Record conservation funding, but debate surfaces over new order

• Interior announces $437 million for outdoor projects nationwide.
• Colorado River Basin states set to receive $73 million combined.
• Secretary’s Order 3442 changes how projects will be prioritized.
• Environmental advocates raise concerns about land sales and surveillance.

Wednesday, September 10, 2025 — On Friday (September 5, 2025), the U.S. Department of the Interior announced a record allocation of $437 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to states, territories, and the District of Columbia. The announcement was paired with Secretary’s Order 3442, which lays out new policies for how the program will be implemented.

Interior officials said the investment will expand outdoor access, restore natural areas, and support recreation infrastructure across the nation. Since its creation in 1965, the LWCF has funded more than 45,000 projects in every county of the country, from parks to wildlife areas.

The seven Colorado River Basin states together will receive just over $73 million:

• Arizona – $9,077,089

• California – $37,560,807

• Colorado – $7,812,784

• Nevada – $5,715,339

• New Mexico – $4,645,864

• Utah – $5,790,481

• Wyoming – $3,415,137

Secretary’s Order 3442.

The new order directs Interior bureaus to work more closely with states and tribes in carrying out LWCF projects. It expands the list of eligible activities, allowing states to count donated land or certain compliance costs toward their matching contributions.

Projects that combine recreation with other benefits, such as flood protection or endangered species recovery, are given special emphasis. The order also encourages states to create wetlands, build recreational shooting ranges, and improve big-game migration corridors.

For federal land acquisitions, the order requires that all transactions be voluntary and supported by governors and local governments. Federal priorities include enhancing recreational access, improving habitat, and addressing wildfire risks.

Praise From Interior.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the order and funding reinforce national commitments to conservation and recreation. “Outdoor recreation is part of our national heritage, and these historic investments will help communities across the country expand access to green spaces, restore natural areas and create more opportunities for people to get outside,” Burgum said in the September 5 announcement.

Concerns From Advocacy Groups.

Not everyone welcomed the changes. On September 8, 2025, GreenLatinos, a national environmental organization, criticized the new order. The group said the policy could undermine decades of LWCF investments in Utah by restricting Bureau of Land Management projects that protect recreation sites such as Kanarraville Canyon Falls and the Pariette Wetlands.

GreenLatinos also raised alarms about provisions that allow for surveillance systems in or near recreation areas, arguing this could make parks feel unsafe for communities of color. “National public lands must remain in the public trust to uphold freedom and equal opportunity,” said Olivia Juarez, the group’s Public Land Program Director.

The Path Forward.

With both record-level funding and new rules in place, state and local governments in the Colorado River Basin now face the task of planning how to use their allocations. How Secretary’s Order 3442 is applied in practice will determine whether the program expands access as intended or faces ongoing criticism from conservation advocates.

Image:

A large flock of waterfowl with mixed species fly over the Pariette Wetland. Photo by Jonathan D. Mallory, BLM Utah, April 2024.

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