Transcript The LWCF State Grants Presentation 2015

Foundations of LWCF State Grant Program
National Land and Water Conservation Fund State Grant Training
Denver, Colorado
April 7-11, 2013
 ORRRC’s
Mission
• Determine recreation needs now and in 2000
• Determine resources needs now and in 2000
• Recommend policies and programs
• Core Findings
– Opportunities urgently needed near
metropolitan areas
– Land is available but doesn’t effectively
meets needs
– Money is needed
 ORRRC’s
Recommendations
• A National Outdoor Recreation Policy
 “… preserve, develop and make accessible …
such quantity and quality of … recreation
 Implementation will require cooperation from all
levels of government, especially the States
• Establish Bureau of Outdoor Recreation
• Create a grant-in-aid program to stimulate
and assist the States
President Johnson’s Endorsement
• LWCF Act received bipartisan support
Signed into law on Sept. 3 1964
 LWCF
“to
Act’s Purpose
assist in preserving, developing, and
assuring accessibility to all citizens …
present and future generations and
visitors … such quality and quantity of
outdoor recreation resources … are
necessary and desirable for individual
active participation in such recreation
and to strengthen the health and vitality
of the citizens of the United States by…”
 LWCF
Purpose was to be Accomplished by
• “(1) providing funds for and authorizing Federal
assistance to the States in planning, acquisition,
and development of needed land and water areas
and facilities
• (2) providing funds for the Federal acquisition and
development of certain lands and areas
 Supports NPS, FWS, BLM, and USFS acquisition
needs”
 LWCF
Act – 1965
• Established a long term source of funding
 Proceeds from sale of surplus federal lands
 Motorboat fuel tax
 Recreation use fees
• Set 60% for State grants and 40% federal
acquisition. [LWCF Act 1965..Section 4 …(i) the appropriation therein
made shall be available in the ratio of 60 per centum for State purposes and 40
per centum for Federal purposes ]
 LWCF
Act’s – Evolution
• Basic purposes remain the same today
• Legislative amendments
 1968 -- OCS oil and gas royalties added
 1976 -- “state % taken out and not less than
40% available for federal purposes” added
 1977 -- Funding authorization level increased
to $900m
• FY1998 expansion of funds for “related
purposes” other than land acquisition
 September
30, 2015 – a Date to Remember
• 50th Anniversary of the LWCF Act
• LWCF Act’s sunset date
 Continuation of funding
 Preservation of the recreation estate i.e. 6(f)
protection
LWCF State Assistance
Program
 LWCF
State Assistance -- Relevancy
• The State Assistance Program is the only state
and federal partnership program in the federal
government for creating and protecting public
parks and outdoor recreation opportunities
close to home
 Core
Legislative Cornerstones of the State
Assistance Program
• 1. Partnership to assist states in building a state
and local park system, close to home -- grants
• 2. Increase and maintain a permanent nationwide
recreation estate -- 6(f) protection
• 3. Encourage sound planning recreational –
SCORP’s
 The
Program
• State-Federal Partnership -- emphasis State role
• 50/50 matching grants
 To states and thru states to local units of
government
 Grants for acquisition, development, and planning
 Accomplishments
• $4.1 billion appropriated, matched at least 50:50
for a total of $8.2 billion
• 42,000+ grants
 23% acquisition projects supporting purchase and
protection of 3 million acres
 77% development/construction projects to
develop basic outdoor recreation facilities
• Grants benefited 10,800+ public agencies
 76% of grants awarded to local projects
• LWCF park in more than 98% of counties
 LWCF
Act’s – Evolution
• Legislative amendments
 1968 -- OCS oil and gas royalties added
 1976 – Took out 60% guarantee for state
grants, but left in “not less than 40% available
for federal (land acquisition)
purposes”
 1977 -- Funding level increased to $900m
 FY1998 expansion of funds through appropriations
to include “related purposes” other than land
acquisition, no change in the Act.
