The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) has provided funding to help protect some of Arizona’s most special places and ensure recreational access for hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities. Arizona has received approximately $235 million in LWCF funding over the past five decades, protecting places such as the Grand Canyon and Saguaro National Parks, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Coconino National Forest, Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, and San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area. Forest Legacy Program (FLP) grants are also funded under LWCF, to help protect working forests. The FLP cost-share funding supports timber sector jobs and sustainable forest operations while enhancing wildlife habitat, water quality and recreation. For example, the FLP contributed to places such as the unique riparian forest ecosystem at Cedar Springs in Coconino County. The FLP assists states and private forest owners to maintain working forest lands through matching grants for permanent conservation easements and fee acquisitions, and has leveraged approximately $4 million in federal funds to invest in Arizona’s forests, while protecting air and water quality, wildlife habitat, access for recreation and other public benefits provided by forests. LWCF state assistance grants have further supported hundreds of projects across Arizona’s state and local parks including Lost Dutchman and Patagonia Lake State Parks.
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