If you know of lands in need of protection in your part of the state that
might fit this campaign, please let Charlie Winterwood
<[log in to unmask]> or myself know at <[log in to unmask] >.   According
to this article, the project needs to be "ready to go".

Is there an area along the Mississippi River that might fall in this
category -- or perhaps land near Neal Smith NWR in Central Iowa.  Please
note the USFWS could also use the funds to establish a "new" refuge.  We are
pretty limited on "federal" land in Iowa.  For some special places, planning
for next year's round of funding would be necessary.

Jane Clark
[log in to unmask]


Protect Your Local Lands!
Identify lands for protection under the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

This year, the Sierra Club Wildlands Campaign is stepping up its efforts to
take full advantage of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a critical
land acquisition program. Last year, the Sierra Club helped obtain a
significant boost in funding for the LWCF, and we'll continue to work
towards even more.

Right now, we want to take advantage of this great opportunity and help make
sure special places in your area receive the funding they need. You can help
by identifying projects in your area that are eligible for LWCF funding, and
creating support for those projects in your region.

((What kinds of projects are eligible?

The federal component of LWCF provides funds to the National Park Service,
the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the
Forest Service to acquire lands in and around their respective management
units. The money is used to purchase "inholdings" ? pockets of private
lands located inside a federal management unit ? or to purchase areas of
land on the boundaries of a National Park, Forest, Wildlife Refuge or a
 BLM area. In addition, the Fish and Wildlife Service can use LWCF money to
create new Wildlife Refuges.

In order to qualify for our efforts in Congress this year, a project has to
be essentially ready to go. That means the potential purchase has been
identified and the landowner is ready and willing to sell. If you're
familiar with any such projects in your area that are in need of funding,
let us know right away - and we'll help get the support in Congress you
need.))

Contact Julie Hudson immediately at [log in to unmask] or
202-675-6276 to get involved in this exciting project. We need to hear from
you now, because priorities will be established by the end of February.

Julie will provide you with a list of "ready-to-go" projects in your area
and more details on the process of identifying, acquiring, and protecting
lands through LWCF.

What is the LWCF?

The LWCF was created in 1964 to preserve "irreplaceable lands of natural
beauty and unique recreational value."  The Fund uses revenues from
offshore oil and gas leasing to purchase land in and around National Parks,
Wildlife Refuges, National Forests and other public lands. The Act also
set up a state matching grants program, under which states and local
governments can get aid for wildlands preservation, and for outdoor
recreation facilities.  Unfortunately, the tremendous promise of the LWCF
has never been fulfilled. Of the $900 million promised annually, only a
fraction has ever been provided.

But last year, Congress passed funding legislation that promises at least
$540 million a year to LWCF for the next five years. Clearly this falls
short of full funding, but it's a step in the right direction, and we need
your help to make sure it's used wisely.

The Administration and Congress decide each year which areas are going to
receive the limited amount of funding available through the LWCF. And with
lots of grassroots support, we can help ensure the money goes to the right
places.

For the Future

If you think there are threatened lands in your area that may be eligible
for funding in the future ? for instance, they are adjacent to a National
Monument or Wildlife Refuge, or they'd be eligible as a new Refuge - then
let us know. We'll provide you with information, and help get
your project off the ground.

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