HomeMy WebLinkAboutR18-092 Support for the Land and Water Conservation Fund Commissioner h— �'�-'� moved adoption
of the following Resolution:
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
COUNTY OF EAGLE,STATE OF COLORADO
RESOLUTION NO. 2018- Oq
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF REAUTHORIZATION OF AND FULL FUNDING
FOR THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND
WHEREAS,The Land and Water Conservation Fund(LWCF),established by Congress
in 1964, is one of the most successful government programs in preserving our country's precious
natural and cultural resources and improving equitable access to the outdoors in urban and rural
communities,which is essential to Colorado's health,culture,economic opportunity and the
future of our children and grandchildren; and
WHEREAS,LWCF has been instrumental in creating opportunities for Coloradans in
urban, suburban, and rural areas to get outdoors. It has been a critical tool in conserving national
parks and historic sites;national wildlife refuges and monuments;watersheds;working forests;
wildlife areas; and state and local parks, trails and ball fields; and
WHEREAS,LWCF is based on the simple premise that as we extract natural resources
that belong to our nation-offshore oil and gas-we should in turn protect and invest in onshore
resources for future generations;and
WHEREAS,LWCF takes a portion of royalties from offshore oil and gas development
and invests that money in protecting America's important public lands for future generations-be
that an iconic national park or an urban playground; and
WHEREAS,though LWCF is authorized to receive$900 million annually, this cap has
been met only twice during the program's nearly five decades of existence and,instead of being
fully funded,nearly every year Congress diverts much of this funding to purposes other than
conserving our most important lands and waters; and
WHEREAS,despite receiving only a fraction of itsintended funding over the last 53
years,LWCF has led to the protection of land in every state and nearly every county,has
improved access to these public lands, and has provided matching grants for the creation of more
than 41,000 state and local park projects; and
WHEREAS,LWCF supports and maintains the economic asset that our federal, state
and local public lands represent. Hunting, fishing, camping,hiking,paddling and other outdoor
recreation activities contribute a total of$28 billion annually to the Colorado's economy and
support 229,000 jobs in our state(source: Outdoor Industry Association,2017). Whether
manufacturing,retail or service related,most of these jobs are sustainable resource or tourism-
based jobs and cannot be exported; and
WHEREAS,Colorado has received more than 980 state side LWCF grants to local
governments and state parks totaling over$268 million and touching nearly all of the state's
counties; and
WHEREAS,over the last 53 years, LWCF funding has contributed to the enhancement
of local parks and recreational opportunities that are part of the fabric of Colorado, including
numerous parks and green spaces,as well as the protection of iconic landscapes in the Great
Sand Dunes National Park,Uncompahgre,Arapahoe-Roosevelt, Gunnison and Rio Grande
National Forests, and Canyon of the Ancients National Monument.
WHEREAS,the parks,trails, and recreation projects dependent upon LWCF funding are
green spaces that contribute to the health and well-being of Colorado families; and
WHEREAS,the Land and Water Conservation Fund was initially authorized in
1965 by the President and Congress and expired on September 30, 2018; and
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY OF EAGLE,STATE OF COLORADO:
THAT, that Eagle County expresses support for and urges Congress to act swiftly to
enact full funding for and permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund
given the important contributions it makes to our nation's and Colorado's health,well-being,
economic opportunity and access to our nation's natural treasures; and:
THAT,a copy of this resolution shall be forwarded to the entire Colorado Congressional
Delegation to show support for the fully funding and permanent reauthorization of the Land and
Water Conservation Fund.
THAT, the board hereby finds, determines and declares that this Resolution is necessary
for the public health,safety and welfare of the residents of the County of Eagle, State of
Colorado.
MOVED,READ AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of the
County of Eagle, State of Colorado, at its regular meeting held the v11°day of JUV .
20(t
4 E CO
o COUNTY OF EAGLE, STATE OF
COLORADO,By and Through Its
R BOARD OF 'OUNT COMMIS ON S
ATTEST: COLo0 /i .
i�0+z--+w U ��► By: ,AAd'///.._I[/L� .a '.itI
Clerk to the Board of Kathy Chi j e"-Henry
County Commissioners Chair
i . H.Ryan
•mmissioner
Je e McQueeney
C rtmissioner
Commissioner (M C Q V ri oLl seconded adoption of the foregoing resolution. The roll
having been called,the vote was as follows:
Commissioner Chandler-Henry G41A
Commissioner Ryan
Commissioner McQueeney
This resolution passed by G vote of the Board of County Commissioners of
the County of Eagle, State of Colorado
