- March 8, 2012 Coalition Applauds Senate for Dedicated Conservation Funding
- February 13, 2012 Coalition Applauds President's Continued Support for Conservation Funding
- December 17, 2011 Conservation, Business and Sportsmen Groups Applaud Congressional Efforts to Protect LWCF Funding in FY12 Budget
- July 25, 2011- New Bipartisan Poll Shows Overwhelming Support Across America for Land and Water Conservation Fund
- July 13, 2011- National Bipartisan Poll Memo
- May 31, 2011- Over One-Third of the U.S. House of Representatives Sign Letter Supporting Funding for LWCF
- April 14, 2011- Conrad Anchor Testimony Release
- December 20, 2010 - Senate Urged to Join House and Pass Bill with Full Funding for Conservation Program »
- August 3, 2010 - Senate Urged to Join House and Pass Bill with Full Funding for Conservation Program »
- July 15, 2010 - House Committee Passes Bill Securing Funding for Conservation and Recreation Program »
- April 16, 2010 - America's Great Outdoors Conference Focuses on Need for Vital Land, Recreation Funding »
- February 1, 2010 - Obama's Budget Includes Key Funding for Land & Water »
- November 6, 2009 - Senate Bill Would Fulfill Longstanding Promise for Conservation and Recreation Program »
- September 17 , 2009 - Coalition Supports Conservation at House Hearing »
Posted: Monday, June 6, 2011 9:15 am
I thoroughly enjoyed the Sunday (May 29) article, "Mysterious cabin provides backdrop to Harrison Lake hike in Glacier," describing the pioneer history and intrigue surrounding the infamous lives of Dan and Josephine Doody.
While the old Doody cabin is now owned by Glacier National Park, readers may also be interested to learn about ongoing efforts by the Park Service to acquire the adjoining 120 acres of the Doody homestead. Entirely surrounded by park lands and resting on the northern shore of the Middle Fork of the Flathead River, the parcel is one of the few remaining private inholdings in the park. Visitors enjoying the South Boundary Trail may not realize that a portion of the trail crosses these private lands. The current owner is now interested in selling that property to the park, ensuring public access for hiking, rafting, and angling. Moreover, the possibility of private sale and development will be eliminated, and the homestead's fantastic story will be preserved for history.
Funding for the property purchase of $1.3 million is included in the park Service's proposed budget, now before Congress. But it depends on sufficient funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, an account used by federal and state agencies for important purchases such as this. LWCF is funded from federal offshore oil and gas leasing royalties, not taxpayer dollars. Unfortunately, the LWCF program suffered cuts of more than 30 percent in the recently passed federal budget bill, and now more cuts are proposed. This is a pennywise and pound-foolish approach for a program that supports parks, enhances public access for recreation and boosts local economies.
Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester are strong proponents of the LWCF program. I certainly appreciate their ongoing efforts this year to finally and permanently protect the Doody homestead as part of Glacier National Park's story.
Michael Jamison, Crown of the Continent program manager, National Parks Conservation Association, Whitefish