Congress passes landmark $9 billion public lands package "Great American Outdoors Act"

In a rare bipartisan move this congressional session, Congress has approved a landmark $9 billion public lands act, the "Great American Outdoors Act," that restores and increases funding for the National Park Service, National Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Indian Education.

Missouri's Katy Trail is one of hundreds of state and local projects that have received LWCF funds in Missouri

The bill helps reduce a massive backlog in deferred maintenance on all these federal lands.  It will have the major impact on western states, where there are vast amounts of federal lands--and you'll likely notice a difference in coming years if you hike, bike, walk, or vacation in National Parks, Forests, or BLM lands out west.

But the funding could have major impacts here in Missouri as well, where long-underfunded National Park Service assets include:

• Ozark National Scenic Riverway
• National Park: Gateway Arch
• National Historic Trails: California Trial, Oregon Trail, Santa Fe Trail, Pony Express Trail, Trail of Tears, Lewis & Clark
• National Battlefields: Wilson's Creek
• National Monument: George Washington Carver
• National Historic Sites: Harry S Truman, Ulysses S Grant
• National Historical Park: Sainte Genevieve

Perhaps the greatest impact will be in the 1.5 million acres of Missouri's Mark Twain National Forest, where cronic underfunding has led to closures of numerous campgrounds, trails, and other basic facilities.

And just as important, the Act fully funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund--which has previously been fully funded only on rare occasions.  LWCF funds in Missouri are administered by Missouri State Parks and provide funding for numerous local and state projects, ranging from city parks to county parks to trails of all sorts to state conservation areas and parks.

If you bicycle, walk, hike, float, or visit a Missouri park or trail of any sort, you have almost certainly enjoyed the use of many LWCF funded projects.

The Springfield News-Leader summarizes the Act's impact on Missouri:

It ensures a steady funding stream — $900 million annually —  for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

That's twice the amount the fund currently receives. Supporters called it the most significant conservation legislation enacted in nearly half a century.

And to start fixing a $20 billion backlog of maintenance projects at national parks and on other federal properties, the act created the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund.

Through 2025, money for the fund will come from half of the revenue the government gets from the development of oil, gas, coal, or alternative or renewable energy on federal lands and waters, up to $1.9 billion a year.

“This is an incredible win for wildlife, public lands and waters, and for all Missouri families who enjoy hiking, camping, fishing, hunting or otherwise exploring Missouri’s cherished forests and wildlife areas,” said Tyler Schwartze, executive director of the Conservation Federation of Missouri.

For a national perspecitve, take a look at this Harvard Gazette story on the Act.