Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

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Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Program

Land and Water Conservation Fund LogoThe Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is a federal grant program administered by the Department of Interior, National Park Service (NPS).  LWCF consists of a federal side and a State side.  The State side program provides funding for recreation planning, acquisition of lands and waters, and facility development.  The goal of the LWCF is to increase opportunities and the quality of outdoor recreation. 

 

Additional information on the history of the Land and Water Conservation Fund can be found on the NPS LWCF webpage. 

 

Compliance
The LWCF has provided over $60 million to develop and enhance many Connecticut’s outdoor recreational resources, since the program was created in 1965.  Any property that has benefited from the assistance of the LWCF must be maintained for outdoor public recreation.  Recipients of LWCF funding have agreed to:
  • Make the property available for public outdoor recreation
  • Maintain the project area and ensure it is accessible
  • Keep the property open for public use
  • Provide signage at the property indicating property is open for public outdoor recreation
If you have any questions about a property that has benefited from LWCF funding, please contact the Office of Constituent Affairs and Land Management at 860-424-3016.

 

Outdoor Recreation Planning
Current recreational needs in Connecticut have been assessed through the development of a Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP).  This planning document identifies outdoor recreation issues of statewide significance and evaluates the supply of and the demand for outdoor recreation resources and facilities in Connecticut.  Connecticut’s SCORP provides unified guidance to state and municipal officials as they develop and expand outdoor recreation opportunities for their respective constituents.

 

In addition to its value as a planning document, the completion of a SCORP also satisfies a requirement of the federally administered Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which then makes Connecticut eligible to receive its annual apportionment from the LWCF State and Municipal Assistance Program.  Apportionments from the LWCF can be used by the State and its municipalities to acquire new land for outdoor recreation and conservation, and to construct new outdoor recreational facilities.

 

The current SCORP covers the planning period of 2017 through 2022 and identifies the following outdoor recreation goals.
 
Connecticut’s 2017-2022 Outdoor Recreation Goals
Goal 1: Protect, conserve, and manage Connecticut’s natural, cultural, and historical resources as they support outdoor recreation.
Goal 2: Provide clean, safe, well-maintained outdoor recreation areas and facilities.
Goal 3: Ensure that all residents and visitors can locate and access all outdoor recreation areas and facilities.

Goal 4: Promote healthy lifestyles through increased participation in outdoor recreation.

 

Additional Resources
The LWCF is one of several programs that works to benefit outdoor recreation in Connecticut.  For more information about outdoor recreation in Connecticut, please see the following links.

 

 

For more information, contact the Office of Constituent Affairs and Land Management at 860-424-3016.