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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Departments of Agriculture and the Interior today announced a proposed $2.8 billion in funding for fiscal year 2024 authorized by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) to improve infrastructure, recreation facilities, federal lands access, and land and water conservation.
Enacted in August 2020, GAOA established the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund, authorizing up to $1.9 billion per year, from fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to reduce the deferred maintenance backlog on federal lands and at Bureau of Indian Education schools. GAOA also provides permanent, full funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund at $900 million annually to secure public access and improve recreation opportunities on public lands; protect watersheds and wildlife; and preserve ecosystem benefits for local communities. Funding for the fiscal year 2024 proposed projects is subject to Congressional approval.
"These deferred maintenance projects are essential as many communities rely on the Forest Service road network to get to schools, stores and hospitals, and it provides access to forest management and recreation opportunities on national forests and grasslands," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, said. "We feel responsibility for this maintenance strongly, and we take great pride in being the stewards of our nation's forests and grasslands. Funding made possible through the Great American Outdoors Act's Legacy Restoration Fund allows us to enhance equitable access for recreators, create job opportunities, advance community well-being, and improve rural and urban economies."
"Every child in America deserves to have a safe and nearby place to experience the great outdoors. Working together with state, local and Tribal governments, we are committed to advancing environmental justice and ensuring equitable access to nature and its benefits," Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, said. "The Great American Outdoors Act allows us to increase outdoor recreation opportunities, improve infrastructure on our public lands, invest in the U.S. economy, and honor our commitment to Tribal communities."
These necessary investments are an important part of enabling equitable access to the outdoors and meeting the commitments outlined in the President's America the Beautiful Initiative, which is supporting locally led efforts to conserve at least 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030, and USDA Forest Service's Equity Action Plan and Tribal Action Plan.
Visit Interior's GAOA project page and the USDA Forest Service's GAOA story map to see the difference these projects are making for local communities by improving access and outdoor recreation opportunities across federal lands.
National Parks and Public Land
Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF)
With fiscal year 2024 funding from the GAOA LRF, the USDA Forest Service and Department of the Interior enter their fourth year of addressing high priority deferred maintenance across our federal lands.
For fiscal year 2024, the second to last year of funding, the Department of the Interior has proposed 56 LRF projects, and the USDA Forest Service has identified 83 deferred maintenance bundled projects aimed at improving recreation facilities, buildings, water and utility infrastructure, and overall enhancements to roads, trails, bridges and parking areas.
In total, these projects are projected to support more than 20,700 jobs and contribute over $2 billion to the economy. Economic benefits of the LRF are far-reaching across the nation, as projects take place in urban, suburban and rural areas across the U.S. and its territories.
The LRF continues to serve as a critical funding source to make major investments that are normally out of reach with annual funding.
Details about USDA's authorized and funded deferred maintenance projects approved in Fiscal Year 2023 are available on the Forest Service Great American Outdoors Act website.