Statement: Chesapeake Conservancy Applauds U.S. Senate Vote to Permanently Authorize Land and Water Conservation Fund

February 13th, 2019

Annapolis, MD – Chesapeake Conservancy President and CEO Joel Dunn issued this statement following the U.S. Senate’s vote (92-8) to pass the Natural Resources Management Act (S.47) which included many national conservation achievements including the permanent authorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The legislation will be considered by the U.S. House of Representatives next.

“The Land and Water Conservation Fund is one of the most powerful tools for conservation nationwide and here at home in the Chesapeake. However, recently its stability was in question as its reauthorization ran out in September 2018. The Senate’s vote to permanently authorize the fund is a major achievement. If passed into law, local, state and federal partners will benefit greatly from both the certainty that permanent authorization provides as well as the funding.

“LWCF makes it possible to conserve land for wildlife, provide public access and recreation opportunities and helps to do the job that nature intended, by protecting land that can filter storm water before it reaches the Bay, resulting in cleaner water for the people of the Chesapeake region.

“Here in the Chesapeake, LWCF has paid for the acquisition of land at some of our most beautiful and historic places, like Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Nanjemoy Natural Resource Management Area, Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail (Werowocomoco), Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge (Fones Cliffs), George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, numerous Civil War battlefield sites, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and so much more. LWCF is one of the greatest gifts we can give to the future generations, helping to ensure they will have open spaces and forests to explore, as well as recreational opportunities, and habitat for wildlife.”

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Chesapeake Conservancy’s mission is to conserve and restore the natural and cultural resources of the Chesapeake Bay watershed for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. We empower the conservation community with access to the latest data and technology. As principal partner for the National Park Service on the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network and the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, we helped create 153 new public access sites and permanently protect some of the Bay’s special places like Werowocomoco, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park, and Fort Monroe National Monument.