EAGLE \u2014 Eight Eagle County projects are part of a massive federal lands bill passed overwhelmingly by the U.S. Senate.<\/p>\n
At least as important as the projects, local conservationists say the Natural Resources Management Act<\/a> permanently authorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which has been expired since Sept. 30.<\/p>\n “Even when this hugely successful program was falling victim to Washington’s partisan dysfunction, senators Gardner and Bennet never stopped working to secure its passage,” said David Nickum, executive\u00a0director of Colorado Trout Unlimited. “We deeply appreciate their unflagging commitment to investing in Colorado’s public lands and outdoor recreation.”<\/p>\n For more than half a century, the Land and Water Conservation Fund has helped secure outdoor recreation opportunities by using money from federal offshore energy revenue to conserve lands, water and open space.<\/p>\n Liberal lawmakers are happy because the fund allows agencies to set aside land for wildlife habitat. Conservatives are happy because taxpayers don’t have to pay for it.<\/p>\n The LWCF helps fund everything from national parks and wildlife preserves to projects like a tennis court in Eagle, a Dowd Junction trail for Vail and a community park in Red Cliff.<\/p>\n The fund has invested more than $268 million in Colorado, helping fund boat launches on the Colorado River, the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area and Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.<\/p>\n However, the Natural Resources Management Act still leaves the LWCF without guaranteed forever funding.<\/p>\n “We still need to fully fund LWCF and we will continue working toward that end. But permanent authorization is an enormous accomplishment for all who have worked tirelessly on this issue,” said Scott Willoughby, Colorado field coordinator for Trout Unlimited. “In addition to LWCF, this legislation includes dozens of bipartisan provisions across the country that will help sustain our public land heritage.”<\/p>\nProjects big and small<\/h2>\n
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