25 NEW RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT AREAS

                                            Release No. 0119.98

                                     Brad Fisher (202) 720-4024
                                           brad.fisher@usda.gov
                                  Roger Salazar (202) 720-4623 
                                         roger.salazar@usda.gov

GLICKMAN ANNOUNCES 25 NEW RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT AREAS

     WASHINGTON, March 17, 1998--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman
announced today that 25 areas in 18 states are now eligible for the U.S.
Department of Agriculture's Resource Conservation and Development Program.

     "We are glad to have these new RC&D areas on board," said Glickman. 
"Through the program, people in these areas will have unprecedented
opportunities to take the lead in making their communities better places to
live.  Projects they choose to undertake will offer vital boosts to the
health of their natural resources, economies, and standards of living."

     "RC&D typifies our belief in the importance of effective grassroots
leadership.  This type of leadership is critical for community development
and the conservation of our natural resources," said Pearlie S. Reed, chief
of the Natural Resources Conservation Service.  "We are very pleased that
the people and communities in these new RC&D areas will enjoy the benefits
of this vital program."

     The RC&D Program offers technical and financial assistance from USDA
for conservation and water management projects and expansion of economic,
cultural, and recreational opportunities.  Projects are led by RC&D boards
or councils comprised of volunteers from the private sector and units of
local government.  Board and council members identify local problems and
develop and implement plans to solve those problems.  

     The NRCS provides funds for a local RC&D coordinator and support staff. 
The coordinator works with the local board or council, serves as a liaison
with USDA, and ensures that the RC&D area obtains access to USDA programs.

      RC&D projects currently underway include those that prevent soil
erosion on cropland, improve water quality, protect and enhance fish and
wildlife habitat, improve recreational and tourist facilities, and create
business opportunities through partnerships between private industry and
local government.

     With the addition of the following areas, there will be 315 RC&D's at
work throughout the nation.

States              RC&D Areas        	Counties

California          Central Sierra   	Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne

California          South Coast       	Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, 
	                              	San Bernardino, San Diego, Ventura

Florida    	    South Florida     	Broward, Dade, Monroe

Georgia             Rolling Hills     	Bartow, Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Floyd,
	                              	Haralson, Heard, Paulding, Polk

Idaho   	    Mid-Snake        	Cassia, Jerome, Minidoka, Twin Falls 

Illinois/Iowa  	    Interstate       	Henry, Mercer, Rock Island (Illinois);                           
				     	Muscatine, Scott (Iowa)

Iowa          	    Iowa Valley    	Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Tama

Iowa                Sioux Rivers     	Cherokee, Ida, Monona, Plymouth,Woodbury

Kentucky      	    Gateway       	Bath, Carter, Elliott, Greenup, Lewis,                           
				     	Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Rowan

Kentucky        Jackson Purchase     	Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton,                               
				     	Graves, Hickman, Marshall, McCracken

Montana         North Central Mont.  	Blaine, Cascade, Chouteau, Glacier,                                
					Hill, Liberty, Phillips, Pondera,                                
					Teton, Toole

Nebraska        South Central Neb.  	Adams, Buffalo, Dawson, Gosper, Hall,                              
                 		     	Hamilton, Kearney, Merrick, Phelps

Nevada          High Desert   	 	Clark, Esmeralda, Lincoln, Nye

New Hampshire   Southern N.H.  		Cheshire, Hillsborough, Merrimack,                               
				     	Rockingham, Strafford, Sullivan

New York      	  Ontario Lake Plains  	Genesee, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans,                                 
					Wayne

Pennsylvania      Southeastern Pa.      Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh,
	                                Montgomery, Northampton

South Carolina    Edisto-Savannah	Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell,
					Calhoun, Orangeburg

Tennessee         Smoky Mountain     	Blount, Cocke, Hamblen, Jefferson,                               
					Sevier

Texas          Bluebonnet     		Ellis, Hill, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman,                             	
					Navarro, Parker, Rockwall

Texas          Chisolm Trail 		Archer, Clay, Collin, Cooke, Denton,                             
					Grayson, Jack, Montague, Witchita, Wise,
                             		Young

Texas          Concho Valley  		Coke, Coleman, Concho, Crockett, Irion,                               
					McCulloch, Menard, Reagan, Runnels,                              
					Schleicher, Sutton, Tom Green, Upton

Texas          Pecos Valley  		Crane, Ector, Loving, Pecos, Reeves,                             
					Terrell, Ward, Winkler

Utah           Mountainland		Summit, Utah, Wasatch

Utah           Wasatch Front    	Davis, Morgan, Salt Lake, Toolele, Weber

Washington     Big Bend    		Adams, Franklin, Grant, Lincoln

Secretary Glickman also announced the expansion of the following RC&D areas.

State          RC&D Areas     		Counties Added

California     Central Coast 		Santa Barbara

Georgia        Limestone Valley   	Chattooga, Catoosa, Dade, Gordon, Walker

Georgia        Upper Ocmulgee   	Henry

Pennsylvania   Pocono Northeast 	Montour

Texas          De-Go-La     		Bee, Live Oak, McMullen, San Patricio

Texas          Rio Bravo 		Brooks, Cameron, Hidalgo, Jim Wells,                             
					Kennedy, Kleberg,   Nueces, Willacy

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