Celebrate a Conservation Champion – Nominate for a Pugsley Medal
Courtesy of the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration
The Pugsley Medal’s purpose is to honor outstanding contributions in parks and conservation. It is awarded to citizens, political leaders, park and conservation professionals who have dedicated their efforts to the advancement of parks and conservation at the local, regional, state, or national levels.
Submit your nomination by June 7, 2024 to be considered.
For more information:
https://aapra.org/Awards/Pugsley-Medal
Secretary Haaland Announces Up To $95 Million through the President’s Investing in America Agenda for Water Resources and Ecosystem Health
Courtesy of US Department of the Interior
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced the availability of up to $95 million through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for projects to bolster water resources, advance ecosystem health and support resilience in communities facing drought and other climate change impacts.
Read more:
https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/secretary-haaland-announces-95-million-through-presidents-investing-america-agenda#:
LA County Releases Draft Community Forest Management Plan
Courtesy of Planetizen
By Clement Lau
CALIFORNIA - L.A. County's Chief Sustainability Office (CSO) recently released the discussion draft of Room to Grow, the first Community Forest Management Plan (CFMP) for the county which will serve as a blueprint to guide the planting of new trees and the protection of mature trees throughout the region. The public can review the plan, explore associated resources, and provide comments through the CFMP website. The Room to Grow plan is open for public comment through May 8th, 2024. Following the conclusion of the public comment period, the CSO will revise the document and prepare it for adoption by the Board of Supervisors later this year.
Read more:
https://www.planetizen.com/news/2024/04/128386-la-county-releases-draft-community-forest-management-plan
U.S. House passes largest-ever package supporting outdoor recreation
Courtesy of the Colorado Sun
By Jason Blevens
The unanimous approval of the first-of-its-kind Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experience Act — or Explore Act — in the U.S. House last week marks a big moment for the nation’s surging outdoor recreation industry.
The legislation streamlines the permitting process for outfitters, directs land managers to identify and develop long-distance bike trails, offers grants for urban areas to expand parks and protects rock climbing in wilderness areas.
The Explore Act includes Colorado U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse’s Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation Act — or SOAR Act — and the Biking on Long-Distance Trails Act — or BOLT Act.
Read more:
https://coloradosun.com/2024/04/16/us-house-explore-act/
OMB overhauls federal grant guidance to simplify it for recipients
Courtesy of Government Executive
By Carten Cordell
The Office of Management and Budget detailed new changes to the guidance that helps govern federal grants programs Thursday in what officials described as a “completely overhauled version” that will simplify the process.
Today, federal grant funding has topped $1.2 trillion annually, and OMB officials said revisions to the Uniform Guidance will further help make grant programs more accessible and easily navigable for states, localities, academic researchers and others.
Read more:
https://www.govexec.com/management/2024/04/omb-overhauls-federal-grant-guidance-simplify-it-recipients/395495/
South Texas groups sue to block state land swap with SpaceX
Courtesy of The Hill
By Nick Robertson
TEXAS - A group of South Texas advocacy organizations sued the state to block a proposed land swap with SpaceX approved last month.
“This is just the latest example of our state officials failing to fulfill their obligations to Texans, whenever SpaceX is involved,” the plaintiff’s attorney Marisa Perales said in a statement. “Texas Parks & Wildlife Department’s duty is to protect park land and wildlife resources, including at Boca Chica Beach and State Park.”
Read more:
https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/4586130-south-texas-groups-sue-to-block-state-land-swap-with-spacex/
Virginia Beach golf course-turned stormwater park expected to be completed by 2030
Courtesy of 13 NBC News
VIRGINIA - The former municipal golf course has been given new life, in an effort to fix flooding in the City of Virginia Beach, now one of roughly two dozen flood mitigation projects through Phase 1 of the Flood Protection Program (FPP).
Read more:
https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/local/mycity/virginia-beach/virginia-beach-golf-course-turned-stormwater-park-expected-to-be-completed-2030/291-317b9de8-7fbc-4abd-9dfd-032099e1d6be
