 Every year ATC staff participates in Hike the Hill advocacy week in Washington D.C. This annual event is aimed at raising awareness and support for the protection of national scenic and historic trails. ATC representatives typically take this opportunity to renew relationships and inform congressional staff of the status and needs of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, including properties still pending in the federal acquisition program for the A.T.
In line with this, ATC staff request appropriations from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and Forest Legacy program as necessary to support key federal land acquisition projects along the A.T. In addition, ATC sometimes contributes funding, helps to complete pre-acquisition work and facilitates the deals as necessary.
Current ATC Funding Priorities
| Property |
Acres |
LWCF Funding Request |
Total project cost |
Special Features |
| Wesser Bald, North Carolina (PDF) |
75 |
$270,000 |
$450,000 |
High elevation remote forest, Little Tennessee River watershed, A.T. views
|
| Rocky Fork, Tennessee (PDF) |
7,000 |
$13.5 million |
$40 million |
Rare species, strategic trail links, Lower Higgins and Rocky Fork Creeks watersheds, A.T. views
|
| Roan Highlands, North Carolina and Tennessee (PDF) |
442 |
$1,875,000 |
$2,000,000 |
Old growth oak and beech groves, Roaring Creek watershed, A.T. views
|
| Rich Mountain, Tennessee (PDF) |
100 |
$600,000 |
$600,000 |
High elevation heath bald, Rocky Fork watershed, strategic trail links
|
| Buck Mountain, Tennessee (PDF) |
18 |
$150,000 |
$150,000 |
A.T. immediate surroundings, wildlife habitat |
| Shook Branch, Tennessee (PDF) |
20 |
$500,000 |
$550,000 |
Site of necessary A.T. relocation, Watauga River and Lake watershed, A.T. views
|
| New River, Virginia (PDF) |
485 |
$1,275,000 |
$1,600,000 |
Site of necessary A.T. relocation, safer trail route, New River watershed
|
| Tilson Farmstead, Virginia (PDF) |
170 |
$500,000 |
$600,000 |
A.T. treadway, Holston River watershed, rural character
|
| Mahoosucs, New Hampshire (PDF) |
4,772 |
$2,750,000 |
$4,800,000 |
Protection of A.T. approach trails, Androscoggin river watershed, state significant wildlife habitat, A.T. views
|
Show your support for LWCF funding appropriations for the A.T. today:
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Make a donation to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund
In 1962 the Kennedy Administration, recognizing the importance of America’s natural and recreational resources, introduced legislation to establish a new federal conservation fund. The next year, Kennedy repeated the proposal, writing to Congress: “Actions deferred are all too often opportunities lost, particularly in safeguarding our natural resources.”
In 1964 Congress created the Land and Water Conservation Fund to help protect parks, wildlife refuges and recreational resources. The Land and Water Conservation Fund was designed to be funded through royalty revenues from off-shore drilling operations. The philosophy that guided the creation of the program was that if there was to be a permanent extraction of our nation’s natural or mineral resources from offshore drilling, then there should be a permanent conservation and recreation benefit for the American people. Advocates still embrace this rationale today.
The LWCF was created to function in two ways:
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To fund state and local projects through 50% matching grants
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To fund up to 100% of new or expanded federal public lands , such as:
The following links and resources provide more information on the recent history of the LWCF and on the Forest Legacy Program:
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