Levin, Stabenow Announce Over $1 Million for Michigan's Public Lands

Statement

Michigan will receive more than $1 million for conservation and outdoor recreation projects from the Land and Water Conservation Fund at the Interior Department, U.S. Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow announced today.

"From its lakes and streams to its forests and meadows to its beaches and trails, Michigan's land and waters are precious," Levin said. "This funding will help our state make those treasures available to the public now and in generations to come."

"Our beautiful public lands and waterways offer hundreds of thousands of visitors unparalleled recreational opportunities like hunting, fishing, and snowmobiling," Stabenow said. "These activities are not only part of our way of life, but they are critical to our economy. I am glad this support will allow more Michigan families and tourists to enjoy our great outdoors."

Over $40 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund will be distributed to all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. Michigan's Department of Natural Resources will receive $1,082,691, which it can use to provide matching grants for recreation planning, acquisition of lands and waters, and facility development for state and local projects to enable more people to enjoy the outdoors.

Levin and Stabenow are cosponsors of the Land and Water Conservation Authorization and Funding Act of 2013, which would permanently authorize the fund, establish full and permanent funding at $900 million, and set aside a minimum of 1.5 percent of funding for projects that improve access to federal public land for hunting, fishing and other recreational purposes.

Revenues for the Land and Water Conservation Fund come primarily from federal oil and gas leases on the Outer Continental Shelf. In addition to grants to state and local governments, the Land and Water Conservation Fund is used by the National Park Service, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Land Management to acquire and conserve land, and for other programs that support outdoor recreation and conservation.

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