DU Priorities

• Dakota Grassland Conservation Area (ND, SD) – Dakota grasslands provide habitat for more than 100 breeding birds, including 12 waterfowl species. LWCF provides funds for conservation easements in the area to protect wetlands and grasslands from being converted to crop production. This area of the “duck factory” has received significantly less funding than other projects nationally, though it is the most important and threatened waterfowl habitat.
• Public Access Provisions. Adding dedicated access provisions to LWCF would allow funds to be used to make or create access points to our public lands. This would open significant portions of federal lands for responsible public use. Both the House and Senate have introduced bills that would require 1.5 percent or $10 million, whichever is greater, of LWCF funds be allocated to projects improving access to public lands that are currently inaccessible for hunting, fishing or other recreation.  

Wetlands & Grasslands

• Flint Hills Legacy Conservation Area (KS) – The Flint Hills are an important habitat for grassland birds. LWCF has helped landowners protect their lands with conservation easements. 
• Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge (CT, MA, NH, VT) – The wildlife refuge houses the Northeast’s largest watershed, and nearly 32,000 acres of it have been conserved. There are still many landowners willing to sell vital lands in these four states, making LWCF funding essential.