The Land and Water Conservation Fund Works Across Washington

Hundreds of special places in Washington, from Crawford State Park in Pend Orielle County to Cape Disappointment State Park in Ilwaco, owe their existence to America’s most important conservation program, the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). In King County alone, more than 100 LWCF-created trails, wilderness areas, boat ramps and baseball diamonds mean there’s a place for us all to get outside, however we like to play. 

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Recreational access to the Skagit Wild & Scenic River is protected by LWCF. Photo by Bridget Besaw.

Rally to Save LWCF

Where: Northeast corner of Green Lake, on the playfields next to Green Lake Community Center. 7201 East Green Lake Dr. N, Seattle

When: 11 a.m. on Monday, August 13

Who: hosted by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) with other speakers TBA, attended by YOU! (and a whole bunch of reporters, colleagues and friends)

But this extremely popular program is in danger of expiring in September if Congress doesn’t act to save it. We’re taking to social media and sending direct messages to urge our members of Congress to #SaveLWCF. Will you join us? 

Share a photo of your favorite LWCF-protected place! With hundreds of LWCF projects across the state protecting everything from our National Parks to neighborhood swimming pools, it’s likely that your favorite outdoor spot is there and accessible to you thanks to LWCF: Click here for a list of Washington’s LWCF-funded projects by county. Don’t forget to tag your photo with #SaveLWCF. And retweet the tweet below to spread this message far and wide. 

The Land & Water Conservation Fund has protected public places in every state and every county in the U.S., including hundreds of irreplaceable special places in Washington. But it expires in September if Congress doesn’t act — urge them to #SaveLWCF! https://t.co/6yzqt0NJ3q pic.twitter.com/JCyFjkXdC6

— NatureConservancy WA (@Conserve_WA) August 6, 2018

Send a message directly to your members of Congress via our Action Center page, urging them to save LWCF before it expires. 

This slideshow highlights just a few of our favorite LWCF-protected places in Washington. What’s yours?

Hidden Lake’s stillness is due in part to LWCF’s federal grant program, which has helped keep North Cascades National Park whole. Photo by Richard Sheibley, USGS, Public Domain.

Migratory snow geese at the Skagit Wildlife Area draw birdwatchers from around the world. This place is protected by LWCF. Photo by Michael McAuliffe.

Access to the Hoh River in Jefferson County was made possible by LWCF. Photo by Bridget Besaw.

Moses Coulee, on the spectacular Columbia Plateau in Douglas County, is protected by LWCF’s federal grant program – and it’s one of The Nature Conservancy’s largest preserves in Washington. Photo by Kit Swartz

Heybrook Lookout Trail, west of Stevens Pass, is in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, one of many National Forests protected by LWCF. Photo by Sony Thomas

Recreational access to the Skagit Wild & Scenic River is protected by LWCF. Photo by Bridget Besaw.

Columnar basalt at Deep Lake in Sun Lakes State Park, Grant County, heaven for geology geeks and boaters of all sorts. Photo by John Marshall.

The spectacular Olympic Mountains are headwaters for many salmon-bearing streams and a bucket-list destination for hikers. The Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park have both benefited from LWCF protection. Photo by John Marshall.

The San Juan Islands offer world-class recreation, thanks in part to access and protection by LWCF. Photo by Joel Rogers.

Recreation on the Puyallup River in Pierce County is accessible to more families thanks to LWCF funding. Photo by Keith Lazelle.

In the North Cascades, campers enjoy the sunset in the Mount Baker – Snoqualmie National Forest in Whatcom County, protected by LWCF. Photo by Jacob Hall

Lake Cle Elum is in Wenatchee National Forest, Kittitas County, where we’re working to protect acres of forestland along the Pacific Crest Trail with support from LWCF. Photo by Zoe van Duivenbode

Willapa National Wildlife Refuge in Pacific County is protected by LWCF’s federal grant program and is adjacent to our Ellsworth Creek Preserve. Photo by Yoav Daniel Bar-Ness

Thirsty for more LWCF near you? Dive into the Washington Wildlife & Recreation Coalition’s Land & Water Conservation Fund: 50 Years in Washington State report for details on tons of projects across the state (link opens a PDF for download). Or check out the Outdoor Industry Association’s fact sheet on LWCF places in Washington.

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