The Land and Water Conservation Fund reinvests revenue from federal offshore oil and gas production, rather than taxpayer money, for the protection of public land and state and local parks.

LWCF has a positve impact on our lives in Maine in many ways. Program money, well matched by state and private contributions, has secured trail corridors across the High Peaks for non-motorized and motorized recreation enthusiasts who fill hotel beds and purchase supplies. The pending protection of LWCF supported Crocker Mountain and Orbeton Stream will keep working timberland in production and wood moving to the mills rather than fragmented into pieces and sold for development. And with Atlantic salmon returning to the Sandy River and its tributaries, LWCF is an undeniably good investment in the future health and ecological integrity of Maine’s extraordinary landscape.

Yet the fund, which is supposed to receive $900 million a year, has time and again been raided by Congress for unrelated spending.

Our congressional delegation have long been strong supporters of LWCF and continue to show leadership in securing LWCF for the future. Sen. Angus King has cosponsored Senate legislation (S. 338) that would ensure LWCF receives its small portion of what the federal government collects from offshore drilling. Sen. Susan Collins was a leader of a bipartisan letter in support of LWCF and also signed by King, and Reps. Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree are supporting funding for LWCF in the House.

We encourage our delegation to continue to lead on this issue — it matters to the High Peaks, it matters to Maine.

Milt BastonPresident High Peaks Alliance

Strong

and Lloyd Griscom

Phillips

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