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. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]