LWCF Tribal Hub
Aerial view of an emerald river valley winding through deep evergreen forest
A Tribal Resource Hub

Tribal Access to the Land & Water Conservation Fund.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund has distributed billions in conservation grants since 1965.

In that time, Tribal Governments received less than one percent of total awards — a product of structural barriers that have kept one of the federal government's most significant conservation programs largely inaccessible to the governments that steward 2.3% of this country's lands and waters.

This Hub is a resource for Tribal Governments and staff navigating those barriers. It's not a federal website — it's a practical, Tribal-centered starting point with plain-language guidance, downloadable tools, recorded trainings, and direct pathways to free technical assistance.

Start with LWCF 101See Tribal stories
$4.5B+
Distributed since 1965
< 1%
Awarded to Tribes
2.3%
Lands stewarded by Tribes
EXPLORE Act 2024
Expanded ORLP access
Now live

Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) — Recurring 5-Year Notice is now live.

Tribes can apply directly to the ORLP program to support the development of outdoor and recreational projects designed by Tribes to meet the needs of their communities.

Apply on Grants.gov — ORLPWhere to find the ORLP FAQ
Questions? Email the National Park Service

For more information, reach out to NPS directly — your inquiry will be routed to the correct staff.

ORLP: orlp_inquiries@nps.govRARI: RARI_Inquiries@nps.gov
Cover of the 2026 Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Grant Application Toolkit from Trust for Public Land
New resource · Trust for Public Land

2026 ORLP Grant Application Toolkit

A free step-by-step guide from Trust for Public Land — includes a project eligibility and readiness checklist, sample application timelines, grant-writing tips, and curated resources.

Access the Toolkit (PDF)TPL ORLP Technical Assistance
HERE ARE A SERIES OF ORLP WEBINARS HOSTED BY THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND THAT YOU MAY FIND HELPFUL:
Promotional graphic for the July 29 ORLP webinar hosted by the Trust for Public Land and the National Park Service
July 29 · 2:00 PM ET

Step by Step: How to Write a Competitive ORLP Application

Ready to turn your outdoor recreation project into a compelling ORLP application? This session provides a step-by-step overview of how to create a strong application. Participants will gain a clear understanding of application requirements, scoring criteria, and how to effectively present their project's strengths. Through case studies and practical examples, speakers will demonstrate what distinguishes successful applications and how to apply those best practices to your own proposal.

Register
The picture in numbers

The gap that this Hub exists to close.

Tribal Governments steward 2.3% of US lands and waters, yet have received less than one percent of LWCF awards since 1965.

Read the Great American Outdoors Act (P.L. 116-152)
State Assistance Program · 1965–2019

How LWCF dollars have been awarded

The LWCF State Assistance Program allocated $4.5 billion (1965–2019) to state, local, and Tribal governments for the acquisition, development, and planning of outdoor recreation lands. Tribal awards totaled $4.5 million, accounting for only 0.1 percent of grant funding awarded.

99%+
States, local governments, NGOs
< 1%
Tribal Governments — across 60+ years
Four ways in

Find what you need — in the way you need it.

Whether you're new to LWCF, preparing an application, looking for training, or learning from other Tribal Governments' experiences — start wherever fits your work today.

What's changing

Things are moving quickly on LWCF access for Tribal Governments.

Here's what to know.

PERMANENT CHANGEDec 2024

The EXPLORE Act

Expanded direct eligibility for Tribal Governments under the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP), one of LWCF's competitive grant programs, regardless of population size. The expansion also includes Alaska Native corporations and Native Hawaiian community organizations.

ORLP's recurring five-year notice is now live, and the eligibility change is permanent: Tribal Governments can apply directly — a significant shift from prior rules.

Read H.R. 6492
PROPOSED · NOT CURRENTLY IN PLAYFY24 – FY25

BIA Tribal LWCF Land Acquisition Program

A proposed first-ever Bureau of Indian Affairs program that would allow Tribal Governments to acquire lands and easements for natural and cultural resource conservation — with direct access, no state intermediary, and no matching requirement.

Proposed in the FY2024 and FY2025 Biden budgets. The current Administration has not included this proposal in either their FY26 or FY27 budgets, and Congress has not advanced it. It is not expected to be in play in the near term, but advocacy continues.

$12M
FY24 proposed
$8M
FY25 proposed
Tracking program status
ACTIVE VOLATILITYOngoing

Federal budget volatility is real

The current administration has proposed redirecting a significant portion of LWCF federal land acquisition funding. The stateside programs that Tribal Governments access most directly remain intact, but the landscape is shifting.

This Hub is updated as conditions change — sign up below to stay connected.

NPS LWCF program
Stay connected

This Hub is updated as conditions change. Sign up to get notified when policy shifts, programs reopen, or new trainings are scheduled.

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Federal agencies

Where LWCF lives across the federal government.

LWCF is administered across multiple agencies. Each handles a different slice of the program — direct links below.

About this Hub

A starting point. A connection point.

This Hub was built by Against the Current Consulting for The Wilderness Society's Native Lands Partnerships program, in coordination with the National Park Service, the Trust for Public Land, National Assoc. of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (NATHPO), and other partners working to expand Tribal access to LWCF. It is part of a family of Tribal Hubs developed with the same approach: useful not just because they exist, but because of the engagement, webinars, and relationships built around them.

This Hub is designed to work the same way: as a starting point and a connection point, not a final destination. If you can't find what you need here, we want to hear from you.

Trust for Public Land
Free direct technical assistance to Tribal Governments.
National Park Service
Program contacts and state LWCF liaisons.
National Assoc. of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (NATHPO)
Supporting Tribal Historic Preservation Officers nationally.
The Wilderness Society
Native Lands Partnerships program.