Land and Water Conservation Fund State and Local Assistance Program (Virginia)

Land and Water Conservation Fund State and Local Assistance Program (Virginia) is sponsored by Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. This program established a federal reimbursement program for the acquisition and/or development of public outdoor recreation areas. Since its inception in 1965, it has helped fund over 400 projects in Virginia.

Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Program Department of Conservation and Recreation Conserve. Protect. Enjoy.

2017 Virginia Outdoors Survey Summary (PDF) 2020 Regional Public Recreation Survey Results and Map (PDF) 2021 Regional Public Recreation Survey Results and Map (PDF) Virginia Outdoors Plan Mapper Land and Water Conservation Fund Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program Recreational Trails Program Trail Access Grants Program Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants Va.

Land Conservation Foundation Water Trails and Public Access Map of access points and water trails Citizen Involvement Guide Land and Water Conservation Fund - General Information The Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 established a federal reimbursement program for the acquisition and/or development of public outdoor recreation areas.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is administered in Virginia by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) on behalf of the National Park Service (NPS). The program represents a federal, state and local partnership. A key feature of the program is that all LWCF assisted areas must be maintained and opened, in perpetuity, as public outdoor recreation areas.

This requirement ensures their use for future generations. Virginia has received more than $125 million in assistance since the LWCF began. It has made more than 420 projects possible within the Commonwealth.

The LWCF is a 50-50% matching reimbursement program. The grant recipient must be able to fund 100% of the project while seeking periodic reimbursements. For further details about NPS LWCF program guidelines and project eligibility, please review the newly released version of the National Park Service LWCF Manual V2026 at https://www.

nps. gov/subjects/lwcf/v2026. htm **Version 72.

1 is no longer effective as of May 1, 2026** Please see Chapter 3 for project eligibility and Chapter 4 for proposal development and review requirements. For specific regulatory requirements please refer to Federal Regulations: 2 C. F.

R. § 200, 2 C. F.

R. § 1402, 36 CFR 59. The DCR LWCF 2026 Application Manual is in development and contains additional details about eligibility, match requirements, rules, regulations and application procedures.

All of the information will align with the NPS LWCF Manual. LWCF Stateside & Local Formula Grant To be added to our Grants Announcement email list please provide contact and affiliation to RecreationGrants@dcr. virginia.

gov. Entities eligible to compete for LWCF funding Counties, cities and towns Park and recreation authorities Please refer to Common Ineligible LWCF Costs to determine if your park proposal elements can be considered for LWCF funding. Grant Application Documents: The following templates and forms, and others, may be used for the 2026 LWCF Grant Round. Any of these documents may be modified for this and future grant rounds.

The 2026 LWCF Grant Round is proposed for July-August. These are not all the documents that complete a NPS LWCF Grant Application submission package. Please consult DCR Grants Staff for more information.

LWCF Grant Rounds are typically scheduled in summer, dependent upon available Federal LWCF Apportionments and grant cycle timelines. LWCF-03 - Example Location Map LWCF-04 - Example LWCF Boundary Map LWCF-05 Budget Worksheet and Narrative Example Additional required documents: Refer to the 2025 Environment Review Guidance document for recommended steps to complete required compliance for NEPA and NHPA.

Provide PDF’s of agency correspondence with the park name and agency. More updated information is in development. This PDF is for informational purposes only – please contact each agency directly via the links provided in the VOP Section 4.

3 to determine appropriate review procedures and timelines. Please refer to Open Project Selection Process (OPSP) 2025-2030 for further information about the LWCF Grant Round general procedures and definitions. LWCF State and Local Assistance Program Grant Reference Materials: Virginia's LWCF Open Project Selection Process .

Read the Frequently Asked Questions . General guidance for Environmental Review Detailed Procedures All projects must go through full NEPA and Section 106 review prior to submission to the National Park Service. NPS has the authority to approve compliance or ask for further information.

Please note that some projects will not be simple Categorical Exclusions. Also, projects may need further Virginia State Review Procedures and local review, as applicable, depending on project scope and design. The National Park Service requires every state has a NPS approved State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan to remain eligible for LWCF Funding.

Virginia's State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) is the Virginia Outdoors Plan . The 2024 VOP is the current SCORP and was used to update the 2025 LWCF Scoring Criteria. NPS LWCF Logo and Guidelines for Acknowledgment Signs .

LWCF Project Administration For all active LWCF Project Sponsors, please review the following guidance documents during administration of your project. There are example documents for drawdown procedures as well as templates to use. They can be downloaded below or contact us if you are not able to download them.

2025 LWCF Drawdown Request and Closeout Guide LWCF-Daily Equipment Record LWCF-Data Sheet Summarizing Employee Labor LWCF-Data Sheet Summarizing Invoices LWCF-Data Sheet Summarizing Volunteer Labor LWCF-Drawdown Certification Form LWCF-Drawdown Certification Form LWCF-Example Drawdown Package LWCF-Procurement Procedures Briefed LWCF-Quarterly Report Template LWCF-Volunteer Daily Timesheet Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) is a 50-50% matching nationally competitive reimbursement program.

There is not a 2025 ORLP Grant Round. Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program There will not be a 2025 REPI Grant Round. These grant funds have been available nationally through the federal National Park Service Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) combined with the Department of Defense (DOD) Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program.

This grant purpose protects the Nation’s military readiness, enhances relationships with communities, preserves the environment, and improves military installation and community resilience to climate change. Potential LWCF Conversions All parks that have received funding from the LWCF State and Local Assistance Grant Program must maintain public outdoor recreation use in perpetuity.

If your locality or agency is proposing or being presented with any non-outdoor recreation development or significant use changes on LWCF protected parks, please email RecreationGrants@DCR. Virginia. gov or mail information to: DCR-Planning and Recreation Resources Division 600 East Main St.

– 17th Fl. Attn: Recreation Grants Team Richmond, Virginia 23219-2094 Contact us at RecreationGrants@DCR. Virginia.

gov or call Recreation Grants Manager Kristal McKelvey at 804-508-8896. To be added to our Grants Announcement email list please provide contact and affiliation to RecreationGrants@dcr. virginia.

gov. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation 600 East Main Street, 24th floor | Richmond, VA 23219-2094 | Please send website comments to web@dcr. virginia. gov Address general inquiries to pcmo@dcr.

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