Committees
The Rio Grande National Forest (RGNF) has one active advisory committee – the Greater Rocky Mountain Resource Advisory Committee (RAC). The RGNF has 5 counties that participate in the RAC that provides project recommendations for Secure Rural Schools Funding. The former Saguache - Upper Rio Grande (s-URG) RAC was dissolved in 2021. On February 23, 2021, the S-URG RAC held their last meeting and approved projects that will continue to be implemented into 2024.
Visit the Greater Rocky Mountain Resource Advisory Committee page
Greater Rocky Mtn Resource Advisory Committee
The Greater Rocky Mountain Resource Advisory Committee is the largest of its kind, representing the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, Gunnison, Routt, Pike, Roosevelt, San Isabel, Rio Grande, San Juan, and White River National Forests in Colorado and the Medicine Bow, Bighorn, and Shoshone National Forests in Wyoming.
In September 2020, the Saguache-Upper Rio Grande Resource Advisory Committee (S-URG RAC) voted to merge with the Rocky Mountain RAC that served a large portion of Colorado and part of Wyoming in the Forest Service’s Rocky Mountain Region. The new “Greater Rocky Mountain” RAC was chartered in late 2021 and assigned to the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests (GMUG) to administer. Going forward, the RAC Coordinator from the GMUG will send out project solicitations for all the member National Forests. Each forest has a Point of Contact that will ensure these project solicitations are appropriately outreached within their respective counties.
All RACs work closely with U.S. Forest Service to recommend projects that will benefit forest health, fish, wildlife, soils, watersheds and other resources. Projects must be developed in coordination with the local Forest Service district ranger and a county representative. Proposed projects must benefit the resources on the National Forests and comply with the National Environmental Policy Act. Projects can be completed by Forest Service personnel, through partnership agreements or by open-bid contracting with individuals and corporations. Federal procurement and contracting regulations apply. The RAC recommends projects to the forest to be funded through Title II of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act. The purpose of the Act includes making investments and creating employment opportunities through special projects that improve the maintenance of existing infrastructure, implement stewardship objectives, or restore and improve public land health and water quality.
For more information, please navigate to the Greater Rocky Mountain RAC page or contact Gregg Goodland, the Rio Grande National Forest’s RAC point of contact, at gregg.goodland@usda.gov or by calling 719-588-7045.