Secure Rural Schools Program

The Greater Rocky Mountain RAC is chartered under the Secure Rural Schools & Community Self Determination Act of 2000 – Title II. The RAC consists of 15 members who represent a variety of interest groups who work together to review and recommend funding forest improvement projects to a Forest Supervisor who acts as a Deciding Federal Official for the nine forests represented in this RAC.

The Secure Rural Schools program provides critical funding for schools, roads, and other municipal services to more than 700 counties across the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

The Forest Service was established in 1905 with 56 million acres of land. By 1910, the amount of National Forest System land tripled to 172 million acres. Today, the agency manages approximately 196 million acres. Congress ratified the Act of May 23, 1908, as a measure to support rural counties whose tax base was limited by the growing amount of Federal land. A portion of Forest Service funds generated through multi-use activities, such as grazing, timber production, and special use permits, are distributed to eligible counties to help maintain local roads and schools.

Payments are divided into   three distinct categories or Titles: Title I for roads and schools, Title II for projects on Federal lands, and Title III for county projects. 

The Greater Rocky Mountain Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) provides recommendations on how Title II funds will be spent in each county that elects to fund projects. The Act defines a wide variety of activities that can be accomplished with Title II funds, most of which focus on restoration or maintenance of infrastructure. Most projects are on federal land, but they don’t have to be. If proposed projects are on private land, they need to benefit Federal lands or resources. Read more about Secure Rural Schools legislation and payments.

For more information about Secure Rural Schools legislation and payments, visit: Secure Rural Schools Program.

Title II funds may be used for the protection, restoration, and enhancement of fish and wildlife habitat, and other resource objectives consistent with the Act on Federal land and on non-Federal land where projects would benefit the resources on Federal land.

The purposes of the Act include making additional investments in, and creating employment opportunities through title II funded projects that improve the maintenance of existing infrastructure; implement stewardship objectives that enhance forest ecosystems; and restore and improve land health and water quality.

The funds may be used for projects that enjoy broad based support and have objectives that may include road, trail, and infrastructure maintenance or obliteration; soil productivity improvement; improvements in forest ecosystem health; watershed restoration and maintenance; the restoration, maintenance, and improvement of wildlife and fish habitat; the control of noxious and exotic weeds; and the re-establishment of native species. Planning and implementing the projects should help improve cooperative relationships among the people that use and care for Federal land and the agencies that manage the Federal land.

• Federal agencies
• State and local governments
• Private entities
• Nonprofit entities
• Landowners

Project Submittal Checklist

We are not currently soliciting project applications, please work with your local units to prepare projects as the solicitation period will begin soon.

State and local governments, landowners, private entities, and nonprofit entities: 2024 Project Submission Form for External Applicants  
Non-FS applicants, please send any supplementary project attachments (with project title and Forest/District name) to Karley.O’Connor@usda.gov.

Questions about the application process can be sent to Karley.O’Connor@usda.gov  

Members of the RAC must be appointed to represent one of the following three interest groups:

Category One: Five members who represent energy and mineral development; the commercial timber industry; organized labor or non-timber forest product harvester groups; developed outdoor recreation; off-highway vehicle users, or commercial recreation; or federal grazing or other land permits or represent nonindustrial private forest land owners.

Category Two: Five members who represent nationally recognized environmental organizations; regionally or locally recognized environmental organizations; dispersed recreational activities; archaeological and historical interests; or nationally or regionally recognized wild horse and burro interest groups, wildlife or hunting organizations, or watershed associations.

Category Three: Five members who are elected state officials; are county or local elected officials; represent Indian tribes within or adjacent to the area for which the Council is organized; are school officials or teachers with knowledge in natural resource management or the natural sciences; or represent the affected public-at-large and/or are employed by a state agency responsible for the management of natural resources, land or water.

RACs are citizen groups that meet about once a year to consider proposals for Title II spending. Projects generally fall into two categories: roads or other infrastructure related projects and restoration projects.

The Secretary of Agriculture appoints a total of 15 citizens to four-year terms on the RAC.

The public is invited to submit nominations for membership either as a self-nomination or a nomination of any qualified and interested person. Any individual or organization may nominate one or more qualified persons to represent the interest areas listed above. To be considered for membership, nominees must:

1. Be a resident of the State in which the SRS RAC has jurisdiction (CO or WY);

2. Identify what interest group they would represent and how they are qualified to represent that interest group;

3. Provide a cover letter stating why they want to serve on the SRS RAC and what they can contribute;

4. Provide a resume showing their past experience in working successfully as part of a group working on forest management activities; and

5. Complete Form AD-755, Advisory Committee or Research and Promotion Background Information. The Form AD-755 may be obtained from the Regional Coordinators listed below or from the following USDA website: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-755.pdf. All nominations will be vetted by USDA

6. Send your completed application or any questions to karley.o’connor@usda.gov, 2250 South Main St Delta CO 81416, or call 970-712-0930.