Councils Members                                              Partners

The Black Diamond Resource Conservation and Development (Black Diamond RC&D) Area received authorization from the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture in 1994 to improve the environment, economy and standard of living in Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott and Wise counties and in the City of Norton. Black Diamond RC&D is locally organized, sponsored and directed. They are a non-profit corporation with a 501-(c) (3) designation. RC&D provides a way for people to work together to plan and carry out activities that will make their community a better place in which to live.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is authorized through the Food and Agriculture Act of 1962 to provide local units of government with technical and financial help in conserving and using their natural resources. USDA also helps groups sponsoring RC&D areas to seek funds and services from private and corporate foundations. The Natural Resources Conservation Service has leadership in USDA for the RC&D program.

 WHAT HAS THE BLACK DIAMOND RC&D ACCOMPLISHED?

Goal 1 - WATER QUALITY - Cooperating with federal and state agencies, nonprofits and local soil and water conservation districts to develop a coordinated approach to improving water quality in the Clinch, Powell, Big Sandy and Holston river basins that lie within our six county area. A few highlights are: 

•               Spearheaded the formation of the Upper  Tennessee River Roundtable & the Big Sandy River Basin Coalition, Inc.
•                Helped obtain $2,189,000 in grant funds (primarily for watershed projects) as the lead grantwriter or as part of a grantwriting team.
•               Coordinated 2003 Groundwater Management Conference.

Goal 2 - ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION - Promote environmental education programs, particularly in our schools (K - 12), and host teacher workshops. Examples are:

•            Secured $146,727 in grants for eleven schools to create outdoor classrooms, nature trails or to purchase scientific equipment to monitor streams.
•            Coordinated an annual ENVIROTHON contest for area high schools from 1995-98.
•            Hosted SW VA Environmental Education Conference in 1997 for 105 area teachers.
•            Sponsored ten teacher workshops.
•            Hosted an Urban Conservation Conference in 2001.
•            Started the highly successful "Kids in the Creek Day" program in Lee County in 1995. TVA and the Districts in 3 states have held over 60 of these events.

 Goal 3 - ALTERNATIVE AGRICULTURE - Promote agri-tourism projects in region.  Hosted a Grape Production Workshop in 1998.  Assisting the Far Southwest Virginia Vineyard Association to establish new farm wineries in the region.

•            Served as catalyst to start Farmers' Markets in Wise (1997) & Norton (1998). 
•            Asked to coordinate the 1st Southwest Virginia Wine Food Festival (fall 2005).

Note 90% of staff time has been devoted to Goals 1, 2 & 3 during their 1st decade. Black Diamond RC&D will be re-directing some of their future efforts to the following issues:

•             STRAIGHT PIPES (human waste flowing directly into our streams)
•             LITTER ENFORCEMENT
•             GREENWAYS & TRAILS
•             HAZARDOUS WASTE (equipping spill response teams)
•             ACID MINE DRAINAGE
•             VIRGINIA RURAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (uniting Virginia’s “rural voice”)
•             REGIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING (workshops in grantwriting, board development, etc.)

 

LOCAL PEOPLE ARE THE KEY In RC&D areas, interest groups, agencies and local governments are encouraged to work together. Self-help activities are emphasized. Local people provide the leadership and set the direction for RC&D projects. Teamwork between the people and the public agencies assisting them is what makes a RC&D area a success. There are currently fourteen sponsors of the Black Diamond RC&D area. Each sponsor appoints one representative to the RC&D Council. The Council also has the ability to appoint one at-large-member per county, which could bring the total membership to twenty on the Council. Sponsors of the RC&D are: 

•  Buchanan County
• Dickenson County
• Lee County
• Russell County
• Scott County
• Wise County 
• City of Norton
• Cumberland Plateau Planning District Commission
• LENOWISCO Planning District Commission
• Big Sandy Soil & Water Conservation District
• Clinch Valley Soil & Water Conservation District
• Daniel Boone Soil & Water Conservation District
• Lonesome Pine Soil & Water Conservation District
• Scott County Soil & Water Conservation District