FAQs - Great American Outdoors Act

What is the Great American Outdoors Act?

Enacted into law in 2020, the Great American Outdoors Act established the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund to address the deferred maintenance backlog for 5 federal agencies and provided permanent full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

What is the Legacy Restoration Fund?

The National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund provides 5 years of funding to reduce the Forest Service’s and other land management agencies’ deferred maintenance backlog while expanding access to the national forests and grasslands by improving critical infrastructure.

How much money does the Forest Service receive from the Legacy Restoration Fund?

The Legacy Restoration Fund is authorized for up to $1.9 billion each year, of which the Forest Service receives 15 percent. In FY21, the agency received $285 million for its projects and anticipates up to $285 million per year for fiscal years 2022-2025.

What do you mean by deferred maintenance?

Simply put, deferred maintenance is scheduled maintenance that doesn’t get done. For years, due to budget shortfalls, the Forest Service has had to postpone some of this maintenance. Over the decades our deferred maintenance has backlog has grown to nearly $6 billion. The newly established Legacy Restoration Fund gives us an opportunity to finally address this growing need and reduce our deferred maintenance backlog so we can fulfill our mission and provide all Americans with access to their public lands.

How do you decide which projects to focus on?

The Forest Service established the following criteria to evaluate and prioritize deferred maintenance projects for FY 21: 

1. Reduce Infrastructure Deferred Maintenance;
2. Promote Management of America’s Forests;
3. Improve Visitor Experience;
4. Contribute to Rural Community Economic Development;
5. Improve Visitor Access;
6. Ensure Health & Safety;
7. Leverage External Agencies and Resources