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| No. 2 |
LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND | |
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| The Land and Water
Conservation Fund is derived from offshore oil and gas leases and
presently contains about one billion dollars. It is used to
expand parks and national forests, to make matching grants to states,
and to provide habitat for endangered species. Interior Secretary
Watt has proposed to halt all new federal park acquisitions, even
though they are authorized by Congress, and proposes to use these funds
to operate and restore existing parks. But the existing parks are
already being over-used by people seeking recreation where the capacity
is limited, and the demand continues to grow. For this
reason acquisition of more park area is essential. |
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| Secretary Watt has also
proposed to freeze federal funds for matching state and local funds for
acquisitions. Additional land acquisitions are needed for
wilderness, protection of wildlife habitat and for recreation.
And the time to acquire is now!
Delays will only result in much higher prices later, and many lands
will have been lost to development for other uses. Even if funds
to operate the new acquisitions are not available now, the acquisition
should be made. At least then, when the funds later become
available, the lands will still be there. |
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| The Federation of Western
Outdoor Clubs calls upon both houses of Congress to support a serious,
adequately funded Land and Water Conservation Fund program with at
least $400,000,000 annually, to acquire and protect our valuable but
dwindling land and water resources. Further, the Federation urges
Secretary Watt and the Reagan Administration to support and use the
Land and Water Conservation Fund as intended and authorized by the
Congress. |
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