Committees
The Secure Rural Schools Resource Act Advisory Committee (RAC) provides recommendations to the Forest Service on the development and implementation of special projects on federal lands as authorized under the Secure Rural Schools Act and Community Self-Determination Act in Public Law 110-343. Each RAC consists of 15 people representing varied interests and areas of expertise, who work collaboratively to improve working relationships among community members and national forest personnel.
Resource Advisory Committees
The Shasta County Resource Advisory Committee has two upcoming meetings in the Federal Register in April 2025 to review project proposals. To view the agenda for the upcoming meetings please click here for April 23rd and here for April 30th.
New project proposals solicitations have closed as of March 29, 2025.
Please contact RAC Coordinator, Monique Rea at monique.rea@usda.gov for more information.
The Trinity County Resource Advisory Committee is currently inactive as of February of 2025. Project proposal status updates are being created and will be posted here.
Apply to be a RAC Member
Serve as a RAC member to engage with a diverse cross-section of interests within the local community and provides recommendations that help further the Forest Service's mission.
Understanding the Secure Rural Schools Program
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.
By the year 2000, after decades of declining agency revenues, Congress passed the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act to help stabilize the funds available to rural counties.
Where does the funding go?
The Secure Rural Schools Act breaks payments into three distinct categories, or Titles:
- Title I for roads and schools
- Title II for projects on Federal lands
- Title III for county projects.
Click below to learn more about each category.