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The Top of Ohio Resource Conservation Development Project Council will be dissolved by March 1 after more than 42 years of service to Auglaize, Champaign, Clark, Darke, Hardin, Logan, Mercer, Miami, Shelby and Union counties.
The council consists of county commissioners, Soil and Water Conservation District representatives and appointed at-large members from each county.
The non-profit organization was established in July 1975. Over the decades, the council provided grants for numerous conservation and agricultural projects in the counties, such as waterways, concrete and rock structures, catch basins and large tile replacement for flood protection, dry hydrants for fire departments, the purchase of a no-till drill to be used for seeding of conservation projects and numerous tree plantings.
Federal allocations for administration, state and federal funding for grants made these projects possible. The Council also secured numerous community grants. Each county contributed yearly to Top of Ohio RC&D.
Most recently the council awarded grants to the counties they serve for agricultural and conservation education.
Federal funding for the council has dried up, officials report.