, The Plain Dealer, Grand River Partners Inc, Chagrin River Partners, Trust for Public Land, The American Farmland Trust, and local county farmland preservation taskforces. Contact the Western Reserve RC&D for more information about assistance with your community projects.

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Western Reserve Resource Conservation & Development Council
Main Office
125 E. Erie St.
Painesville, Ohio 44077
Telephone: 440-350-2034
FAX: 440- 350- 2063

The Farmland Center:
"A Project initiated by the Western Reserve RC&D Council to Promote the Preservation of Farmland and the Economic Viability of Farming"
The Farmland Center
2179 Everett Road
Peninsula, Ohio 44264
Telephone: 330-657-2355
FAX 330-657-2198
http://www.thefarmlandcenter.org
 
The Countryside Program:
"A Project initiated by the Western Reserve RC&D Council to promote Conservation style development practices."
The Countryside Program
Cleveland State University
2121 Euclid Avenue, UR 354
Cleveland, OH  44115-2214
Phone: 216-687-5477
http://www.countrysideprogram.org

The Collaborative Learning for Environmental Action Network (CLEAN):
"A Project initiated by the Western Reserve RC&D Council to support University faculty members in Northeast Ohio who engage their students in environmental service-learning opportunities."
CLEAN Project Coordinator: Glenn Odenbrett
Telephone:  216-368-3069
http://geology.case.edu/~clean/what.html

Staff:

John Niedzialek, RC&D Coordinator
Keith McClintock, Editor
Carolyn Kissel, Office Support Contractor
Claudia Webb-Elmore, Office Support Contractor
Glenn Odenbrett, Clean Project Coordinator

Officers:

President:  Richard Houk, Trumbull County
Vice President:  Pat Carey, Cuyahoga County
Secretary:  Albert Dispenza, Ashtabula County
Treasurer:  Darrell Webster, Lake County

Council Membership- 2008:

Ashtabula County:  Albert Dispenza, Erick Smith, Charles Kohli, Tom Swank, Joseph Moroski
Cuyahoga County: Carol Thaler, Ruth Skuly, Jan Rybka, Pat Carey
Geauga County: Ken Folsom, William Young, Penny Timmons, David Dietrich, Mike Fath
Lake County: Dan Troy, Darrell Webster, Robert Zeitz, Richard Baker, Billie Kamis, Bruce Landeg
Lorain County: Rebecca Jones, John Born, Betty Blair, Vincent Urbin, Nany Funni
Medina County: Stephen Hambley, David Civittolo, Debbie Russell, Patrice Theken, Susan Hirsch
Portage County: Maureen Frederick, W. Dale Miller, Jennifer White, DuWayne Porter, Lynne Erickson
Summit County: Louise Heydorn, Joan Hug-Anderson, Adrian Achtermann, Brian James, David Whited
Trumbull County: Paul Heltzel, Lisa Ramsey, Richard Houk, Trish Nuskievicz

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Publications Available Through The Western Reserve RC&D

• Entrepreneurial Farming: Part of the Plan for Prosperity in Northeast Ohio
  In an effort to show that small-scale, entrepreneurial farming, and market farming have an important economic role in the region, a special report has been developed. The report entitled "Entrepreneurial Farming, Part of the Plan for Prosperity in Northeast Ohio" is now available. The RC&D Council received grant funds from the Ohio Environmental Education Fund, Ohio Department of Agriculture, The Cyrus Eaton Foundation, The Nord Family Foundation, and the Frohring Foundation to produce the booklet. This publication can be ordered at www.thefarmlandcenter.org.
• "Common Groundwork: A Practical Guide to Protecting Rural and Urban Land"
  The booklet provides information and case studies on various tools landowners and communities can use to preserve land. New information has been added concerning agriculture and conservation easements, purchase of development rights, and preservation ordinances. Contact John Niedzialek, Coordinator, for further information. The booklet is available from the RC&D, local SWCD's, and the publisher, Chadbourne & Chadbourne. ($15.00 + s&h)
• "The Conservation Development Resource Manual"
  Provides a model ordinance for implementing conservation style subdivisions in a community and includes technical information on designing, reviewing, and approving conservation development projects. The Resource Manual binder comes with three sections; 1) Planning and Design Handbook  which provides background and technical information on designing, reviewing, and approving Conservation Development planning, zoning, and construction projects; 2) Model Regulation which provides models for implementing Conservation Development regulations at the township, municipal, and county levels; and 3) Appendices which contain background documents on development projects, legal information, open space planning, and related topics. ($25.00 includes s&h).
• "Balancing Conservation and Development"
  A 20 minute video providing an introduction to residential conservation development. ($20.00 + s&h)

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