I’ve been reading about the severe shortage of clean, usable water in California, a region that produces most of the fruits and vegetables consumed throughout the United States. In the Upper Delaware River watershed, we are blessed with abundant fresh water for our farms, homes and recreation.

That is why I have been paying attention to what is happening with the Land & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) which, after 50 years, needs to be reauthorized by Congress by September 30. The LWCF was created under Lyndon Baines Johnson, and uses oil and gas royalties to invest in local parks and expand opportunities for hunters and sportsmen, and helps conserve land in our area.

While the LWCF is best known as a funding source that is used to help acquire property and develop resources in our national parks, from the Yosemite to the historic Gettysburg battlefield, it is also available as pass-through grants to states to fund local projects.

Some local projects of note funded by LWCF include the Minisink Battlefield and Stone Arch Bridge in Sullivan County, NY, Bingham Park and the Soccer Fields in Wayne County, PA, Oquaga Creek State Park in Delaware County, NY and the Appalachian Trail in Sussex County, NJ.

Contact your congressmen and request that they support the permanent reauthorization of the LWCF and thank Congressmen Gibson, Meehan, Cartwright and Fitzpatrick, area representatives who have already expressed their support for the program.

Steven Schwartz

Equinunk, PA