Advisory Committees

Background

Resource Advisory Committees (RACs) are organized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2000. RACs recommend projects that benefit National Forest System lands in particular counties, using federal funds allocated to the counties under this law. Each RAC has 9-15 volunteer members who are appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture and serve a four-year term.

The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest previously administered two RACs: Missouri River RAC and Central Montana RAC, and in 2023 those two RACs combined to form the Helena-Lewis and Clark RAC. The following counties currently contribute Title II funds and therefore projects must be based in the one or more of the following counties: Broadwater, Meagher, Teton, Lewis and Clark, and Judith Basin. The last meeting took place on June 26 from 1-4 p.m where 19 project proposals were recommended for funding.

Central Montana Bear Aware program was funded by the 2024 HLF Resource Advisory Committee

How to Submit a Project Proposal

The deadline to apply was April 15, 2024 at 5 p.m. We will announce when 2025 funding becomes available! The new Helena-Lewis and Clark is soliciting project proposals - please read the instructions and project proposal form to apply!

Instructions for filling out Project Proposal Form (.PDF)
Project Proposal Form (.docx)

To view past projects that have been reviewed and funded by the RAC in the past, click here.

Submitted 2024 Projects:

These projects were ranked by the Helena-Lewis and Clark Resource Advisory Committee on June 26, 2024. See meeting details below.

2024 RAC proposals Zip file

Meeting minutes and funded 2024 projects:

These are the projects that were recommended for funding by the RAC and approved for funding by the Forest Supervisor: Announcement of funded projects with 2024 HLF funding available

June 26, 2024 meeting minutes

Current Helena-Lewis and Clark RAC members:

Category A:

Alan John "AJ" Korslein, developed outdoor rec, OHV user or commercial rec
Jody Cox, energy/mineral development or commercial/recreational fishing
VACANT, commercial timber industry
Patti Russ, federal grazing or other land use permittee
VACANT, organized labor or non-timber forest products

Category B:

VACANT, nationally recognized environmental organization
Beth Hill, regionally or locally recognized environmental organization
Dean Rowland, dispersed recreational activities
Donald Amundson, archaeological and historical interests
Chris Aune, nationally or regionally recognized wild horse.burro interest groups

Category C:

VACANT, state elected official or their designee
Cody McDonald (Chair), county or local elected official
VACANT, American Indian tribes within or adjacent to the committee area
Gerald 'Tucker' Hughes, school officials or teachers
Dan Pocha, represents the affected public at large
Dawnita Deichmann-Sampsel, represent the affected public at large

We are currently recruiting for several vacancies on the RAC for members with the following affiliations:

American Indian tribes within or adjacent to committee area
Organized labor or non-timber forest product harvester groups
Nationally recognized environmental organizations
Hold State elected office or their designee
Commercial timber industry

If you have one of those affiliations and are interested in serving on our RAC, please contact HLF RAC Coordinator, Chiara Cipriano at chiara.cipriano@usda.gov.

Visit: Advisory Committees | US Forest Service (usda.gov) to learn more.