Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association urges reauthorization and full funding for the
Land and Water Conservation Fund
July 10, 2014
Contact: Liz Hamilton
503.631.8859
Tuesday, July 8th, in the Sandy River Basin halfway up Mount Hood in Welches, Oregon, Bureau of Land Management Director Neil Kornze announced that the U.S. Interior Department will be granting more than $650,000 to Oregon this year from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).
“This strong LWCF award is great news for families who like to get outdoors. Anglers and hunters have greatly benefitted from LWCF over the years through increased access to prime outdoor recreation areas,” said Liz Hamilton, executive director for the Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association (NSIA).
In Oregon, active outdoor recreation such as fishing and hunting generates $12.8 billion annually in consumer spending. When it comes to the sportfishing industry, Oregon anglers pumped more than $680 million into the local economy in 2011, according to a study done by Southwick Associates.
NSIA contracted a further study with Southwick to specifically highlight the project on the Sandy River, which received LWCF dollars in 2013 to acquire and conserve land along the river. The study finds that the Sandy project will generate $3 million in sales annually, statewide in Oregon. Combined with the multiplier effect of that spending, the recreation-related spending would support 51 jobs and $1.6 million of income each year going forward (in 2011 dollars). The total economic activity would generate $336,000 in state and local taxes and $388,000 in federal taxes.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund is a federal program that uses some of the royalties from offshore oil and gas drilling to protect public resources. Funds have been used in Oregon to protect rivers like the Nestucca, Rogue, Sandy, Sisklaw, and Tualatin as well as hundreds of smaller projects like boat ramps and river access areas.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund has helped Oregon – and all states – protect many special places that are important for recreation and clean water. But it could be doing more. Only once in its long 50-year history has Congress provided the full $900 million authorized for the program.
We also wish to thank Sen. Wyden for cosponsoring an amendment today to the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act which called for full, permanent, and dedicated funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Businesses at NSIA are dedicated to continue work towards reauthorization of this historic program.
Cosponsor of the amendment, Republican Senator Susan Collins, put a sharp focus on the importance of this funding to our industry. “In 1964, a promise was made to the American people that a small portion of proceeds from natural resource development would be invested in conservation and outdoor recreation,” says Collins. “Over its 50 years, LWCF has made tremendous contributions to conservation and recreation across the country, and I am deeply concerned that funds continue to be diverted to other purposes. We will not balance our nation’s books today by shortchanging our future”
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