Our History

A Little History

The Giziibii Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) Association was first known as the Headwaters RC&D Association. The RC&D Council decided to change their name to Giziibii RC&D on April 10, 1996. Giziibii means big river (the Mississippi) in Ojibwe.

The Giziibii RC&D Association was incorporated in Minnesota on June 17, 1974.  Authorization for USDA assistance was provided on July 8, 1975.  The Association was active until August 1978, when due to federal budget cuts, the office was temporarily closed. Funding was restored in 1986 when the office was re-opened and has been active since that time.

USDA's Resource Conservation and Development Program (RC&D), created by the Food and Agriculture Act of 1962 (PL 87-703), authorizes local citizens to organize RC&D Councils. These Councils provide leadership and help people care for and protect their natural resources to improve an area's economy, environment, and living standards. RC&D has four primary purposes -- land conservation, community development, water management and environmental enhancement. Any particular RC&D district may have goals to address any one or all of these purposes.

The Secretary of Agriculture has delegated administrative authority to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), although several USDA agencies contribute to the program. A national policy board composed of USDA agency administrators, as well as a national working group of agency staff help the Secretary oversee the program. Each Council is assisted by a full-time coordinator, who is a USDA employee (usually NRCS) funded by federal RC&D appropriations.

RC&D Councils direct the program at the local level. Councils are composed of local representatives of all the sponsors of the RC&D project. The program provides a way for local residents to work together and plan how they can actively solve environmental, economic, and social problems facing their communities.