Hohokam RC&D

HOHOKAM RC&D COUNCIL

32 YEARS OF SERVICE

The year was 1972 when the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) authorized the Hohokam Resource Conservation and Development (HRC&D) Area to provide a diverse range of services in the areas of natural and human resource development that impacts central Arizona. In 1987 the HRC&D was incorporated in the state of Arizona and on May 4, 1988 it became a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation by the Internal Revenue Service. Today, 32 years later, the HRC&D is part of a family of 375 USDA authorized RC&D councils nationwide. This very successful program is a combination of the federal government providing technical, and sometimes financial assistance, to a local non-profit organization. The council that has been created is managed by representatives (council members) appointed by its local sponsors. These sponsors are the counties, cities, towns, conservation districts, Tribal governments and others in the central Arizona Counties of Gila, Maricopa and Pinal.

These council members bring their project applications to the HRC&D council for assistance. Once the HRC&D council approves a project the coordinator will assist the sponsors develop a work team who will develop a project plan on their project. This project plan will define what the problem or opportunity is, define the proper solution, develop a budget, than, using its 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, help locate funding to get the project completed.

An example of the projects the HRC&D council has assisted their local sponsors completed was the "Addressing Illegal Dumping on Tribal Lands Conference," which was a three-day seminar held in Mesa, Arizona. The Conference was attended by 100 Tribal members, and others, from 20 Native American Tribes across the nation. This conference, which was a huge success, was made possible by a partnership among the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Phoenix Indian Health Services, Southwest Strategy, a number of Tribal members from Arizona and the HRC&D.

It has been conservatively estimated that over 1,700 hours of volunteer time was donated to the Hohokam RC&D this past year worth over $51,000. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer with the HRC&D you can call the HRC&D office at (480) 988-1078 Ext. 108, send an email to either HRCDcouncil@hotmail.com or Rebecca.delaTorre@az.usda.gov, or stop by and see us at 805 E. Warner Road, Suite 104, Chandler, Arizona. Our Area Plan and Annual Report are available on this Web site.

INTERACTIVE WATER EDUCATION PROJECT

Linda Dee Diamantides, Council Member from the East Maricopa Natural Resource Conservation District (NRCD), teaches an Interactive Water Education class at the Maricopa Agriculture Center (MAC Farm) near Maricopa, Ariz. The project was made possible through a partnership among the East Maricopa NRCD, the MAC Farm and the Hohokam RC&D Council with funding from the Central Arizona Project (CAP). The classes involved students in an interactive approach and engaged them in activities that called for problem solving and critical thinking skills using programs such as Project Wet, Arizona WET and Water in our Desert Community. The project educates between 2,000 to 4,000 students (grades K-6) plus a number of teachers and other adults annually from elementary schools throughout the eastern portion of Maricopa County.

TONTO WEED MANAGEMENT AREA

Shawn Evans, vice chairman of the Tonto Weed Management Area Project, narrating a tour of a field infested with yellow star thistle that was eradicated by spraying herbicides. The tour was held in Young, Ariz. Among those on the tour was Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives Jake Flake and Congressman J.D. Hayworth's representative Chris Udall. This project is sponsored by the Tonto Natural Resource Conservation District headquartered in Payson, Ariz.

Rebecca M. de la Torre
Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) Coordinator
USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service
Hohokam RC&D
805 E. Warner Road, Suite 104
Chandler, AZ 85225

Phone: (480) 988-1078 ext. 108
Fax: (480) 988-1474
Cell: (602) 686-0908
Email: Rebecca.delaTorre@az.usda.gov
E-mail: HRCDcouncil@hotmail.com

Annette Napolitano, Hohokam RC&D President

Executive Council: Annette Napolitano, President; Shawn Evans, Vice President; Dick Napolitano, Secretary/Treasurer; Skip Blunt, Director; Nathaniel Percharo, Director.