Wednesday night marked the expiration of the Land and Water
Conservation Fund (LWCF), the first time since its creation fifty years ago
that Congress has allowed the popular conservation and recreational fund to
expire. This is a tremendous setback, but it is not the end
of the road.
We need your help to save the program and ensure it can continue
to protect our state’s most cherished places. Reach out to your Senators and Representative—tell them that we must continue to push for
reauthorization and full funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
This week a small, radical minority in Congress succeeded in
eliminating a bipartisan program supported by more than 85% of the American
people. We need Congress to quickly correct this and permanently reauthorize
LWCF to preserve our economy, quality of life, and outdoor heritage. Please
call your Senators and Representatives today and tell them we need to
reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Congress’s failure ended funding for a program that has
protected and provided public access for some of Washington’s most treasured
places. Since being created by Washington Senator Henry “Scoop” Jackson in
1964, LWCF has invested over half a billion dollars for state and federal land
conservation projects in Washington state alone, providing grants to hundreds
of state and local parks, trails, fishing access sites, and recreational
facilities, and supporting working forests. The fund has protected incredible
places all across our state, including Mt. Rainier National Park, Colville
National Forest, the Pacific Crest Trail, and Deception Pass State Park.
We’re incredibly grateful to Washington Senators Cantwell
and Murray and Representatives from both sides of the aisle who have been
leaders in Congress pushing to save LWCF. We
need to let them know that they need to continue to fight on behalf of
Washington’s great outdoors and secure permanent reauthorization of LWCF.
Photo: Sensor via Wikimedia