Caleb Abbott
Congress Must Reject Proposed $100 Million ...

After almost 60 years of fighting against diversion of Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) dollars, in 2020, the LWCF Coalition celebrated passage of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). This legislation secured permanent funding for LWCF at $900 million dollars annually, creating a consistent funding stream for conservation and outdoor recreation projects. By protecting our natural and cultural treasures, working forests and wildlife habitat, permanent LWCF funding ensures outdoor access for all Americans no matter where they live, clean safe drinking water, natural climate mitigation, and jobs in our communities. Yet, despite all these benefits and the overwhelming bipartisan will of Congress, LWCF is still under threat.

Congress Must Reject Proposed $100 Million Rescission of LWCF
Caleb Abbott
Prized Ranch on the Yakima River to be ...

The Yakima River is one of the West’s premier desert trout streams and a lifeline for fish and wildlife of southcentral Washington. It flows 214 miles from Keechelus Lake in the Cascade Mountains to the Columbia River, with a glorious 27-mile stretch through the Yakima River Canyon. In the upper reaches of the canyon, Western Rivers Conservancy is using recreational access funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to place cherished river access points into public hands forever.

Prized Ranch on the Yakima River to be Conserved and Opened to Public Thanks to LWCF
Caleb Abbott
LWCF in the Delaware River Watershed

As the longest undammed main stem river east of the Mississippi, the Delaware River Watershed (DRW) provides drinking water to over 13.3 million people in the region, including two out of the five largest metropolitan centers in the country: New York City and Philadelphia, along with the cities of Camden, Trenton, and Wilmington.

LWCF in the Delaware River Watershed
Allison Springer
The Maine Woods

The effects of climate change are all around us: extreme heat and cold weather; forest fires raging in the west; floods devastating crops and land in the Midwest; rising sea levels and storm surges taking lives in the south; shorter, more erratic winters here in the northeast. We must act.

Conservation is one of the many tools that can help alleviate the effects of a changing climate. Protected lands provide ecosystem services and natural resiliency, which is why nations around the world, including the U.S., are committed to the goal of conserving 30% of the planet’s land and waters by the year 2030.

Lying at the heart of the Northern Appalachian-Acadian Forest, the most intact, unfragmented ecoregion east of the Mississippi, Maine’s forest houses more than half of the largest globally important bird area in the United States. The cold waters of the area support the last stronghold of native wild Eastern Brook Trout in the U.S. The Western Maine Mountains are home to more than 139 rare plants and animals, including 21 globally rare species, and provide core habitat for marten, lynx, loon, and moose. Maine’s vast North Woods have a significant role to play in mitigating and adapting to a changing climate. Our 17.5 million acres of forest absorbs 60% of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions annually, while harboring a wide range of wildlife. Unfragmented forests offer microclimates and habitat connectivity, and shelter cold waters, all of which add up to tremendous resilience in the face of change.

The Maine Woods
Caleb Abbott
Breaking Down the Agency Priority Lists in the ...

With enactment of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) ensuring at least $900 million each year for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), hundreds of conservation and recreation projects can be completed. These projects range from local parks in cities and small towns, to federal land acquisitions that fill gaps inside our National Parks, and to easements that protect sustainable working forests. These different types of projects are carried out under LWCF’s ten sub-programs, which have specific and differing internal processes and timelines for funding and project completion. In this blog post we will dive into five of the sub-programs, explaining the LWCF project lists that appear in the President’s budget proposal for fee and easement acquisitions within the National Park Service (NPS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), US Forest Service (USFS) and the Forest Legacy Program (FLP).

Breaking Down the Agency Priority Lists in the President’s Budget

LWCF Policy Update

LWCF Policy Update

It has been a roller coaster few weeks in the world of public lands with our efforts to fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) reaching a tipping point in early March. Right now the current global pandemic has us all focused on how to best support our local communities and loved ones, and remain optimistic at an incredibly challenging time, while Congress is focused on immediate rescue and relief efforts. But we remain hopeful that LWCF permanent funding legislation will advance and we are working with legislative champions to secure an opportunity whenever that becomes feasible. Here’s an update on recent developments, so you can help us pick back up where we left off -- on the brink of success!

Public Access Into Zion National Park Permanently Protected BY LWCF

Public Access Into Zion National Park Permanently Protected BY LWCF

For 16 miles, hikers weave their way down the Zion Narrows Trail as it follows the Virgin River through one of the most iconic spots in Zion National Park.  The hike covers difficult rocky, narrow terrain; however, up until recently, that wasn’t the greatest challenge to completing the trail. Just last year, hikers were greeted to a sign reading: “Permission to Pass Subject to Trespassing Fee,” “For Sale By Owner. Own Over 1 Mile of the Zion Narrows,” and “880 Acres with Water and Resort Potential.” This came as a great shock to many who assumed the trail was protected for public use, but a dispute with the landowner who had previously always allowed access, led the National Park Service to stop issuing permits for the trail.  The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), America’s most important conservation program used to protect this type of land from private development, had recently expired and the gateway to Zion National Park was at real risk of being home to a resort or trophy home.  

