Sponsors: Allegany County Board of Legislators, Allegany County Soil and Water Conservation District, Cattaraugus County Legislature, Cattaraugus County Soil and Water Conservation District, Chautauqua County Legislature, Chautauqua County Soil and Water Conservation District, Livingston County Board of Supervisors, Livingston County Soil and Water Conservation District, Wyoming County Board of Supervisors, Wyoming County Soil and Water Conservation District, Seneca Nation of Indians Tribal Council, Seneca Nation Soil and Water Conservation District

Federal and State Legislative Representatives:
US Senators
Charles E. Schumer (D)
Hillary R. Clinton (D)

US Representatives
Thomas M. Reynolds (26- R)
Brian Higgins (27-D)
Randy Kuhl (29-R-C)

NYS Senators
Catharine Young (57-R-C-I)
Dale M. Volker (59-R-C)

NYS Assembly
Joseph A. Errigo (130-R-C)
Daniel J. Burling (147-R-C-I)
Joe Giglio (149-R-C-I)
William L. Parment (150-D)

Purpose:
In order to operate effectively, the Council must utilize available resources to guide its work. The long-range plan is one of the tools the Council uses. The long-range plan indicates the problems, concerns and needs of the people in the RC&D area. It also contains various alternative solutions and potential methods for implementing and solving these concerns and needs. Included in the plan are goals and objectives to set a course of action for the Council. The Council develops this plan with assistance from the sponsoring agencies, concerned individuals and groups, and the Councils conservation partners. Care is used to not include specifics so that the plan can be used as a broad base from which to steer the Councils actions.

Mission
The mission of the Seneca Trail Resource Conservation and Development Council is to provide the leadership required to develop and implement projects and programs to protect the environment, provide economic development, create jobs, improve the standard of living, and enrich lives through the conservation, development and wise use of the Areas human and natural resources.

Vision
The Seneca Trail RC&D Council will serve to facilitate improvements in the quality of life in the five county RC&D area.
Needs and Opportunities

The Seneca Trail Resources Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council, Inc. is comprised of five counties in southwestern New York. Those counties include: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Livingston and Wyoming. In addition the Seneca Trail RC&D Council serves the Seneca Nation of Indians located in Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua Counties. The RC&D area is over 2.9 million acres with a population of approximately 381,384 people according to the 2000 Census.

Allegany County lies in the southwestern part of the state bordering Pennsylvania. In 1998, there were 164,100 acres in farms, 25 percent of the county's total 659,200 acres. There were 855 farms in the county averaging 192 acres per farm. Allegany County ranks 13th in the state for number of farms and 20th for farm acreage. In 1997, according to the Census of Agriculture, the market value of all agricultural products sold from county farms was $34.9 million. The leading products sold were: dairy products, cattle and calves, nursery and greenhouse, hay and silage and poultry products. The average value of land and buildings per farm was $162,682. The Census showed 48 percent of the farm operators reported farming as their principal occupation. The average age of the operator was 52.6 years. Data from the U.S. Department of Commerce showed the average personal income for all wage earners in the county in 1996 was $15,997. According to the 1990 Census, the population in the county was 50,470. In the 2000 Census the population was 49,927 resulting in a population loss of 1.1%.

In 1998 in Cattaraugus County, also in the southwestern part of the state bordering Pennsylvania, there were 204,000 acres in farms, 24 percent of the county's total 845,853 acres. There were 1,125 farms in the county averaging 181 acres per farm. Cattaraugus County ranks 5th in the state for number of farms and 11th for farm acreage. In 1997, according to the Census of Agriculture, the market value of all agricultural products sold from county farms was $53.5 million. The leading products sold were: dairy products, nursery and greenhouse, cattle and calves, hay and silage, and fruit and berries. The average value of land and buildings per farm was $191,978. The Census showed 53 percent of the farm operators reported farming as their principal occupation. The average age of the operator was 52.6 years. Data from the U.S. Department of Commerce showed the average personal income for all wage earners in the county in 1996 was $17,748. According to the 1990 Census the population in the county was 84,234. According to the 2000 Census, the population dropped by 0.4% to 83,955.

Chautauqua County is the southwestern most county in New York bordering Pennsylvania and Lake Erie. In 1998, there were 254,900 acres in farms, 38 percent of the county's total 679,680 acres. There were 1,850 farms in the county averaging 138 acres per farm. Chautauqua County ranks 1st in the state for number of farms and 5th for farm acreage. In 1997, according to the Census of Agriculture, the market value of all agricultural products sold from county farms was $88.7 million. The leading products sold were: dairy products, fruit and berries, cattle and calves, nursery and greenhouse, and vegetables. The average value of land and buildings per farm was $172,023. The Census showed 56 percent of the farm operators reported farming as their principal occupation. The average age of the operator was 54.2 years. Data from the U.S. Department of Commerce showed the average personal income for all wage earners in the county in 1996 was $18,793. The 1990 Census reported a county population of 141, 895. According to the 2000 Census, the population in the county was 139,750 reflecting a population loss of 1.1%.

