FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Permanent Land and Water Conservation Fund authorization passes in Energy bill
Association of land trusts applauds Senate’s support of nation’s premiere conservation program
April 21, 2016
Seattle, WA — The Senate’s Energy Bill permanently renews a critically important conservation program. The Land and Water Conservation Fund uses federal offshore oil and gas drilling royalties for conservation of wildlife habitat and opportunities for hunting, fishing and other recreational uses.
Created by longtime Washington Senator Henry “Scoop” Jackson, the program has protected icons like Mount Rainier National Park, Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve, the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, and the Pacific Crest Trail.
Washington’s Senator Maria Cantwell, Ranking Member of the Senate Energy Committee, worked with Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) to usher through the historic Energy Bill and LWCF reauthorization.
“We are grateful to Senator Cantwell for her tireless work to reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund.” said Hannah Clark, Washington Association of Land Trusts executive director.
“The Senate’s vote to secure the LWCF is a historic step to conserve our most treasured places. These landscapes are not only places for us to camp, hike, hunt and fish. They are major economic drivers for our state. They are critical for healthy fire-resistant forests, clean water and wildlife habitat. And they are an important part of our state’s identity.”
On September 30, 2015 LWCF lapsed for the first time in its 51-year history. Congress reached a short term, three-year fix, but the uncertainty harmed conservation projects across the nation. Permanent LWCF reauthorization would prevent this from happening again.
“I can walk around the state of Washington today and point to various parks and recreation areas that are great examples of preservation made possible by the Land and Water Conservation Fund,” Sen. Cantwell said. “This important program has helped to protect many of our nation’s iconic and most popular national parks, forests and public lands, and is itself a treasure.”
To become law, the Energy Bill provision needs to be taken up by the U.S. House of Representatives. LWCF has strong bipartisan support in Washington’s House delegation. Seven of ten members have cosponsored legislation led by Congressman Dave Reichert for LWCF reauthorization.
For more information, contact: Hannah Clark, (206) 294-1696
About the Association
The Washington Association of Land Trusts is a statewide coalition of 28 nonprofit organizations working to protect our land. Land trusts protect the cornerstones of our environment, quality of life, and economy. These are our salmon streams and rivers, Puget Sound shorelines, forests and farmland, wildlife corridors and refuges, trails and parkland. Land trusts work in local communities to protect land with critical conservation values. The Association represents the collective voice of our members. We are committed to strengthening their ability to conserve precious lands for future generations.