The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) was created by Congress in 1964. LWCF uses royalties from Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas drilling leases to purchase land and water to establish parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and open spaces to provide outdoor recreation opportunities. Approximately $900 million a year is deposited into the fund. LWCF has been responsible for nearly seven million acres of parkland, water resources, and open space.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund has two components: a federal program that funds the purchase of land and water areas for conservation and recreation purposes; and a state matching-grants program that provides funds to states for planning, developing, and acquiring land and water areas for state and local open space and natural resource protection, and recreation enhancement.

This state-side 50/50 match program has been used by state and local governments to build and repair parks, hiking and riding trails, camping and picnic areas, ball fields and to preserve priceless natural treasures and important historic sites. Although the program has been very effective in the past, Congress has provided little or no funding for the LWCF state-side program in recent years.