 Trends
with LWCF Appropriations
• Prior to 1976 amendment vs. post amendment
changes in total appropriated dollars
Federal
1965-1976
1977-2012
State
$0.9 billion $1.4 billion
(39%)
(61%)
$93.3
billion
(66%)
$2.7 billion
(19%)
 Trends
with LWCF Appropriations
• Prior to 1997 vs. post 1998 differences in total
appropriations for “other purposes”
Federal State
Other
19651997
$5.6
billion
(63%)
$3.3
billion
(37%)
$0
(0%)
19972012
$4.5
billion
$0.8
billion
$2.2
billion
A
coalition of groups interested in
increasing appropriations for the LWCF
state grants, including;
•
National Governors Association
•
National Association of State Outdoor Recreation Liaison Officers
•
National Recreation and Park Association
•
National Association of State Park Directors
•
City Parks Alliance
•
Mayors for Parks
•
Society of Recreation and Park Professionals
have been working to raise awareness
about this issue.

November 25, 2015
 NASORLO LWCF RESOLUTION
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PREAMBLE
The National Association of State Outdoor Recreation Liaison Officers (NASORLO), official appointees of the States’ Governors, administer the federal Land and Water
Conservation Fund Stateside Program (LWCF) throughout the United States and US Territories. Actions by current and past NASORLO members have resulted in
protected parks in every geographic region of the United States, every county, nearly every city or town, and territory. Since 1965, approximately 2.6 million acres
of park and conservation lands have been preserved in perpetuity while outdoor recreation opportunities grew at 29,000 locations across our country.
WHEREAS, over the past 50 years the LWCF Act created to one of the most successful federal/state partnerships in history, which stimulated hundreds of millions of
dollars from private, local and state sources matching federal funds for outdoor recreation projects;
WHEREAS, the National Association of State Outdoor Recreation Liaison Officers (NASORLO), representing the states and territories, and liaisons to Congress and the
Department of Interior, met on September 25, 2014 in Vancouver, Washington, for purposes of discussion of the reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation
Act;
WHEREAS, on September 3, 1964, President Lyndon Johnson, signed into law the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act, passed by the United States Congress, to
provide urban and rural outdoor recreation opportunities on state, federal and local lands for all Americans. When the Act was passed by Congress its primary
purpose was to provide outdoor recreation for Americans in close to home locations, guaranteeing that sixty percent (60%) of the Act’s funds were to be dedicated to
the states and territories;
WHEREAS, the Act was later amended to eliminate the 60% guarantee of the state’s LWCF share, though, with guarantees of not less than 40 percent of annual
appropriations for federal LWCF project purposes;
WHEREAS, over 40,000 grants to states and localities were awarded LWCF State Assistance Grants Program funds for acquisition, development and planning of
outdoor recreation opportunities. These grants represent an investment of $4.2 billion in LWCF assistance, matched with private, local and state sources representing
a minimum $8.4 billion local investment resulting in the creation of state and local parks that continue today to provide close-to-home recreation opportunities
readily accessible to America's youth, adults, senior citizens and the physically or mentally challenged;
WHEREAS, the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act will expire in September 2015, and assessments by the National Park Service show significant unmet needs
for outdoor recreation in state, local and urban areas;
WHEREAS, NASORLO looks forward to working with all interested stakeholders, including the nation's Governors, Congress and the Administration to create a
mutually agreeable platform and strategy to achieve the legislative reauthorization, and, fairness and equity for the state share of the LWCF assistance; and
WHEREAS, the members of NASORLO and our stateside partners reinforce our strong and enthusiastic support for legislation that would enhance the Land and Water
Conservation Fund;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, NASORLO requests that Congress reauthorize the Land and Water
Conservation Fund Act and restore language that includes full and permanent funding and not less than a 40%
share of the LWCF allocation for the State Assistance Program.
Signed: Tim Hogsett, Texas, President NASORLO
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