Foundation Award

 This award is presented to organizations have offered exceptional encouragement and dedication to the concept of RC&D and to the betterment of the NARC&DC as a whole. This award is given at the discretion of the Board of Directors when appropriate.

The National Association entered into a partnership with the International Code Council (ICC) to form the National Wildland Urban Interface Council. This partnership was established to help address the increase in wildfires and the danger these fires pose to life and property in urban neighborhoods that border wildland areas.

 A lot of people don’t realize that just about every state is at risk for wildland urban interface fires. These fires cost taxpayers, local communities and businesses more than $10 billion every year. Put another way, there are more than 70,000 communities, 46 million homes and 120 million people across the country are at risk from wildland fires.

The ICC is recognized for spearheading this important public safety and building safety issue and blending with RC&D’s across the country.to create a strong national emphasis to combat wildland fires. (Dan Bailey, Director, Wildfire Management, accepted the award.)

 Shenandoah RC&D Council

This award is presented to the Shenandoah RC&D Council for exceptional encouragement and dedication to the concept of RC&D and to the betterment of the National Association and RC&D Program as a whole. They accomplished this by hosting a bus tour for officials from the OMB, Congressional staff and the USDA to see firsthand what RC&D Councils are doing to protect precious natural resources, spur community and economic development, and create and retain jobs 

Under the leadership of John Eckman and Joan Comanor, and an outstanding USDA coordinator, Kathy Holm, they arranged an outstanding tour and, true to the RC&D motto, they showed that RC&D Councils are “Making Things Happen.” Among the projects highlighted were an adaptive streambank-fencing program, self-help community gardens, and thermal conversion technologies of animal manure and litter to bio-fuels and value-added products. (Joan Comaner accepted the award.)

Previous Honorees

2007     Little Kanawha RC&D Council                                         West Virginia
2004     USDA - Farm Services Administration                    District of Columbia
2003     USDA- Forest Service                                           District of Columbia