Secretary Bernhardt Announces $227 Million for State Outdoor Recreation and Conservation Projects

$57 Million Increase in Funding to States from the Land and Water Conservation Fund 

03/31/2020
Last edited 04/02/2020

Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Contact: Interior_Press@ios.doi.gov

 

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt today announced $227,125,000 will be distributed from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to all 50 states, five U.S. territories and the District of Columbia for specified park and outdoor recreation and conservation projects. This represents an increase of $57 million over last year’s LWCF allocation, which is due to President Trump’s energy agenda that has resulted in an increase in revenues from qualified leases on the Outer Continental Shelf.

“This is significant, as the LWCF leverages additional public and private dollars to expand outdoor recreation opportunities for the American people and invest in conservation projects across the country,” said Secretary Bernhardt.

"This is a state-federal partnership that demonstrates how we can work together to improve and expand access to public outdoor recreation opportunities," said Deputy Director David Vela. "These funds are used to permanently conserve outdoor recreation areas for public use and enjoyment.”

These funds are awarded through federal matching grants that leverage public and private investment in America’s state and local public parks. The LWCF was established by Congress in 1964 to ensure access to outdoor recreation resources for present and future generations, and to provide money to federal, state and local governments to purchase land, water and wetlands for the benefit of all Americans. Funds are also used to permanently conserve outdoor recreation areas for public use and enjoyment. The funds enable state and local governments to improve park and other recreation areas in their communities by rehabilitating and upgrading existing parks, creating brand new parks in places that have none and developing and expanding trail systems that link communities to each other and to additional recreation opportunities.

Since the inception of the LWCF, more than $4.4 billion has been made available to state and local governments to fund more than 44,000 projects throughout the nation. The allocation for the State and Local Assistance Grant (state-side) Program is determined based on a formula 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 2020 Total Apportionments by State/Territory
Alabama $3,424,130
Alaska $1,903,426
American Samoa $1,634,414
Arizona $4,562,192
Arkansas $2,698,918
California $19,272,983
Colorado $3,885,801
Connecticut $3,248,641
Delaware $2,019,540
District of Columbia $1,915,601
Florida $10,338,170
Georgia $5,692,893
Guam $1,657,032
Hawaii $2,255,729
Idaho $2,262,024
Illinois $7,477,769
Indiana $4,300,853
Iowa $2,811,620
Kansas $2,814,472
Kentucky $3,250,446
Louisiana $3,504,185
Maine $2,050,099
Maryland $4,237,066
Massachusetts $4,671,930
Michigan $5,761,949
Minnesota $3,825,283
Mississippi $2,663,371
Missouri $4,064,004
Montana $1,986,914
Nebraska $2,380,206
Nevada $2,896,311
New Hampshire $2,123,082
New Jersey $5,781,386
New Mexico $2,500,656
New York $10,433,678
North Carolina $5,398,142
North Dakota $1,877,429
Northern Marianas $1,634,057
Ohio $6,558,624
Oklahoma $3,109,345
Oregon $3,293,680
Pennsylvania $7,082,583
Puerto Rico $3,371,423
Rhode Island $2,109,052
South Carolina $3,456,826
South Dakota $1,924,007
Tennessee $4,140,419
Texas $12,841,022
Utah $2,899,268
Vermont $1,824,229
Virginia $4,992,569
Virgin Islands $1,645,498
Washington $4,610,683
West Virginia $2,269,313
Wisconsin $3,936,574
Wyoming $1,843,483
Total $227,125,000

For more information, please visit the National Park Service

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