Section 6(f) of the Land and Water Conservation Act applies to the conversion of certain recreation lands to non-recreational purposes. The act applies to recreation lands that have received Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) money. Any land conversions on property that has received LWCF money must be approved by the US Department of the Interior – National Park Service (FHWA, 1987). Section 6(f) also requires that any applicable land converted to non-recreational uses must be replaced with land of equal or greater value, location, and usefulness.
Introduction to Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)
The federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Act (Public Law 88-578) was passed by Congress on September 3, 1964 and became effective January 1, 1965. Additional federal legislation authorized the LWCF program to continue until December 31, 2015.
Purposes of the act are “…to assist in preserving, developing and assuring accessibility to all citizens of the United States of America of present and future generations…such quality and quantity of outdoor recreation resources as may be available and are necessary and desirable… by (1) providing funds for and authorizing federal assistance to the states in planning, acquisition, and development of needed land and water areas and facilities, and (2) providing funds for the federal acquisition and development of certain lands and other areas.”
The federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Act provides up to 50 percent reimbursement assistance to the states and their political subdivisions (municipalities, counties, townships, joint recreation districts, park districts and conservancy districts) for acquiring and/or developing public outdoor recreation areas.
The Governor has designated the Ohio Department of Natural Resources as the state agency directly responsible for program administration and coordination with its federal counterpart, the U.S. Department of Interior.
Departmental policies pertaining to the total amount of funds shared annually with local governmental agencies and procedures for the submission of local applications are subject to periodic review and change as prevailing conditions or situations may warrant.