Central Idaho Resource Advisory Committee to Reorganize

The Central Idaho Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet at 1 p.m., Wednesday, January 21, at the Public Lands Center in Salmon to re-organize and become re-acquainted with operating procedures. The RAC has not met since September of 2007 when its authorization expired. The RAC was reauthorized by Congress as part of the emergency economic bail-out legislation in November 2008. The RAC is made up of 15 private individuals appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture to represent various interests in the Custer, Lemhi and Butte County areas to recommend projects to benefit natural resources on the Salmon-Challis National Forest and a portion of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area.

The RAC will have about $1,000,000 to spend on projects this year, made available by Butte, Custer and Lemhi Counties through the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2008. The RAC works closely with the Forest Service to recommend projects that will benefit Forest health, fish, wildlife, soils and watersheds; maintain roads, trails and infrastructure; or control noxious weeds on the Salmon-Challis National Forest or adjacent lands.

Most of the projects the RAC has approved in the past have been proposed by the Forest Service. However, RAC members and the public can also make proposals. The RAC will not be reviewing projects for funding during the meeting January 21, the call for project proposals will come following the meeting.

The public is welcome to attend the RAC meetings. For more information on the committee contact the RAC coordinator, Kent Fuellenbach at 208-756-5145.