The Interior Department has released nearly $62 million to states for recreation and conservation projects.

Secretary Ryan Zinke announced the Land and Water Conservation Fund grants Monday. The funding, which is made up of non-taxpayer dollars from Outer Continental Shelf lease revenues, is awarded through federal matching grants that leverage public and private investment in America’s state and local public parks.

“The Land and Water Conservation Fund State and Local Assistance Program demonstrates how we can work together to improve and expand access to public outdoor recreation opportunities, modernize our country’s park and recreation infrastructure, and support state and local communities with new jobs and other economic benefits,” said Secretary Zinke.

This year’s funds were made available through the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act, which Congress enacted in 2006 to provide that certain Outer Continental Shelf revenues be disbursed to the states through grants under the LWCF State and Local Assistance Program administered by the Interior Department and National Park Service. This year's distribution of GOMESA revenues is a significant increase from past years with this level of funding expected to continue into the future, Interior staff said. Moving forward, Interior will distribute these funds ahead of the traditional annual LWCF Appropriations.

“This is a great state-federal partnership that benefits all citizens,” said Secretary Zinke. “Making this change in distribution gets these funds to states so they can start creating public outdoor recreation opportunities earlier.”

After this year, states will receive GOMESA revenues during the winter and traditional LWCF Appropriations during the spring months.

The LWCF was established by Congress in 1965 to ensure access to outdoor recreation resources for present and future generations, and to provide money to federal, state and local governments to purchase land and water for the benefit of all Americans. Using zero taxpayer dollars, the LWCF also invests earnings from offshore oil and gas leasing to permanently conserve outdoor recreation areas for public use and enjoyment. The funds enable state and local governments to improve park and other recreation areas in their communities by rehabilitating and upgrading existing parks, creating brand new parks in places that have none, and developing and expanding trail systems that link communities to each other and to additional outdoor recreation opportunities.

Since the inception of the LWCF, more than $4.2 billion has been made available to state and local governments to fund more than 42,000 projects throughout the nation.