Advocating for the Land and Water Conservation Fund

1. Advocating for the Land and Water Conservation Fund Caroline Brouwer cbrouwer@refugeassociation.org 202-420-9625

2. Agenda • What is LWCF? • Why is LWCF important to refuges? • Current funding/reauthorization situation • Projects being funded in FY16 • Reauthorization • Your ask on Capitol Hill

3. History of the Land & Water Conservation Fund • LWCF was originally created in 1965 as a 50 year program. • Congress’ intent was to: • meet the nation’s growing desire to preserve natural areas and culturally and historically significant landmarks and • provide opportunities for outdoor recreation

4. History of the Land and Water Conservation Fund • Funds come from revenues from outer continental shelf oil and gas leasing fees • a smaller amount comes from revenues from tax on motorboat fuels and sale of federal surplus real property • The program specifies that $900 million go into the fund, however, only once has the program been fully funded—why is this?

5. Why is LWCF Important to Refuges? • LWCF is complicated—funds are split between state and federal programs, including FWS, FS, USDA, NPS • Some funds go to FWS, which are then used to acquire lands to add to the Refuge System • Each year, FWS puts out a list of projects to be funded—Friends have the opportunity to lobby to have their refuge included

7. FY16 Current Funding Levels • FY16: $58 million for FWS projects on refuges • Overall, LWCF is funded at $450 million, a $145 million increase over FY15 • Our GOAL: $900 Full Funding • If fully funded, FWS would receive ~$165 million in funding

8. FWS LWCF appropriations

9. Projects to be funded in FY16 • Hakalau Forest NWR—$8.589 m • Dakota Grassland Conservation Area—$6.5 m • Sangre de Cristo Conservation Area—$1 m • Dakota Tallgrass Prairie WMA—$3 m • Camas NWR—$0.28 m • Red Rocks Lake NWR—$1 m • Everglades Headwaters Conservation Area—$2.091 m • Rappahannock NWR—$1.6 m • Blackwater NWR—$1.511 m • Everglades Headwaters Conservation Area—$2.5 m • Gray’s Lake NWR—$2.5 m • Northern Tallgrass Prairie NWR—$0.5 m • Silvio O. Conte NFWR—$2 m • Bear River Watershed Conservation Area—$2 m • Flint Hills Conservation Area—$2 m Total:   $35.911 m

10. Reauthorization • LWCF expired after 50 years in 2015 • In the FY16 omnibus bill passed in December, the program was extended for 3 years • We are asking for permanent reauthorization, with dedicated funding (not through appropriations) • Why has this not happened already? • Opposition from western Members • Lack of funding

11. Your ask on Capitol Hill • If your refuge has a project to be funded, talk to your state delegation about the merits of the project • How will it enhance the refuge? • How will it benefit the surrounding community? • Advocate for full funding of LWCF, at $900 million each year • Advocate for dedicated funding and permanent reauthorization of LWCF

12. Resources • National Wildlife Refuge Association www.refugeassociation.org • NWRA LWCF page www.refugeassociation.org/lwcf • Interior Department LWCF Resources www.doi.org/lwcf • LWCF Coalition http://lwcfcoalition.org