Five Amazing Places Protected By the Land and Water Conservation Fund
9/28/2015
Last edited 9/28/2015
America’s public lands are an essential part of our heritage and identity. We work, play, learn, and grow in them. To properly serve the public, these important places must be supported with passion, energy, and funding.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund was established in 1965 to preserve and protect our nation’s land, water and wildlife. For 50 years, the fund has helped support our parks, historic sites; conserved our forests, rivers, lakes and wildlife habitat; and provided access to recreation for all Americans. Without action from Congress, the Land and Water Conservation Fund will expire September 30, 2015. Here are some of the special places that have benefited from the fund.
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California Coastal National Monument
Connecting the Pacific Ocean with the land, the California Coastal National Monument provides unique coastal habitat for marine-dependent wildlife and vegetation on more than 20,000 rocks, islands, exposed reefs, and pinnacles along the California coastline. Along its length, this spectacular interplay of land and sea is an experience that creates lasting connections between people and nature. Starting with a donation of 1,711 acres, the California Coastal National Monument at Point Arena was expanded thanks to money from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
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Everglades National Park protects an unparalleled landscape that provides important habitat for numerous rare and endangered species like the manatee, American crocodile and the elusive Florida panther. One of the largest wetlands in the world, Everglades National Park protects 1.5 million acres of subtropical wilderness in South Florida.
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Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge is a place where creeks flow freely, wildlife thrives and visitors can find solitude and astounding natural beauty. Located in southwest Montana, the refuge is bounded by high mountains, wildflower filled meadows, grasslands, marshes and forests. This rich system nurtures many mammals, waterfowl, raptors, songbirds and a wide variety of fish.
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Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park
Buddy Secor, National Park Service Volunteer
An amazing view of Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park. During battles spread out over years, the Civil War raged on Virginia’s forests and fields. More than a 150 years after the guns fell silent, these battlefields -- preserved for their historical importance -- now serve as critical natural landscapes and habitat for wildlife.
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Petrified Forest National Park
The colorful hills, flat-topped mesas and sculptured buttes of the Painted Desert in Petrified Forest National Park are primarily made up of river sediment deposited over 200 million years ago. Erosion has shaped intriguing landforms and the rocks reveal an enthralling chronicle of time that is unfolding and ever-changing.