In Livingston County, located in the western Finger Lakes region, in 1998 there were 216,100 acres in farms, 53 percent of the county's total 404,480 acres. There were 760 farms in the county averaging 284 acres per farm. Livingston County ranks 20th in the state for number of farms and 8th for farm acreage. In 1997, according to the Census of Agriculture, the market value of all agricultural products sold from county farms was $72.9 million. The leading products sold were: dairy products, corn for grain, cattle and calves, vegetables. The average value of land and buildings per farm in 1997 was $334,050. The Census showed 55 percent of the farm operators reported farming as their principal occupation. The average age of the operator was 54.7 years. Data from the U.S. Department of Commerce showed the average personal income for all wage earners in the county in 1996 was $19,578. According to the 1990 Census, the population in the county was 62,372; in the 2000 census it was 64,328, resulting in a positive growth of 3.0%.

Wyoming County, located west of Livingston and north of Cattaraugus Counties, in 1998 there were 213,400 acres in farms, 56 percent of the county's total 379,520 acres. There were 850 farms in the county averaging 251 acres per farm. Wyoming County ranks 14th in the state for number of farms and 9th for farm acreage. In 1997, according to the Census of Agriculture, the market value of all agricultural products sold from county farms was $134.7 million. The leading products sold were: dairy products, cattle and calves, hay and silage, and vegetables. The average value of land and buildings per farm in 1997 was $292,355. The Census showed 64 percent of the farm operators reported farming as their principal occupation. The average age of the operator was 51.5 years. Data from the U.S. Department of Commerce showed the average personal income for all wage earners in the county in 1996 was $16,424. According to the 1990 Census, the population in the county was 42,507; in the 2000 census it was 43,424, a positive growth of 2.1%.

In all of the 5 Counties in the RC&D Area agriculture is the leading industry, with forest related industries a close second. The percent of forest cover ranges from 38% in Livingston and Wyoming Counties to 63% in Allegany County. Both Cattaraugus and Chautauqua Counties contain approximately 58% forest cover. The forest industry, excluding revenue from recreational uses, has an economic impact over $1.2 million annually. The continued growth and health of the forest resource is important to keep this industry viable while at the same time protecting the related resources of wildlife and water quality. Recreational opportunities in the rural portions of the area provide significant economic impact.

Lakes, rivers and streams make up nearly 12% of the land area in the RC&D area. Protecting and improving the water quality of these water bodies has been a concern with many groups. All five counties have initiated a county water quality group that is concerned with this issue. The RC&D area contains three major watersheds, the Great Lakes, with direct drainage to Lakes Erie and Ontario, the Mississippi Watershed through the Allegany River, and a small portion of the Susquehanna Watershed through the Canisteo Creek in Allegany County.

Agritourism and economic development, along with maintaining the rural characteristics of the region, are also issues of concern to the people within the RC&D Area.

Goals and Objectives

GOAL I: RC&D COUNCIL To rebuild an effective council by having an informed, responsive, reliable group of members that represent the communities, other grass-root organizations and individuals within their areas.

Objective 1. Eliminate all the weak areas of Council representation identified by the councils annual self-assessment and/or other means.

Objective 2. Actively solicit for; sponsor and financially support locally submitted measure plan applications.

Objective 3. Strengthen the activities of the local RC&D Committees by seeking diversity and expansion of the membership.

Objective 4. Establish an accountability system by which council members assistance with project and measure funding is measured.

Objective 5. Eliminate the problems; address the concerns; and meet the needs that council members and the general community have concerning RC&D.

GOAL II: AGRICULTURE To strengthen, protect and improve the agricultural industry in the area by developing programs and measure plans that address environmental, educational and economic issues.

Objective 1. Obtain funding for the continuation and expansion of education and agricultural management improvement programs such as the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI).

Objective 2. Promote the development and implementation of Member County agricultural and farmland protection plans.

Objective 3. Make engineering and technical assistance available to agricultural producers to meet changing environmental regulations.

Objective 4. Promote agricultural education programs by supporting FFA, Farm Bureau, 4-H. Inform the public about agricultural opportunities, careers.

GOAL III: WATER RESOURCES To provide opportunities that allow for the protection and enhancement of water resources and their best usage.

Objective 1. Compile and monitor the area Water Quality plans and Source Water Assessment progress and understand issues identified in member counties.

Objective 2. Expand water based recreational opportunities through development, protection and/or implementation.

Objective 3. Sponsor educational programs and seminars, which improve grass-root support for the prevention of water pollution, improvement in water quality, or protection of water resources.

Objective 4. Sponsor the protection and enhancement of critical wetland habitats.

GOAL IV: FORESTRY To promote activities that emphasis proper management of forest resources to avoid degradation, exploitation, misuse or neglect.

Objective 1. Sponsor educational programs for landowners, students, loggers and wood product manufacturers.

Objective 2. Strengthen the development of forestry business via working with related groups and agencies, as well as demonstrating new ideas, products and technologies.

Objective 3. Provide education concerning the application of Best Management Practices and Sustainable Forestry Practices to protect the forest resource.

GOAL V: COMMUNITY NEEDS To provide solutions to community based problems which address issues such as flooding and drainage, infrastructure improvements, historic preservation, alternative energy, recreation, public education and planning.

Objective 1. Implement applications of projects and plans concerning alternative forms of energy, farm opportunities or community development.

Objective 2. Implement a local Geographic Information Systems and promote local networking and information exchange.

Objective 3. Identify qualified sources of engineering assistance and funding sources to supplement NRCS servicing of approved requests.