U.S. Senator Ken Salazar

Member: Agriculture, Energy, Veterans' Affairs, Ethics and Aging Committees

 

2300 15th Street, Suite 450 Denver, CO 80202 | 702 Hart Senate Building, Washington, D.C. 20510

 

 

For Immediate Release

May 6, 2006

CONTACT:    Cody Wertz – Comm. Director

                        303-455-7600

Andrew Nannis  – Press Secretary

                        202-224-5852


 Sen. Salazar Announces Bi-Partisan Legislation to Permanently Fund Land & Water Conservation Fund

Denver, CO – After helping cut ribbon at the South Suburban Park Foundation’s “Passport to the Trails Celebration and Dedication” for the new canopy bridge that links three parks via the Big Dry Creek Trail, Senator Salazar announced that he and Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) will propose legislation to permanently fund the Land & Water Conservation Fund stateside grants program.

Senators Salazar and Alexander will introduce an amendment to S. 2253 to make permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) stateside grants program. S. 2253 is a bill that would authorize oil and gas exploration and drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico (lease area 181). Senator Salazar’s amendment specifies that, beginning in FY08, at least $450 million of the revenue generated from lease sales in Area 181 shall be appropriated to the LWCF stateside grants program.

“LWCF is essential to our quality of life. LWCF funds helped complete portions of this trail system including the Platte River Bridge connection and a significant portion of the trail from the South Platte River to Broadway,” said Senator Salazar. This legislation would ensure LWCF is permanently funded by at least $450 million annually from lease sale revenues on the Outer Continental Shelf so that LWCF can fulfill its mission and so that we and future generations can continue to enjoy the great outdoors.”

As an initiative started by President John Kennedy, Congress established the Land and Water Conservation Fund in 1964 to meet America's needs for outdoor recreation opportunities, wildlife habitat conservation and open space. The LWCF Act directed that royalties from offshore oil and gas development, $900 million a year, be used for the purchase of land, waterways, and wetlands and to provide matching grant assistance for state and community open space and recreation projects. Unfortunately, Washington has consistently under funded the LWCF stateside grants program and failed to appropriate any available funds for playing fields, parks, and trails. In addition, the President has proposed to eliminate funding for stateside LWCF grants, despite the National Park Service’s high praise for the efficiency and effectiveness of the program.

S. 2253 was introduced by Senators Domenici (R-NM) and Bingaman (D-NM) and voted out of the Energy Committee in March. It may be debated on the Senate floor this week. Senators Salazar and Alexander will introduce their amendment at that time.

Senator Salazar has long worked to preserve Colorado’s land and water. He led the effort in the creation of the Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) program, was executive director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources and created the Youth in Natural Resources program.

Facts on Event (provided by the South Suburban Park Foundation):

  • The Big Dry Creek Trail is 3 miles long and connects the cities of Littleton, Englewood, Centennial, Greenwood Village, and Cherry Hills Village.
  • Big Dry Creek Trail is part of a110-mile trail system
  • The “canopy” bridge links Belleview Park, Cornerstone Park and Progress Park via the Big Dry Creek Trail, opening up access to Littleton and Englewood Neighborhoods.
  • More than 13 feet above the creek, the canopy bridge provides less disturbance to the wildlife habitat and allows users to experience the trail high in the tree canopies.

LWCF and GOCO Funding

  • LWCF awarded more than $300,000 to help complete the Platte River Bridge connection as well as a significant portion of the trail from the South Platte River to Broadway.
  • GOCO provided more than $400,000 to assist final development of the Big Dry Creek Trail. GOCO also provided more than $1,000,000 to complete the Mary Carter Greenway/Platte River trail.
  • More than $600,000 was secured from the Federal Transportation Enhancement funds for the Big Dry Creek Trail.

AHR/LWCF AWARD

  • Americans for Our Heritage and Recreation (a D.C. non-profit) selected Big Dry Creek Trail as one of ten recipients of its 21st Century American Places Award in 2004.
  • Selected as one of top ten projects out of more than 40,000 national recreational areas receiving assistance from LWCF

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