Land and Water Conservation Fund Applications Approved

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) program was established in1965. Federal funds are appropriated by Congress through the Department of Interior and administered on the federal level by the National Park Service and on the state level by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, Outdoor Recreation Grants Division.

This program was created to stimulate a nationwide action program to assist in preserving, developing, and assuring all citizens of the United State, present and future, such quality and quantity of outdoor recreation resources as may be available. The program provides matching grants to States and through the States to local units of government for the acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation sites and facilities. Funding for the program is provided largely from the Outer Continental Shelf mineral receipts, with additional income from the Motorboat Fuels Tax, recreation user fees, and through the sales of federal surplus property. Federal LWCF obligations have been matched by state and local contributions for a total recreation investment of over $6 billion dollars. This year marks the first year in over ten years that funds have been made available to the state.

CMPDD recently assisted five municipalities with the submission of a Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) application. Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks announced approval of these five projects, they are listed below.

District staff have been informed that this program should have increased funding for the 2015 funding cycle. If you have any questions or would like additional information about how to qualify for this program, please contact Mitzi Stubbs at 601-981-1511.