Understanding the Values of Recreation

May 20, 2021 A picture of a kayaker on a calm lake with trees that have a golden color to them from the fall season. Forest Service research scientists have calculated the societal value of recreation opportunities across all national forests in the United States to be $14 billion annually. They have even calculated the […]

TPL Unveils a New Interactive Map showing all LWCF Project Sites

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 22, 2021 CONTACT: Madison at madison@unbendablemedia.com New Interactive Map Showcases Iconic National Parks, Trails & Other Public Outdoor Spaces Funded by the Land & Water Conservation Fund 98 Percent of U.S. Counties Have a Park or Green Space Funded by LWCF Today, the Trust for Public Land, in collaboration with LWCF […]

LWCF News clips from Signal Outdoors Mid April 2021

LWCF Press Clips 4.12.21 – 4.16.21 Arkansas Deal in works to buy wildlands near Pinnacle Mountain Arkansas Democrat Gazette, 4/11/2021 “The Nature Conservancy and the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission hope to raise enough money to add additional 458 acres in the west Little Rock-Maumelle area for conservation and outdoor recreation. Blue Mountain, the westernmost peak […]

State Outdoor Recreation Offices from 13 states ask Congress to reduce required 50% LWCF match

The directors of 13 state recreation offices are asking the federal government to adjust requirements that states and local communities must provide matching funds to secure Land and Water Conservation Fund money.  See link below https://coloradosun.com/2021/03/31/land-water-conservation-fund-spending-congress/

What is LWCF? Filson Group Historic Review

FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS, LWCF HAS BEEN CALLED AMERICA’S MOST IMPORTANT TOOL IN CONSERVATION. BUT ALL THAT WAS SUBJECT TO CHANGE LAST SEPTEMBER WHEN AUTHORIZATION FOR THE FUND FACED THE LEGISLATIVE CHOPPING BLOCK. WHAT IS LWCF? In the early 1960’s, heightened awareness regarding the depletion of natural resources and the increasing need for public […]

Parks, Jobs and Equity Act (PJEA) Introduced

New Legislation Provides $500 million Stimulus Funding for Urban Parks ( Administered by the states, territories and tribal governments )  WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representatives Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-Calif.), Michael Turner (R-Ohio) and Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) introduced a bipartisan bill to provide an historic one-time stimulus of $500 million for urban parks. Local parks are at […]

INTERIOR Announces Plans to Strengthen LWCF

  New Order Revokes Policy Actions That Undermined Bipartisan Conservation Program WASHINGTON — The Interior Department today took steps to strengthen the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) by rescinding Trump administration policies that significantly undermined the landmark conservation program. Secretarial Order 3396 revokes an order signed on November 9, 2020 (Secretarial Order 3388) that unilaterally imposed new […]

Sununu, Shaheen Seek Reversal Of Surprise Change To Conservation Grant Program

Sununu, Shaheen Seek Reversal Of Surprise Change To Conservation Grant Program By ANNIE ROPEIK • 13 HOURS AGO ShareTweetEmail A new sewer system for the strained Mount Washington State Park is among the projects that could be affected by a last-minute change to a major conservation grant program. MOUNT WASHINGTON AUTO ROAD Governor Chris Sununu and Sen. Jeanne […]

Reaction to Secretary Bernhardt Midnight Change to GAOA and Purposes

President Trump’s public lands legacy has been further complicated by a set of actions handed down by the Interior Department with less than 24 hours left to go in his tenure. Last night, on the eve of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, outgoing Interior Secretary David Bernhardt greenlit significant changes to the implementation of the Land […]

Secretary Bernhardt’s LWCF Manual Changes and LWCF Apportionments for FY 21

Here is the recent Secretary of Interior’s press release and links to the revised LWCF Manual.   It is likely the new Administration will change both the apportionments and the LWCF Manual in the near future. Hopefully, the state funding will remain robust, as proposed below, and the new Interior Secretary will keep the key and […]