National Forest System Land Acquisition
FY2028 LWCF Project Nominations
2028 LWCF General Info (PDF, 20 KB)
2028 LWCF Core Criteria and Guidance (PDF, 63 KB)
2028 Appendix 1 - Authorities Priorities Strategy (PDF, 20 KB)
2028 Appendix 2 - Watershed Condition Framework Guidance (PDF, 20 KB)
2028 Appendix 3 - TES Scoring Table (PDF, 70 KB)
2028 Appendix 4 - Sentinel Landscape Locations (PDF, 840 KB)
Secures Access for the American Public
The National Forest System’s land acquisition program acquires land for recreation. Once acquired, the land becomes part of the National Forest System.
Conserving land also ensures habitat for wildlife and protects watersheds that supply drinking water.
Supports Local Economies
Opening new land to hunting, fishing, and hiking supports rural economies. Many local businesses depend on recreation tourism, which creates jobs in rural communities across the country.
Strengthens Local Communities
Projects are supported by the local community, as they often preserve favorite hunting, fishing, or hiking spots. Preserving these special places ensures they can be enjoyed by our children and grandchildren.
Not Funded by Taxes
This program is funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund, established in 1964 to ensure outdoor recreation is available to all Americans. The idea of the fund was to use revenues from the depletion of one natural resource (offshore oil and gas) to help conserve other resources (lands and waters). To this day, the program uses these revenues instead of taxpayer dollars.
FY2027 LWCF Requested Projects
Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Proposed Projects (PDF, 824 KB)
Recent Enacted Projects
Enacted Fiscal Year 2026 LWCF Land Acquisition Projects (PDF, 127 KB)
Enacted Fiscal Year 2025 LWCF Land Acquisition Projects (PDF, 120 KB)
New Public Recreation Access in 2025
Project Name: North Carolina Threatened Treasures (Burntfield Branch Tract)
Price: $355,000
Acres: 118
Description: This land will be used for a future boat launch site to access the Johns River. The river is a popular area for white water rafting, tubing, canoeing, boating, and fishing.
Project Name: Fishhook 17
Price: $2,474,000
Acres: 590
Description: This land links existing public lands, including river frontage, to a river reach beloved by fishermen, boaters, and sportsmen, ensuring public access to one of the few convenient places for boaters and anglers to get to on the St. Joe River. This land also expands into a popular hunting destination by providing additional public access to a 674,000-acre hunting unit. The tract also contains the beginning of Fishhook Creek Road - the primary access point for upwards of 12,000 acres of Forest land.
Project Name: Upper Wenatchee Watershed
Price: $8,000,000
Acres: 5,959
Description: This land opens public access to Iron Mountain, allowing the forest to reopen access to a 1.5-mile connector road. This popular all-season destination for both motorized and non-motorized users is the entry point for many miles of the area’s trails, including a four-mile hike to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Over 88% of residents and visitors alike use these trails. The land also protects two segments of the County Line Trail that are part of high-use mountain-biking trails. In addition, Chelan County is a destination hunt for mule deer enthusiasts. Hunters benefit from new elk and Mule Deer hunting opportunities and increased access to the Shaser Creek area. These lands are also at risk of large, high-severity wildfires; by acquiring the land, the Forest Service can now better manage the lands to protect them from potential fires.
Project Name: Boulder Lakes Access
Price: $1,740,000
Acres: 580
Description: This 580-acre acquisition secures permanent access not just to this piece of land, but to thousands of acres of existing public lands beyond the land itself. With numerous alpine lakes and backcountry trail opportunities, the area is ideal for dispersed camping, fishing, hunting, backcountry skiing, hiking and horseback riding.