Public Lands Legislation Will Benefit Northeast Ohio

LORAIN, OH — A sweeping, bipartisan conservation and lands package passed the U.S. House of Representatives this week. The legislation protects nearly 2.4 million acres of public lands from future mining operations and permanently reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).

“Thanks to the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the Ottawa Wildlife Refuge, the Cuyahoga National Park and countless other sites across northern Ohio are open to all Americans – and now the Fund can continue helping communities around the country meet their potential. I’m proud to support this landmark package and look forward to seeing it become law," said Rep. Marcy Kaptur, a Democrat representing a swath of land from Lorain to Toledo.

The John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act also expands the funding authorization for the Ohio & Erie National Heritage Canalway. The canalway spreads across four counties, with 101 miles of towpath trails, 110 miles of scenic roadway, and comes to an end at Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland.

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The funding and permanent re-authorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), will help secure the future of many Northeast Ohio parks. Since the advent of the fund, Northeast Ohio has completed more than 166 conservation projects with help from the fund.

In Cuyahoga County alone, here are the stats of projects funded by LWCF:

• 78 projects
• Total sum of $13,083,842.92
• Dates of approval range from 1970 to 2008
• Last project was completed in 2011

Here's a look at Lorain County projects done with aid from LWCF:

• 24 projects
• Total sum of $1,868,351.52
• Dates of approval range from 1969 to 2010
• Last project was completed in 2013

“Passing this legislation is a huge win for Ohio and for the entire Great Lakes region,” added Kaptur. “It is particularly fitting that the bill, named for my close friend John Dingell, Jr., a legislative titan and one of America’s great conservationists, passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. This legislation protects and expands our treasured public lands and natural resources while moving us away from short-term environmental thinking and toward a modern conservation system Americans deserve.”