The Council recently realized one of its long-standing goals in the Middle Reach – an appointment by Department of the Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne to the Bureau of Land Management’s Central Resource Advisory Council (RAC). The Central RAC is the official federal advisory committee that provides advice and recommendations to the BLM on public land management in Central Montana.  Approximately 97% or 3.36 million acres of the BLM’s Central Area lies within 9 of the 15 Conservation Districts represented by the Council.  Additionally, the largest feature in the BLM’s Central Area is the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument, which includes 150 miles of the Missouri River corridor.  Vicki Marquis, Council Coordinator, began her 3-year term on the Central RAC in November and has attended two RAC meetings (February and May), providing input on BLM Travel Plans, Resource Management Plans, and Off Highway Vehicle use in public lands.