Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department

Land and Water Conservation Fund

The Department of the Interior National Park Service (NPS) created the LWCF to assist in preserving, developing, and assuring accessibility to outdoor recreation resources and to strengthen the health and vitality of citizens. The program provides matching grants to States and through States to political subdivisions of the State and other appropriate public agencies, including recognized Indian tribes, for the acquisition and development of public outdoor recreation sites and facilities.  In New Mexico, the program is administered by the State Parks Division. Priority projects for the LWCF grant program include the following: 

• Assistance for projects that increase access for minority, elderly, disabled and other disadvantaged or underserved populations. 
• Outdoor recreation projects of Federally recognized Tribes and other Indigenous communities. 
• Conservation projects that benefit fish and wildlife. 
• Projects that enhance habitat connectivity to improve climate change resilience as well as outdoor recreation. 
• Recreational trails, supporting existing national historic trails, national scenic trails, and national wild and scenic rivers projects.