Land and Water Conservation Fund

Grant funds available

LWCF – Up to $2 million available for 2012
This year, the LWCF program is expected to provide nearly $2 million for grants to cities, counties and districts for the acquisition or development of outdoor recreation areas and facilities.  Property acquired or developed under the program is federally protected in perpetuity for public outdoor recreation use.  

Application deadlines were November 1, 2012 for local agencies and September 4, 2012 for State agencies applicants.

Land and Water Conservation Fund Resources:
     LWCF Fact Sheet
     LWCF General Questions and Answers
     LWCF Application Process

2011/2012 LWCF Funding Recommendations

Funds Available:  $1,745,815

  Surcharge:  7.00% - effective March 1, 2011.

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The May 27, 2010 Draft LWCF Application and Administration Guides supersede all previous guides.

These guides have been modified as required when a new California Outdoor Recreation Plan (CORP) is completed as required by the LWCF program. Applicant must refer to these guides when preparing application proposals.


May 27, 2010 DRAFT LWCF Application and Administration Guides:

LWCF Grant Application Guide  PDF / DOC

Forms:
Land and Water Conservation Fund Application Form
Land and Water Conservation Fund Resolution Form
Land and Water Conservation Fund Cost Estimate Form
Land and Water Conservation Fund Certification Form
Land and Water Conservation Fund Acquisition Form

LWCF Grant Administration Guide  PDF / DOC

Forms:
Land and Water Conservation Fund Payment Request Form
Land and Water Conservation Fund Project Certification Form
Land and Water Conservation Fund Memorandum of Unrecorded Grant Agreement Form
 Land and Water Conservation Fund Equipment Costs Summary Form
 Land and Water Conservation Fund Force Labor Costs Summary Form
 Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Expenditure Form

Please use Proposal Description-Environmental Screening Form (PD-ESF) effective 10/1/2008 found at http://www.nps.gov/ncrc/programs/lwcf/pub.htm

Copies of the Grant Application and Grant Administrative Guides may also be obtained by calling (916) 653-4563.

Open Project Selection Process 

LWCF Sign Guidelines:
Required Language
Logo (JPG)
Logo Guidelines

All Funded Projects (3-2013 | PDF Format | ) 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
The Land and Water Conservation Fund program provides funds to federal agencies, and to the 50 states and 6 territories. The money allocated to the states may be used for statewide planning, and for acquiring and developing outdoor recreation areas and facilities.

The program, which is administered nationally by the National Park Service was established in September 1964, initially authorized for a 25-year period, and has been extended for another 25 years, to January 2015.

Under the provisions of the California Outdoor Recreation Resources Plan Act of 1967, the expenditure of funds allocated to California is administered by the State Liaison Officer, who is the Director of the State Department of Parks and Recreation.

Funds for the program are derived from federal recreation fees, sales of federal surplus real property, the federal motorboat fuels tax and the Outer Continental Shelf mineral receipts.

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS:
Acquisition or development of outdoor recreation areas and facilities. Priority development projects include trails, campgrounds, picnic areas, natural areas and cultural areas for recreational use.

Property acquired or developed under the program must be retained in perpetuity for public outdoor recreation use.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS:
Cities, counties and districts authorized to acquire, develop, operate and maintain park and recreation areas.

State agencies as defined under the program.

MATCH REQUIREMENT:
The Match is, at a minimum, one Applicant dollar to one federal dollar for all LWCF grants.  However, any additional funds used to complete the project is also considered Match.  This is a reimbursement program.  The Grantee is expected to finance the entire Project.  Up to fifty percent of the actual project expenditures, not to exceed the Grant amount, will be refunded when the Project has been completed.

METHOD OF ALLOCATION:
For local agencies, funds are provided through a competitive selection process.  Applications that are technically complete will have the best chance to receive funding.
Grants for local agencies are divided:  
60% for southern California and 40% for northern California. 

State agency allocations are distributed under the established program formula.
 
Additional Program Information:

1.  The state's cost of administering LWCF program is paid by a surcharge added to each grant.  The range of the surcharge varies annually, and is generally between 2%-7%, but it may vary beyond that range.  One-half of the state's surcharge is paid by the Grantee, and will be deducted from the reimbursement at the time of the payment.

This surcharge will be deducted from the federal reimbursement of Project costs before the funds are released to the Grantee.  The payment will reflect the rate of reimbursement for the eligible Project costs identified in the Contract less the applicable surcharge.

2.  For projects selected, agencies are required to submit the following items.

A.  For acquisition projects, agencies, at their own expense, are required to have an appraisal prepared conforming to Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal land Acquisitions.  The appraisal must be reviewed by an independent review appraiser who must certify that the appraisal meets UASFLA standards.  Both the appraisal and the review of the appraisal must be submitted to the Department.  These standards may be found at http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/land-ack 

B.  For development projects, provide a copy of the project property deeds, titles, leases, easements or other appropriate documents to satisfy site control and land tenure.

C.  Comply with 36 CFR 800, Executive Order 11593 and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended.  The process is outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding in the procedural guide. 

D.  Memorandum of unrecorded Grant Agreement (MOUGA).  To show that the park has restrictions regarding development.

   Section 106 Instructions 

   National Park Services Website  

   California Outdoor Recreation Plan (CORP)