New Map: Trust for Public Land Highlights Success of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, Illustrates Importance of Future Progress on Pending Projects
Congress and Administration Must Fulfill Promise of the Bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act
Washington, D.C. — Trust for Public Land (TPL) today released a new map showcasing successful conservation project across the country and ongoing initiatives that are still seeking federal funding through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). For more than sixty years, LWCF has been America’s most important conservation program, increasing access to our public lands for hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor recreation.
In 2020, the President and Congress provided a boost to LWCF by signing the largest modern investment in conservation, the bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act. The bill permanently guarantees $900 million in non-taxpayer funding every year to support community-driven conservation and recreation projects that create jobs and generate revenue.
“Nothing showcases America’s bipartisan commitment to conservation better than the Land and Water Conservation Fund,” said Myke Bybee, Legislative Director at Trust for Public Land “From ballparks and playgrounds to wildlife corridors and interstate trails, the President and Congress came together five years ago to provide a historic boost to our public lands. Now the administration must ensure this legacy-defining legislation fulfills its full promise to expand conservation and outdoor recreation in communities across the country.”
In addition to highlighting successful projects made possible through LWCF, the map features projects in progress that are facing new bureaucratic hurdles. At the same time, recent proposals in the President’s Budget Request also proposed diverting dedicated LWCF funding from its intended conservation purposes. These actions threaten to undo the President’s first-term signature conservation achievement and leaving the fate of many pending and future LWCF projects unclear.
The map highlights conservation and public access projects in ten states made possible by LWCF that help create a thriving recreation economy, unlock the great outdoors, support working forests, and enhance land management to save taxpayer dollars.
“The Land and Water Conservation Fund is a uniquely beneficial program for sportsmen and women. It improves habitat for fish and wildlife across the country and ensures public access for the hunters and anglers who pursue them. We cherish the places supported by the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which was made stronger by the bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act signed into law by President Trump in 2020. Continuing to properly implement the Great American Outdoors Act is critical to the future of LWCF and the expanded fishing and hunting opportunities it creates,” said Kaden McArthur, Trout Unlimited Director of Congressional Affairs.
The map provides details on each project and steps that individuals can take to help ensure LWCF continues to support locally-driven conservation initiatives into the future. The full interactive map is available here.
The mapping tool highlights dozens of LWCF signature achievements, and projects in need of funding, including:
The Outdoor Economy
- Colorado: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
- California: Cleveland National Forest
- New Mexico: Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument
- North Carolina: Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge
- *PENDING PROJECT* California: Jawbone Canyon OHV Area
Unlocking Access to the Great Outdoors
- Montana: Lost Trail Conservation Area
- Arizona: Aravaipa Canyon
- California: North Fork of the American River/Lake Clementine
- Pennsylvania: Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge
- *PENDING PROJECT* Colorado: South San Juan – La Jara Basin
- *PENDING PROJECT* California: San Gorgonio Wilderness
Working Forests
- Montana: Stimson Timberland Legacy
- Colorado: Navajo River Headwaters
- California: Mailliard Ranch
- *PENDING PROJECT* Washington: Upper Wenatchee Watershed
Smart Resource Management
- California: San Bernardino National Forest
- Nevada: Lake Mead
- Wyoming: Grand Teton National Park
- Washington: Mount Rainier National Park
- California: Pines to Mines, Tahoe National Forest
- *PENDING PROJECT* Colorado: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
Last week TPL released the most detailed assessment to date of private inholdings within the National Park System and the role of LWCF in completing and protecting America’s system of public lands. That report can be found here.
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About Trust for Public Land
Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,504 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $112 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 109.7 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.
