Interior announces Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Grants to States and Territories for FY 2022

-
BlogOn June 1, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) announced the distribution of $279 million in Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) state matching grants for FY 2022.Interior announces Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Grants to States and Territories for FY 2022
-
Blog
Interior announces Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Grants to States and Territories for FY 2022
On June 1, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) announced the distribution of $279 million in Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) state matching grants for FY 2022. LWCF state grants have supported 45,000 projects in every county across the United States since 1965. The LWCF program is financed through royalties on offshore oil and gas drilling within federal waters. State matching grant funding levels are determined by a population-based formula established under the LWCF Act, with state governments distributing funds to counties and other local governments through competitive grant applications.
In 2019, Congress permanently reauthorized the LWCF and guaranteed that 40 percent of LWCF funding would be earmarked for state grants, with an additional 40 percent also guaranteed for federal land agency needs, including land acquisitions. Additionally, in 2020, Congress made LWCF funding permanent and mandatory under the Great American Outdoors Act, legislation which also created the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund to reduce the deferred maintenance backlog on federal lands.
Counties support the LWCF program with a focus on supporting areas in greatest need of open space protection and strong funding allocations for state matching grants to counties and other local governments. Any use of LWCF funds for new federal land acquisitions should be coordinated with the impacted county government to ensure consistency with local natural resource plans.
On June 1, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) announced the distribution of $279 million in Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) state matching grants for FY 2022.2022-06-03Blog2022-06-03
On June 1, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) announced the distribution of $279 million in Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) state matching grants for FY 2022. LWCF state grants have supported 45,000 projects in every county across the United States since 1965. The LWCF program is financed through royalties on offshore oil and gas drilling within federal waters. State matching grant funding levels are determined by a population-based formula established under the LWCF Act, with state governments distributing funds to counties and other local governments through competitive grant applications.
In 2019, Congress permanently reauthorized the LWCF and guaranteed that 40 percent of LWCF funding would be earmarked for state grants, with an additional 40 percent also guaranteed for federal land agency needs, including land acquisitions. Additionally, in 2020, Congress made LWCF funding permanent and mandatory under the Great American Outdoors Act, legislation which also created the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund to reduce the deferred maintenance backlog on federal lands.
Counties support the LWCF program with a focus on supporting areas in greatest need of open space protection and strong funding allocations for state matching grants to counties and other local governments. Any use of LWCF funds for new federal land acquisitions should be coordinated with the impacted county government to ensure consistency with local natural resource plans.

About Jonathan Shuffield (Full Bio)
Legislative Director – Public Lands | Western Interstate Region
Jonathan serves as NACo’s legislative director for public lands and liaison to the Western Interstate Region, lobbying Congress on public lands issues including Payments In Lieu of Taxes, Secure Rural Schools, land management and endangered species.More from Jonathan Shuffield
-
Reports & Toolkits
ARPA Impact Report: An Analysis of How Counties are Addressing National Issues With Local Investments
America’s nearly 40,000 county elected officials and 3.6 million county employees are on the frontlines of the nation’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. As the country emerges from the pandemic and grapples with the toll it has taken on our citizens, counties are responding and rebuilding. -
Blog
U.S. Forest Service to host SRS allocation election trainings for counties
The U.S. Forest Service will host online training sessions for county officials on the county allocation election process for the newly reauthorized Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program. This meeting will focus on the history, reporting requirements, recent legislative changes and county allocation election requirements for SRS. -
Blog
FY 2022 PILT payments released to counties, while U.S. House Interior Appropriations Bill would fully fund PILT for FY 2023
On June 23, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) announced the distribution of $549.4 million to counties in 2022 through the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program. A complete list of funding by state and county is available here. -
Blog
Deadline approaching for DOD funding of county infrastructure and economic development projects
Counties near military installations can apply for two open grant opportunities available from the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC). -
County News
PILT is no four-letter word for counties
Funding and fairness are frequent topics when debating PILT's equity for public lands counties. -
Blog
U.S. Forest Service distributes FY 2021 Secure Rural Schools payments to national forest counties
On April 15, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) announced the release of $238 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Secure Rural Schools (SRS) payments.
-
Basic page
Public Lands Steering Committee
All matters relating to federally-owned public lands including federal land management programs, natural resource revenue sharing payments, payments in lieu of taxes, and property tax immunity concerns.pagepagepage<p>All matters relating to federally-owned public lands including federal land management programs, natural resource revenue sharing payments, payments in lieu of taxes, and property tax immunity concerns.
Contact
-
Legislative Director – Public Lands | Western Interstate Region(512) 965-7268
Related Posts
-
BlogU.S. Forest Service to host SRS allocation election trainings for countiesJul. 7, 2022
-
BlogFY 2022 PILT payments released to counties, while U.S. House Interior Appropriations Bill would fully fund PILT for FY 2023Jun. 28, 2022
-
BlogDeadline approaching for DOD funding of county infrastructure and economic development projectsJun. 15, 2022
Related Resources
-
Reports & ToolkitsARPA Impact Report: An Analysis of How Counties are Addressing National Issues With Local InvestmentsJul. 18, 2022
-
VideoU.S. Deputy Secretary of the Interior Tommy Beaudreau Addresses #NACoLegFeb. 18, 2022
-
VideoCounties testify before the House Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public LandsFeb. 3, 2022