Key Provisions of the Program
LWCF Program Goals:
The LWCF Act of 1965 was enacted to “…..assist in preserving, developing and assuring accessibility to all citizens of the United States of America of present and future generations….such quality and quantity of outdoor recreation resources as may be available and are necessary and desirable for individual active participation………”
- To protect and improve the quality of life of Wisconsin's citizens and the economies of their communities, by increasing the quantity and enhancing the quality of close-to-home outdoor recreation resources for public use and enjoyment in perpetuity.
- To provide critical health benefit resources to Wisconsin's adults, families, and kids through supporting places for recreation, exercise, and education.
- To leverage non-federal matching investments that support outdoor recreation and conservation.
- To empower local government, states and the federal government to accomplish these goals through partnerships.
- To stimulate state and local outdoor recreation planning.
These goals are achieved by acquiring land for outdoor recreation and conservation purposes, and developing and improving outdoor recreational facilities.
Funding:
The program is funded through off shore oil and gas drilling lease proceeds. In most years the funds are divided among the states using a formula based primarily on population. In Wisconsin we have funded over 1800 state and local government land acquisition and development projects with the over $70 million received since the program's beginnings.
Often times foundations, businesses, and private citizens also contribute to LWCF projects. Landowners may donate land and businesses and individuals may donate materials and labor for development projects. This leveraging of private resources with public funds is an important ingredient in the LWCF success story.
Funding Level: Varies annually.
Land & Water Conservation Fund Allocations 2000-2005 |
|||
Federal Fiscal Year |
WI Funds Received |
National Appropriation |
% of Total Funds to WI |
2000 |
$ 700,869 |
$38,000,000 |
1.84% |
2001 |
$1,635,332 |
$88,804,000 |
1.84% |
2002 |
$2,565,059 |
$140,000,000 |
1.83% |
2003 |
$1,670,383 |
$98,000,000 |
1.70% |
2004 |
$1,670,383 |
$91,360,000 |
1.82% |
2005 |
$1,644,145 |
$89,735,784 |
1.83% |
Grants: An important component of the program is cooperation and partnership between the National Park Service, the DNR, local governments and private partners. To foster this partnership, the LWCF program provides 50% match grants to local governments and the state for eligible projects. These grants enable the state to stretch its dollars by leveraging those dollars with other funding sources. To learn more about grants, see LWCF Grants.
Priorities: The Land & Water Conservation Fund is actually part of an umbrella of outdoor recreation grant programs administered together, each with its own goals, and priorities, – the Federal Recreation Trails Program, the Stewardship Local Assistance Grant Programs, and the LWCF Program. These programs provide funds to acquire land for state and local recreation areas, trails, urban green space, river and stream corridors, flowages and lakeshores, and develop and improve visitor amenities at state and local parks and recreation areas. See Stewardship Local Assistance grants and the Recreation Trails Program for a complete description of each.
The Role of the National Park Service
The National Park Service (NPS) administers the Land & Water Conservation Fund Program nationally. Each state is assigned an NPS grant project manager, whose job it is to review all project requests for compliance with the federal law and provide technical assistance. NPS maintains a website, www.nps.gov/ncrc/programs/lwcf/, that provides a variety of information about the program, including project listings by state.
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