LAND and WATER CONSERVATION FUND

The Land and Water Conservation Fund boosted the Dishman Hills when the funding was most vital. Spokane County received a LWCF grant in 1969 to buy 117-acres in the Dishman Hills. Ina Hughes Johnston also contributed $30,000. The Dishman Hills Conservancy had already purchased an adjoining 80-acres. The LWCF grant triggered a remarkable County-DHC partnership that now includes about 2500-acres in the Dishman Hills for recreation and conservation. Later the Washington State Department of Natural Resources joined in the management of the Natural Area.

Congress started the LWCF in 1965 and it was funded using a portion of the revenue from oil & gas leases on Federal land. Since then a remarkable number and variety of recreation and conservation projects have been funded. At least 18 projects have been funded in Spokane County including the Dishman Hills Natural Area, Little Spokane  River Natural Area, Valley Mission Park, SE Sports Complex, Riverside State Park, Mount Spokane State Park, Medical Lake Waterfront Park, Highbridge Park, Friendship Park, Eloika Lake, Centennial Park in Cheney, Sunset Park in Airway Heights and Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge.

The LWCF has not been reauthorized even though there is bipartisan support. Recently Suzy Dix and Jeff Lambert along with others in the recreation and conservation community met with Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers to discuss reauthorization. She supports the LWCF but wants to make some changes. We hope that Representative McMorris Rodgers provides leadership to quickly resolve the issues and keep the valuable LWCF program.

Photograph shows the Ina Hughes Johnston Natural Area sign at Camp Caro. The LWCF sign on the lower right. Vicki Butler is standing next to the sign and she is the granddaughter of Ina Johnston.