LWCF Manual

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) State Assistance Program Manual (LWCF Manual) outlines the administrative procedures and requirements for LWCF federal assistance to the States, as administered by the National Park Service (NPS), State and Local Assistance Division (SLAD). This manual applies to the state assistance program, also known as "stateside" as well as competitive programs such as the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP).

The manual is an essential reference for those involved in the administrative, financial management, and stewardship responsibilities of the LWCF State Assistance Program. This web-based version offers distinct benefits, including:

  • Fully searchable format for easy navigation and quick access to information.
  • More frequent updates to reflect urgent or important changes.
  • Regularly updated links and references to ensure accuracy.
  • A single, authoritative source, providing users with the most up-to-date version.

Users are strongly encouraged to check this page for updates before relying on previously viewed or downloaded materials and to consult with their State Liaison Officer or Assistant State Liason Officer for any questions.

SLAD publishes a PDF version for annual releases only. Interim releases (designated by a decimal, e.g., 72.XX) are available online only and supersede all previous annual releases. A PDF of the last annual release (v72, updated October 2023) is available upon request. Please note that it may contain broken links and outdated policies. For the most up-to-date information, refer to the web-based manual. Please e-mail us to request a copy.

LWCF Manual v72.1

Published April 21, 2025

Please see our Release notes page for recent changes.

Notice an issue? Please fill out our feedback form.

Manual Archive

Need a permanent link to a specific manual version? Use these permalinks for grant agreements, subgrant documents, or website references. Each link provides access to a specific version that won't change over time.

Why use permalinks?

  • Grant terms can reference a specific manual version that remains accessible throughout your project period
  • Links won't break when we publish updates to the current manual
  • Ensures you're always referencing the exact version that applies to your grant

Last updated: June 2, 2025