Summary
On August 13, 2015, the Department of Interior (DOI) announced $43 million in payments to states from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) for fiscal year (FY) 2015. These matching grants assist states in planning, acquiring, and developing outdoor recreation facilities.
Authorization for the LWCF, which also funds federal outdoor recreation sites, is set to expire on September 30, 2015. A number of legislative issues surround its reauthorization, including the funding level, the possibility of a mandatory appropriation, and the distribution of funds between federal and state projects. This Issue Brief provides background on the LWCF, an analysis of current funding issues, and details on the FY 2015 payments to states.