The Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 established a federal reimbursement program for the acquisition and/or development of public outdoor recreation areas. The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is administered in Virginia by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) on behalf of the National Park Service (NPS). The program represents a federal, state and local partnership. A key feature of the program is that all LWCF-assisted areas must be maintained and opened in perpetuity as public outdoor recreation areas. This requirement ensures their use for future generations. Virginia has received more than $125 million in assistance since the LWCF began. It has made more than 420 projects possible within the Commonwealth. The LWCF is a 50-50% matching reimbursement program. The grant recipient must be able to fund 100% of the project while seeking periodic reimbursements.