In 1990, NRCS led work groups in each of the original eight counties to explain the RC&D program and solicit their interest in developing a RC&D Area.  All eight counties identified the need to develop a RC&D Area and request USDA RC&D Program assistance to help them solve identified problems in the area of:

• Erosion and Sedimentation
• Water quality, Water quantity and flooding
• Community Needs and Development
• Conserving Natural Resources

The local groups quantified needs in each problem area.  Those were consolidated into a formal application, sponsored by the Conservation Districts and County Commissioners in the eight counties, and submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture in 1992 requesting authorization of the new Timberland RC&D.

Timberland became a Michigan non-profit corporation and aquired its 501(c)3 tax status in 1992.

Timberland's purpose is to help local initiatives do what they want to do:

• Facilitate projects
• Coordinates needed partners
• Seeks technical and financial aid to carry out the project
• Supplies administrative and management assistance as needed
• Does not duplicate other programs or compete for projects but fills locally identified voids