Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, MA - June 14, 2010
Summer's unsung hero - By PATRICK COMINS AND JUDY PARMELEE

As we count down the days to summer, people across the common­wealth are busy plan­ning their“escape.”For some, it’s a week-long vacation at the beach. For others, it might be day trips to paddle a canoe or hike a favorite trail.

If you’re like the 4 million others who visit it every year, the Cape Cod National Sea­shore will be one of the places marked in your summertime calendar.This national treasure spreads for nearly 40 miles on the Cape’s eastern shore, playing host not only to beach­goers, but also to shorebirds, turtles and other wildlife.

At the other end of the state, the Connecticut River is a pad­dler’s dream. It courses more than 410 miles past farms, for­ests, rural towns and industrial cities. At the heart of this river is the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge. Here, anglers and bald eagles alike compete for fish, and birders are rewarded for their patience and keen ears with views of warblers, egrets and 250 other species of birds. You may know these cher­ished places well, but do you know about the federal fund that has helped to keep them thriving and open to the public? Did you also know that funding has been low and unpredictable and often diverted elsewhere by Con­gress?

Since 1965, the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) has received a small portion of royalties from the use of one natural resource – offshore oil and gas – to pro­tect lands and waters around the country.The LWCF has invested more than $13 bil­lion in national parks, wildlife refuges and national forests around the country, including $185 million in Massachusetts. Sadly, the LWCF program only twice received the full amount Congress promised in 1965. But now, with support of conservationists, outdoors organizations, farmers, ranch­ers and sportsmen, Congress has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to dedicate $900 million annually to the LWCF.

We cannot let this oppor­tunity pass by. Full and dedi­cated funding is needed for the LWCF to fulfill its purpose. Americans agree.

In a recent national bipar­tisan poll, an overwhelming majority of American voters – 86 percent – said some of the funds from offshore oil and gas fees should continue to go to the LWCF to protect our forests, rivers, lakes, wetlands, beaches and wildlife habitat.

And a nearly equal number of voters view the LWCF as more important now in light of the recent Gulf oil spill.

As volunteers for the Cape Cod National Seashore and Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, we see firsthand how Massachusetts’ magnificent parks, forests and open spaces make it a place where people want to live and visit.

Our benefits from these protected areas extend well beyond recreation. Protection of forests, watersheds, and wetlands helps ensure we have abundant sources of clean and affordable drinking water now and in the future. And a coast­line with healthy salt marshes and dunes can buffer nearby communities from storm surges.

It’s time to sing loudly for this summertime hero. If you’ve ever enjoyed a day at our National Seashore, or paddled the waters of the Connecticut River, let our U.S. senators know.Tell John Kerry and Scott Brown to support full and permanent funding for the LWCF. Doing so protects Massachusetts’ treasured land­scapes, strengthens our local economies, and ensures the future of our natural, cultural, and recreational heritage.

Judy Parmelee is president of the Friends of Cape Cod National Seashore. Patrick Comins serves on the execu­tive committee of the Friends of Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, which is based in Sunderland.