As the weather warms up and many of us are planning boating, birding, hiking, biking... (too many fun activities to name!) adventures on West Virginia’s public lands, it’s important to take a moment to remember the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). This essential program uses royalties from off-shore oil and gas development to acquire and maintain public lands. In West Virginia alone LWCF has supported more than 500 parks, preserves, trails and other recreation and conservation projects. Right now, Congress has the opportunity to make sure LWCF is permanently and fully funded through the passage of The Great American Outdoors Act, a strong bipartisan bill introduced by our own Senator Manchin. Read this letter to the editor by WV Rivers’ board member, Dave Ruediger, on the importance of LWCF. | |