Permanently Fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund!

Victory! 

The Great American Outdoors Act (which includes provisions to fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund) was signed into law by President Trump after passing through Congress with bipartisan support.  For years, Surfrider Foundation has been working to pass legislation to fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). 

The LWCF, often dubbed “America’s best conservation program,” is based on a simple concept: use revenues from offshore oil and gas production to fund federal, state, and local government grants for land and water conservation projects. Using no taxpayer dollars, the LWCF protects parks, wildlife refuges, open spaces, sensitive habitat, and improves recreational opportunities across the U.S. Congress first passed the LWCF in 1964 with bipartisan support. 

In the winter of 20202,  Surfrider launched a report and short film about the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) detailing how the program has benefited countless miles of coastlines and local communities.   A key report finding was that the LWCF can help U.S. coastal communities better prepare for climate change impacts by protecting coastal lands. Coastlines play a critical role in protecting communities from extreme weather events and sea level rise associated with climate change. Intact, resilient coastlines act as ‘buffers’ against sea level rise and extreme weather by reducing erosion and protecting open space and habitats.