The Land and Water Conservation Fund Has Been Reauthorized

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (“LWCF”) has been called “America’s best conservation program” by many different organizations such as the Outdoor Alliance and the Outdoor Industry Association. Congress created the LWCF specifically to conserve and safeguard natural areas (water and land) within the United States to protect these natural areas and provide recreation opportunities to all Americans.

Earlier in 2015, the LWCF expired. Without reauthorization, the LWCF has been unable to fund any of its conservation effort and the outdoor industry was poised to suffer.

Fortunately, yesterday Congress reauthorized the LWCF for three years at $450 million. Further, this amount is 50% more than the LWCF received over the last few years.  While this is only a three-year solution, Longman & Van Grack is thrilled that the LWCF will continue to protect these natural areas and provide recreation opportunities to all Americans.

The outdoor industry, with recreation businesses throughout the United States, depends on the LWCF conservation effort. The LWCF preserves whitewater rivers, trail-heads, river put-ins, sports parks, ski areas, and countless other recreation areas. Whitewater outfitters need these waterways for their business. Hiking and touring companies need these natural lands for their exploration. Back-country ski companies need these mountains to ski on. Adventure races need open natural spaces for their events.

Natural places such as Great Falls National Park, Catoctin National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Shenandoah National Park, the Chesapeake Bay, national wildlife refuges, national forests, state parks in each of our 50 states have been preserved due to the LWCF.  Over the life of the LWCF, over $3 billion in LWCF grants to states has leveraged more than $7 billion in non-federal matching funds.

Longman & Van Grack regularly advises clients regarding legal issues that are faced by the outdoor industry and recreation companies within the firm’s Sports and Recreation Law Practice.  In fact, Longman & Van Grack attorney Adam Van Grack has not only represented sports and recreation entities, but has also been a member of the boards of several sports safety and Olympic training nonprofits.  Call us at (301) 291-5027 if you have any further questions or if you think we can help you out.