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 beneficial changes for the state administration of the program in any new Manual revision. Keep checking back, as I will update this page, as information becomes available.. Here is a link to the revised LWCF Manual….
WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt today announced a historic increase in funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) State and Local Assistance Program. The Fund will distribute $302 million for outdoor recreation and conservation projects in all 50 states, five U.S. territories and the District of Columbia. An additional $150 million will be allocated through a competitive process for a total of at least $452 million.
“This year’s increased apportionment is a direct result of the Trump-Pence Administration’s leadership and commitment to fostering cooperative stewardship and recreational opportunities for all Americans, culminating with the enactment of the Great American Outdoors Act in August 2020,” said Secretary Bernhardt. “This hallmark achievement, along with the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act signed into law by President Donald J. Trump in 2019, permanently and fully funds the LWCF.”
The LWCF was established by Congress in 1964 to fulfill a bipartisan commitment to provide recreation opportunities and safeguard the country’s natural areas, water resources and cultural heritage. Since its inception, the LWCF has invested $5 billion to support 45,000 projects and the purchase and protection of three million acres of land. Using zero taxpayer dollars, the fund invests earnings primarily from offshore oil and gas leasing. The additional $75 million in increased LWCF funds over last year’s allocation resulted from the increased in LWCF funds made available through the Great American Outdoors Act. The funds are awarded through federal matching grants that leverage public and private investment.“
These grants will provide Americans with close-to-home opportunities to connect with the outdoors by helping states and local governments create parks, upgrade existing facilities and develop trail systems,” said Margaret Everson, Counselor to the Secretary exercising the delegated authority of the National Park Service Director. “A priority will be given to projects that improve physical connectivity between Federal and State-managed lands for recreational opportunities such as hunting, hiking, fishing, boating, camping and wildlife observation.”
An additional $125 million made available in FY 2021, plus at least $25 million in available prior year unobligated funds, will be available through a competitive process. The LWCF Great American Outdoors Act – National Competition for State and local project proposals is providing states and territories with an opportunity to fund projects between $500,000 to $20,000,000 that address program priorities identified by Secretary’s Order 3388, including the acquisition of land or water identified in a recovery plan for an Endangered Species Act-listed species, creation of wetlands to provide habitat for fish, waterfowl and other wildlife, improvement of water quality or the mitigation of flood and storm impacts to communities.
An updated LWCF State and Local Assistance Program Manual (826KB PDF) establishes a framework to prioritize projects and sets forth administrative procedures and requirements. It reflects changes that bring the Manual into compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and other legal authorities that have transpired in the 13 years since it was last updated. The guidelines ensure a more robust program by providing states with maximum flexibility to receive financial assistance and choose appropriate projects. It permits state or local government-owned lands to be used for match or property donated. It also helps cover costs associated with compliance and administration offsets among other changes.
The allocation for each state and territory is based on an apportionment formula based on population set in the LWCF Act, and includes funds appropriated from the LWCF by Congress as well as revenue derived from the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act.
Fiscal Year 2021 Total Apportionments by State/Territory
| State/Territory | Amount |
| Alabama | $4,558,283 |
| Alaska | $2,533,887 |
| American Samoa | $2,175,771 |
| Arizona | $6,073,301 |
| Arkansas | $3,592,863 |
| California | $25,656,657 |
| Colorado | $5,172,872 |
| Connecticut | $4,324,669 |
| Delaware | $2,688,461 |
| District of Columbia | $2,550,094 |
| Florida | $13,762,420 |
| Georgia | $7,578,516 |
| Guam | $2,205,880 |
| Hawaii | $3,002,879 |
| Idaho | $3,011,260 |
| Illinois | $9,954,586 |
| Indiana | $5,725,399 |
| Iowa | $3,742,896 |
| Kansas | $3,746,693 |
| Kentucky | $4,327,073 |
| Louisiana | $4,664,855 |
| Maine | $2,729,141 |
| Maryland | $5,640,483 |
| Massachusetts | $6,219,386 |
| Michigan | $7,670,445 |
| Minnesota | $5,092,308 |
| Mississippi | $3,545,544 |
| Missouri | $5,410,099 |
| Montana | $2,645,028 |
| Nebraska | $3,168,586 |
| Nevada | $3,855,639 |
| New Hampshire | $2,826,299 |
| New Jersey | $7,696,320 |
| New Mexico | $3,328,933 |
| New York | $13,889,564 |
| North Carolina | $7,186,136 |
| North Dakota | $2,499,279 |
| Northern Marianas | $2,175,297 |
| Ohio | $8,730,999 |
| Oklahoma | $4,139,234 |
| Oregon | $4,384,626 |
| Pennsylvania | $9,428,505 |
| Puerto Rico | $4,488,119 |
| Rhode Island | $2,807,620 |
| South Carolina | $4,601,810 |
| South Dakota | $2,561,283 |
| Tennessee | $5,511,826 |
| Texas | $17,094,281 |
| Utah | $3,859,575 |
| Vermont | $2,428,457 |
| Virginia | $6,646,228 |
| Virgin Islands | $2,190,526 |
| Washington | $6,137,852 |
| West Virginia | $3,020,963 |
| Wisconsin | $5,240,462 |
| Wyoming | $2,454,090 |
| Total | $302,354,258 |
