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Reporting on science, technology and innovation in Arizona and the Southwest through a collaboration from Arizona NPR member stations. This project is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.Additional stories from the Arizona Science Desk are posted at our collaborating station, KJZZ: http://kjzz.org/science

50-Year-Old Conservation Fund That Benefits Arizona Parks Set To Expire

Amanda Solliday-KAWC

Outdoor recreation supporters are concerned the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund will expire in September 2015 without Congressional action.

For 50 years, the fund has helped pay for everything from national recreational areas to neighborhood parks, including the Yuma Riverfront Gateway Park, Lake Havasu State Park, the Grand Canyon and many others.

Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva introduced a proposal this past April, called HR 1814, designed to permanently authorize the conservation fund.

Over 700 parks in Arizona have received money from the fund, said Mickey Rogers, grant program leader with Arizona State Parks.

“These facilities have to remain open to the public in perpetuity, so it creates a lasting legacy of outdoor recreation facilities," Rogers said.

Revenue from leases by offshore oil and gas operations primarily pay for the fund. The amount set aside is subject to the Congressional appropriations process.

Representative Grijalva’s bill has bipartisan co-sponsors. However, lawmakers disagree in the details — including how much money to set aside in the fund, how the fund should be divided among federal and other lands, and what fraction should be used for acquiring new lands versus maintenance of recreational areas.

The Senate has also begun hearings on a parallel effort to maintain the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act.