Land and Water Conservation Fund
The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) of 1965 provides funding for the acquisition of land, and interest in land, for the benefit of public lands and waters for all present and future generations. The LWCF was permanently authorized in 2019 and in 2020 Congress enacted full funding of $900 Million annually. Congress allocates this funding to the BLM, the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and State and local governments.
The funding BLM receives is used to support specific conservation, recreation, and other projects to enhance public access to and the management of public land, waters, and resources. The BLM’s LWCF program is managed by the Bureau’s National Conservation Lands and Community Partnerships Directorate.
Contact your local BLM office for more information about the LWCF or to nominate land to be acquired by the BLM. Click here to find out more information about the BLM’s land acquisition process.
Visit the Department of the Interior's website to learn about BLM projects, as well as the LWCF and grants program for other Interior agencies, and to check out amazing places protected using the LWCF.
Click here to access an interactive map of completed LWCF land acquisitions.
Top image: California Coastal National Monument. Bob Wick, BLM
The Great American Outdoors Act requires the President’s annual budget submission to Congress include a proposed allocation of LWCF funding by account, program and project for consideration as part of the annual appropriations process. In fiscal year 2023, the Department of Interior proposes to allocate $70.877 million for BLM mandatory LWCF programs.
Use the following links for information on Fiscal Year 2023 LWCF funding and DOI land acquisition projects.
FY2023 LWCF Funding Allocation
FY2021-FY2023 LWCF Funding History
FY2023 LWCF Project Lists by Bureau
FY2023 LWCF Supplemental Project Lists by Bureau
Project Data Sheets for the Bureau of Land Management
Congressionally Enacted Projects