The Case for Permanent LWCF Funding – In Pictures and Words

Mark Green
Posted July 22, 2020

With the U.S. House scheduled to vote on legislation that would create permanent, dedicated funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), I’ll let some amazing photos from parks and recreation areas around the U.S. make the case for supporting the country’s most important federal conservation initiative:

 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service photo

U.S. National Park Service photo

U.S. National Park Service photo

U.S. National Park Service photo

These beautiful images show just a small fraction of the preservation, history and other outdoor opportunities across the U.S. that benefit from LWCF.

Since 1965 the fund has supplied billions of dollars for parks, conservation and recreation across all 50 states. Virtually all of that money was supplied by safe, responsible offshore oil and natural gas development. As we noted last month, when the legislation was moving through the U.S. Senate, the Wilderness Society says LWCF has been “America’s most important conservation funding tool for nearly 50 years.” By the numbers:

• $227 million to be distributed from LWCF to all 50 states, five U.S. territories and the District of Columbia this year.
• Offshore oil and natural gas revenues are projected to provide almost $900 million annually to the LWCF.
• $4.4 billion sent for parks, national forests, wildlife refuges and state and local projects since LWCF’s inception in 1965
• Every $1 million invested in the LWCF could support 17 to 31 jobs. LWCF funds help expand, improve and create state and local parks, which support more than 1.1 million jobs and $166 billion in economic activity.

Lem Smith, API vice president of upstream policy, underscored the support for conservation and preservation that comes from offshore development and the importance of the pending legislation, which also includes money to address a maintenance backlog estimated at more than $20 billion:

“As this bipartisan legislation moves forward, it’s important for lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to remember that, even during these challenging times, our nation’s conservation efforts are made possible by American oil and natural gas.” 

Back to the photos. The first is an aerial view of St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge on Florida’s Gulf Coast, about 60 miles southeast of Panama City. It’s made up of two islands and two mainland tracts totaling nearly 12,500 acres. It was established as a national refuge in 1968 to protect migratory birds. Today it’s popular for fishing, hunting, hiking, kayaking and bicycling. It’s a breeding site for endangered red wolves (pup, below).

The second photo comes from the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in Colorado, about an hour northwest of Colorado Springs. The grassy mountain valley is home to one of the most diverse fossil deposits in the world, including 14 foot-wide petrified redwood stumps. You hike there and see amazing fossil exhibits. The area is home to all kinds of plant and animal life including an array of bird life. Lynn Granger, API Colorado executive director:

“LWCF is the funding backbone for many of the outdoor activities that Coloradans enjoy daily and would not exist without the funding from safe offshore oil and natural gas development. Since 1965, the LWCF has grown to include grants that protect working forests, wildlife habitats, drinking water supplies and other critical environmental assets. Colorado’s national and state parks, recreation areas and conservation programs rely on the continued support of safe offshore energy production, this underscores the importance of maintaining access to offshore resources.”

The third shot is from the Cumberland Island National Seashore along the southeastern coast of Georgia. Cumberland Island is the state’s largest barrier island, featuring pristine forests, undeveloped beaches and marshes. It’s a prime location for hiking, camping, swimming, boating, beachcombing and stargazing.

U.S. National Park Service photo

The last photo is of the monument to the 15^th New Jersey infantry regiment at the Spotsylvania, Virginia, Civil War battlefield between Richmond and Washington, D.C. The monument was erected near the battlefield’s “Bloody Angle,” where in 1864 tens of thousands of Americans were killed, wounded or reported missing. The battle was part of U.S. Grant’s push south toward Richmond that ultimately led to the end of the war. Today the park is popular for hiking and interpretative talks by park staff.

U.S. National Park Service photo

Again, there are scores of other outdoor/recreational areas that have received LWCF funding support. Public lands like these create recreational opportunities for Americans all across the country, while preserving important ecosystems, national landmarks and important facets of our nation’s history – with a big thanks to offshore oil and natural gas. Smith:

“Domestic energy development, specifically offshore, will continue to serve as the primary revenue driver for the LWCF, underscoring the importance of maintaining safe production in federal waters."