LWCF Invests in Green Infrastructure

LWCF Invests in Green Infrastructure

When we think of green infrastructure, a conservation program like the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) may not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, LWCF has been investing in our nation’s green infrastructure for over a half century through protecting and filtering drinking water, reducing disaster risk, increasing coastal resiliency, providing flood mitigation, and supporting carbon sequestration. In every county in all 50 states and in U.S. territories, our national, state, and local parks, forests, wildlife areas, and other public lands are a critical network of green infrastructure that need continued investment in order to protect nearby communities from the effects of our changing climate.

North America's Migration Corridors Protected by the Land and Water Conservation Fund

North America's Migration Corridors Protected by the Land and Water Conservation Fund

There are few sights as powerful as the movement of thousands of elk across the open plain, as intriguing as a large pack of wolves running silently through the deep forest, or as heartwarming as a grizzly mother and cubs fishing along a riverbank. These patterns of animal activities are critical to the survival of numerous species and are supported by the existence of habitat migration corridors - especially for large animals such as grizzly bears, elk, wolves, mule deer and other charismatic species in North America. These animals have great natural and cultural value, serving as barometers for larger ecosystem health and playing an important role in the traditions and economy of the West. But changing land use patterns and continued population growth and development across the West are threatening big-game and other large species, impacting winter range and migration corridors in sagebrush habitats and other ecosystems. In order to support sustainable populations, landscape-level conservation is required to stitch together a disjointed base of western public lands and prevent further fragmentation that impedes movement, restricts access to food sources, and prevents seasonal migration between summer and winter ranges and to vital breeding grounds.

Time for Full Funding for LWCF

Time for Full Funding for LWCF

On March 12, 2019, LWCF was permanently reauthorized as part of S. 47, the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act. What a huge, long-fought, and amazing victory, achieved by sweeping bipartisan margins in Congress! Major thanks are owed to all who helped make this success possible. Passage of the Dingell Act ensures that LWCF no longer faces the uncertainty of potential expiration, and that the unique structure and inflow of funds to LWCF is permanently protected. But there is still work to be done in order to guarantee the full promise of America’s most important conservation and recreation program, so now we are shifting our focus back to guaranteeing full, dedicated funding for LWCF.

Update: How to Contact Your Representatives and Talk about LWCF

Update: How to Contact Your Representatives and Talk about LWCF

Are you worried about the future of our public lands and the Land and Water Conservation Fund, but not sure what you can do? Calling your congressional delegation is one of the most powerful things we can do as individuals. You don’t need to be an expert on the issue, but the more people who call and talk about the importance of LWCF, the more likely your representative is to notice. It really does work!

Winter WonderLANDS, LWCFstyle

Winter WonderLANDS, LWCFstyle

Winter is an excellent time to get outdoors when you bundle up and embrace the snow! Whether you are sledding, skating, snowshoeing, skiing downhill or cross country, ice fishing, ice climbing, or the many other winter recreation sports, odds are you are on public lands protected by LWCF. Wondering if your favorite spot to mush has received LWCF funding? Here we list some of America’s best winter wonderLANDS, protected by LWCF.

LWCF Expired, What’s Next?

LWCF Expired, What’s Next?

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) has expired, so, what is next?

Our fight is definitely not over! In the coming weeks, the LWCF Coalition will be working with our partners across the country and champions on Capitol Hill to secure the future of LWCF on behalf of the places we love and all of the recreation and economic benefits it brings to the American people. Don’t forget, we have a $887 billion recreation economy that relies on access to our outdoors!

With lots of conversations about the future of the program, here is a quick update on the importance of authorization with full dedicated funding, where LWCF currently stands, and how you can get involved.

Our Favorite Summer Adventures, Brought to You by LWCF

Our Favorite Summer Adventures, Brought to You by LWCF

As warm weather sweeps across the country, our national parks, forests, state and local campgrounds, beaches, trails, and other outdoor hotspots fill up with Americans seeking fun in the sun. As part of our #SaveLWCF effort, we have compiled a list of some of our favorite places that have received LWCF funds. Wondering if your lakefront, campsite, fishing spot, or running path has received LWCF? Check out our interactive map to find LWCF dollars going into your favorite places and share your LWCF summer adventure on social media using #SaveLWCF and #LWCFsummer.

For more information: cabbott@outdoorsamerica.org