Downloadable templates and plain-language guidance you can adapt to your government's voice and circumstances. Brackets indicate fields for adaptation.
LWCF can fund a wide range of outdoor recreation projects. Eligible project types may include but are not limited to:
LWCF funds can purchase property for outdoor recreation development. The most common method is fee simple title — the preferred method because it gives the holder absolute rights to the property within limitations imposed by state or federal law. All acquisitions must conform to the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisitions Policies Act of 1970 (P.L. 91-646).
Purchase of land for outdoor recreation purposes — for example, a park, expansion of an existing park, community parks, existing recreational facilities, linear parks, natural and scenic areas, and water-oriented recreation sites.
State applications differ in format, but most include the elements below. Where Tribal applicants face specific stumbling points, those are flagged with a “Tribal note.”
Projects proposed under LWCF require an environmental and cultural resource impact assessment in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1970, along with all appropriate Tribal, state, or other environmental protection rules and regulations.
All projects must comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act along with all local, state, and Tribal rules and regulations. Documentation of coordination with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) or Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO) is required for environmental approval.
Applications must include copies or a list of all necessary local, state, Tribal, and federal permits or approvals required for the proposed project.
Permanent signs are required to acknowledge the federal-state-local partnership role in providing outdoor recreation areas and facilities. Signs must acknowledge cooperation between the project sponsor and partners.
The landowner is the primary applicant and provides documentation verifying ownership of the property to be developed or improved. This typically includes a deed, legal description, and legal plat.
Submit an 8.5 x 11 paper map and an ArcMap shapefile clearly identifying where the project is located within city or county limits and in relation to nearby streets, highways, schools, and landmarks. Street names should be readable and the project location clearly indicated. The map should be a close-up so a reader can navigate to the site from a major landmark, highway, or intersection.
The Native American Fish and Wildlife Society (NAFWS) provides technical assistance on grants and other funding opportunities for Tribes. They offer training, proposal reviews, and direct grant-writing support to help Indigenous communities navigate complex conservation and environmental funding applications.
The NAFWS grants team actively assists Tribes in securing funding for key environmental programs. For inquiries or to request direct technical assistance for your specific project, you can book a meeting with the NAFWS Grants team directly.
In development. These templates are being finalized and reviewed for approval by our team. Downloads will be available here once approved. Previews below show the intended scope of each document.
Initiates contact with your state LWCF coordinator in terms that assert government standing and begin a relationship before an application cycle opens.
Ready-to-adapt resolution language authorizing Tribal staff to pursue LWCF funding on behalf of the Tribal Government.
A walkthrough of typical state application sections, with notes on what each item actually asks for and where Tribal applicants commonly get tripped up.
How to document Tribal contributions — staff time, land value, partner contributions — to satisfy state matching requirements.
[TRIBAL GOVERNMENT LETTERHEAD]
[Date]
[Full Name]
Land and Water Conservation Fund Program Coordinator
[State Agency Name]
Dear [Name],
On behalf of [Tribal Government Name], I am writing to express our interest in the [State Name] Land and Water Conservation Fund State and Local Assistance Program and to open a line of communication with your office regarding a potential application…
At least 60–90 days before a state application deadline to allow time for follow-up communication and a meeting before you formally apply.
