Vermont Business Magazine President Obama announced plans to request full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund in his FY17 budget request. This includes more than $1 million for theSilvio OConte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge (Connecticut/Massachusetts/New Hampshire/Vermont).According to theannouncement from the Department of Interior, in 2017, the President's budget calls for$900 millionin conservation and recreation projects, through a combination of discretionary ($475 million) and mandatory ($425 million)funding, and pursues permanent authorization in annual mandatory funding beginning in FY18.
National Wildlife Refuge Association PresidentDavid Houghtonhad this to say:
"President Obama is creating a great legacy of land and water conservation by requesting full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), and recommending permanent authorization in annual mandatory funding for the Fund's programs beginning in 2018. Giving federal land managers the resources they need to partner with local communities on land conservation projects means critical wildlife habitat can be protected and local communities can conserve valuable land for future generations."
Under the president's request, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would get$35,884,000in discretionary funding and$74,426,000in mandatory funding. The mandatory side will only be funded should Congress create full and permanent funding for the program and remove it from the annual appropriations process.
About the Land and Water Conservation Fund:The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) was established 51 years ago to protect valuable conservation lands and water for future generations. The fund is derived from offshore oil and gas drilling proceeds, but has been underfunded by Congress for years, delaying progress on important conservation projects across the nation. Since it's inception, this successful conservation program has supported more than 42,000 national, state and local parks and outdoor recreation projects in all 50 states. For every$1invested through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, there is an estimated return of$4in local economic activity.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Project Requests:
| LWCF Discretionary Projects as Requested in President's FY2017 Budget—U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | ||||
| Arkansas | Cache River National Wildlife Refuge | $ 1,406,000 | ||
| Florida | Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area | $ 2,500,000 | ||
| St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge | $ 2,500,000 | |||
| Hawaii | Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge | $ 6,200,000 | ||
| Maryland | Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge | $ 1,200,000 | ||
| Montana | Montana National Wildlife Refuges | $ 1,500,000 | ||
| Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge | $ 2,000,000 | |||
| Pennsylvania | Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge | $ 2,200,000 | ||
| Tennessee | Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge | $ 1,500,000 | ||
| Virginia | James River National Wildlife Refuge | $ 900,000 | ||
| Washington | Willapa National Wildlife Refuge | $ 991,000 | ||
| Subtotal, Discretionary, Individual Land Acquisition Projects | $ 22,897,000 | |||
|
Multi-State Projects |
Dakota Grassland Conservation Area (North Dakota/South Dakota) | $ 8,000,000 | ||
| Dakota Tallgrass Prairie Wildlife Management Area (North Dakota/South Dakota) | $ 3,000,000 | |||
| Mountain Bogs National Wildlife Refuge (North Carolina/Tennessee) | $ 478,000 | |||
| Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge (Iowa/Minnesota) | $ 500,000 | |||
| Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge (Connecticut/Massachusetts/New Hampshire/Vermont) | $ 1,009,000 | |||
| Subtotal, Discretionary, Multi-State Land Acquisition Projects | $ 12,987,000 | |||
| TOTAL, DISCRETIONARY, FY 2017 FWS LWCF | 35,884,000 | |||
The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge Association is to conserve America's wildlife heritage for future generations through strategic programs that protect and enhance the National Wildlife Refuge System and the landscapes beyond its boundaries.
WASHINGTON,Feb. 4, 2016/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --