Program Name: LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND (LWCF) PROGRAM
Funding Organization: Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Contact Information: For assistance with LWCF grants, contact Pam Rood, your regional DNR Stewardship contact.
Award Details: Grants cover 50% of eligible project costs.
Eligible Applicants: Towns, villages, cities, counties, tribal governments, school districts or other state political subdivisions.
Eligible Projects:
1. Land acquisition or development projects that provide opportunities for public outdoor recreation.
2. Property with frontage on rivers, streams, lakes, estuaries and reservoirs that provide water-based outdoor recreation.
3. Property that provides special recreation opportunities such as floodplains, wetlands, and areas adjacent to scenic highways.
4. Natural areas and outstanding scenic areas that preserve scenic or natural values and are open to the general public for outdoor recreation use without impairing the natural attributes of the areas.
5. Land or development within urban areas for day-use picnic areas.
6. Land or development of nature-based outdoor recreation trails.
7. Development of basic outdoor recreation facilities.
8. Renovation of existing outdoor recreation facilities in danger of being lost for public use.

Ineligible Project Examples:
1. Projects not supported by a local comprehensive outdoor recreational plan.
2. Acquisition and development of golf courses.
3. Projects where stormwater management is the primary purpose.
4. Lands that include cell towers.
5. Land that will be used for non-outdoor public recreation purposes.

Deadlines and Funding Cycles:
- Completed applications must be submitted to your regional Stewardship community service specialist by May 1 each year.
- Department of Natural Resources regional staff review and rate eligible projects in early June.
- Final project listing is compiled in July with projects ranking the highest selected for grants based on available funds.
- Final selected projects will be reviewed and approved by the National Park Service before the sponsor receives an agreement with the DNR.

Note: The grant is renewable every year, and the application period closes on May 1st each year.