Land and Water Conservation Fund: Saved!

Land and Water Conservation Fund: Saved!

Since its establishment in 1964, LWCF funds have helped build and improve trails, ball fields, river put-ins, and climbing areas, benefiting everything from city green spaces to National Parks. In total, the program has invested more than $16 billion towards conservation and recreation.

LWCF is funded from offshore oil and gas revenues. Every year, $900 million of these revenues are put into a fund, intended to be used for conservation and recreation projects. Although this money is intended to protect national parks, build playgrounds, and conserve forests, nearly every year Congress diverts much of this funding to other non-conservation uses. As a result, there is a substantial backlog of local and federal conservation needs.

Permanent Authorization

In March 2019, the President signed a sweeping public lands package, which includes a bill to permanently authorize the LWCF! We'd like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who answered calls-to-action on behalf of this issue. Achievements like this require the constant voice of public lands champions. You all helped highlight the importance of the outdoor experience to legislators, and they listened.

permanent funding

In August 2020, the President signed the Great American Outdoors Act into law, which finally ensures full and permanent funding for the LWCF. This bill guarantees full funding for LWCF each year, essentially doubling the amount of funding available for parks and public lands. 

A Timeline

LWCF has been on rocky ground for years, before Congress finally ensured permanent authorization and funding.

  • 1964: With broad bipartisan support, Congress establishes the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The program takes a small portion of the revenue from offshore oil and gas drilling and puts it towards recreation and conservation. 
  • 1965-2014: Over the years, the program faces different Congressional challenges, such as not receiving full-funding. 
  • 2015: Despite the LWCF's overwhelming public support and benefits, Congress lets the program expire for the first time. Due to public outcry, Congress then pulls off a stopgap solution, temporarily renewing the LWCF for three years.
  • 2019:  The President signed a sweeping public lands package, which includes a bill to permanently authorize the LWCF.  But Congress still needs to fully fund the program.
  • 2020:  Against all odds, LWCF is permanently funded as part of the Great American Outdoors Act!

Learn More

Our partners at Outdoor Alliance have set up an awesome interactive map, showing the broad impacts of LWCF - Take a look! You can also look through our previous pieces to see how we've been engaging on this issue:

How LWCF is Helping Conserve the Central Cascades

How LWCF is Helping Conserve the Central Cascades

Our conservation team has been working with partners and land managers to amplify how Great American Outdoors Act funding is helping conserve Washington’s public lands. Learn more about how a longtime effort to conserve forest lands in the Upper Yakima Basin of the Central Cascades is almost complete thanks to the GAOA and the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

What Does the Great American Outdoors Act Mean for Washington?

What Does the Great American Outdoors Act Mean for Washington?

The Great American Outdoors Act was recently signed into law. What does this historic conservation funding bill mean for Washington and the places we love to explore? Learn more - and thank your representatives while you’re at it!

Great American Outdoors Act Passes Congress - Set to Become Law!

Great American Outdoors Act Passes Congress - Set to Become Law!

HUGE NEWS! The most significant conservation funding bill in decades just passed the U.S. Congress and is expected to be signed into law. Learn more about the Great American Outdoors Act and thank your representatives for their support!

Action Alert! Help Pass the Great American Outdoors Act

Action Alert! Help Pass the Great American Outdoors Act

The Senate just passed the Great American Outdoors Act, a historic bipartisan bill to fund parks and public lands! We need your help to get this bill taken up and passed by the House of Representatives.

It's Official: Public Lands Package Signed into Law!

It's Official: Public Lands Package Signed into Law!

Over the years, members of our greater community took action 5,237 times to help champion causes included in the public lands package. These measures have now become law. Thank you for making your voice heard and staying the course!

Public Lands Package Passes the House - Set to Become Law!

Public Lands Package Passes the House - Set to Become Law!

The outdoor experience scored a major win with the passage of the public lands package. Check out what this sweeping legislation means for Washington State and beyond.

Take Action: Public Lands Package Passes the Senate, Moves on to the House

Take Action: Public Lands Package Passes the Senate, Moves on to the House

The Senate passed a sweeping public lands package, which includes key measures for the Pacific Northwest. Now it's time to ask the House of Representatives to move the package forward.

Land and Water Conservation Fund Set to Expire (Again) – Take Action!

Land and Water Conservation Fund Set to Expire (Again) – Take Action!

Since its establishment in 1964, the LWCF has invested more than $16 billion towards conservation and recreation. Please join The Mountaineers in asking Congress to save this critical program.

What Does the Omnibus Spending Bill Mean for Public Lands?

What Does the Omnibus Spending Bill Mean for Public Lands?

In the recently passed omnibus spending bill, Congress funds wildfire disaster relief, the Land & Water Conservation Fund, and some of our biggest land management agencies. Also, the Roadless Rule is protected - for now.

Rep. DelBene Meets for Riverside Roundtable

Rep. DelBene Meets for Riverside Roundtable

Congresswoman DelBene met with outdoor recreation and conservation leaders for a hike and roundtable luncheon.

Cantwell, Reichert, and Jewell Unite for Land and Water Conservation Fund

Cantwell, Reichert, and Jewell Unite for Land and Water Conservation Fund

This week key political leaders spoke up for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Their leadership comes as Congress decides on a bill that would secure the program for perpetuity.

Outdoor Enthusiasts Take The Hill

Outdoor Enthusiasts Take The Hill

Last month The Mountaineers took part in a huge group effort to visit the other Washington to advocate on behalf of outdoor enthusiasts.

Big Conservation News From Outdoor Alliance

Big Conservation News From Outdoor Alliance

This week the Senate passed a bill to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and Sally Jewell, the Secretary of the Interior, shared ambitious plans to improve diversity, access, and funding for public lands. Outdoor Alliance, an organization supported by The Mountaineers, played a part in both successes.

Land & Water Conservation Fund Reauthorized!

Land & Water Conservation Fund Reauthorized!

A three-year renewal for The Land and Water Conservation Fund has been included in Congress's recent budget package, with $150 million more in funding for 2016!

Land & Water Conservation Fund Expired - What's Next?

Land & Water Conservation Fund Expired - What's Next?

The LWCF expired at the end of September but our efforts to support this fund were not wasted and the fight is not over!

Last Chance for the Land and Water Conservation Fund!

Last Chance for the Land and Water Conservation Fund!

Our Conservation and Recreation Manager joined other representatives of conservation and recreation organizations for a day of meetings with legislators on the importance of saving the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Act now to Help Save the Land and Water Conservation Fund

Act now to Help Save the Land and Water Conservation Fund

We need your help: the Land and Water Conservation Fund is one of the most effective tools we have to conserve land and improve outdoor recreation opportunities—and it's going to expire on September 30 unless Congress reauthorizes it.

Saving The Land and Water Conservation Fund

Saving The Land and Water Conservation Fund

The Senate's Energy and Natural Resources Committee has released a bill that would permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the nation's premiere conservation and outdoor recreation program.

Re-authorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund

Re-authorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund

The Land and Water Conservation Fund - the foundation for our access to outdoor recreation, conserving outdoor spaces, and helping insure equal access for all Americans - is threatened. Read more to learn what you can do.