What is an RC&D?

The Resource, Conservation, and Development Program was established in the Agriculture Act of 1962, with responsibility for the administration of the program placed within the Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Successive Farm Bills have provided for the further development of the program, including deepening the partnership between RC&D Councils and the NRCS.

RC&D Councils are 501(c)3 non-profit organizations. They are not governmental entities, so the typical policies and constraints of local, state, and federal government programs do not limit the types of issues they address or the means they use. Within their respective areas (typically covering 12-15 counties in Georgia), RC&D Councils have a high degree of independence to carry out activities that will achieve their most important goals. RC&D Council volunteers are leaders and community stakeholders involved in multiple roles in local government, school boards, churches, and other civic activities. At RC&D Council meetings, they draw from their professional expertise and community connections to determine the needs of their RC&D Council areas, address those needs, and make their communities better places to live, work, and play. Nationwide, over 25,000 volunteers serve on local RC&D Councils. (source: National Association of RC&D Councils).

The Four Focus Areas of RC&D Councils

  • Land Conservation - Councils work with local partners to identify, fund, and complete land conservation projects of all types.

  • Water Management - RC&D Water Management Projects often create recreation opportunities that also create jobs and make communities more attractive to development.

  • Community Development- Working with community partners to improve quality of life and address infrastructure needs in rural areas.

  • Land Management – Supporting Landowners in implementing Best Management Practices (BMP’s) to get the most from their land, both now and in the future.

Our Service Area

The Seven Rivers RC&D Area is situated in southeast Georgia and is adjacent to the Coastal Georgia RC&D Area. Runoff from the area is divided between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The majority of the area lies in the Atlantic Coastal Flatwoods Major Land Resource Area. The terrain is low and flat, and the streams are wide and sluggish.

The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness Area are located in Ware, Clinch, and Charlton Counties. Cultural resources are abundant and are very important to the local residents. Water, wildlife, and timber resources dominate this remote, primarily rural area.

The northernmost counties in the Council area are engaged in a wide variety of field agriculture and livestock operations. The southern counties are approximately 80 percent woodlands with some livestock operations. Groundwater is sufficient for municipal, industrial, and irrigation of crops.

Council Area Counties: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Berrien, Brooks, Brantley, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Cook, Echols, Jeff Davis, Lanier, Lowndes, Pierce, Tift, Ware & Wayne.

Member Appointments

  • Appling:

    M.H. Baxley & Charles Davis

  • Atkinson:

    Phil Murray & Antonio Williams

  • Bacon:

    Wayne Boatright & Bently Carter

  • Berrien:

    Mary Alice McGee & Barry Dansforth

  • Brantley:

    Barry Chesser & Chris Harris

  • Brooks:

    Dan Niewoehner & Jessica McKinney

  • Charlton:

    Jamison Sands & Willie Williams

  • Clinch:

    Kerry Tomlinson & Jaclyn James

  • Coffee:

    Walt Pridgen & Stan Moore

  • Cook:

    Derrell Bennett & Hal Simpson

  • Echols:

    Ashley Deloach

  • Jeff Davis:

  • Fonda Ussery & James Benjamin

  • Lanier:

    William Darsey & Alex Lee

  • Lowndes:

    Mike Williford & Jake Price

  • Pierce:

    JC Callahan & Neal Bennett

  • Tift:

    Grady Thompson

  • Ware:

    Patricia McCarthy & Steve Barnard Sr.

  • Wayne:

    Michael Kirkland & Lowell Mallard