Great American Outdoors Act National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund Newsroom

In 2022, Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge completed a habitat restoration project that improved the water delivery infrastructure and removed the old and leaking levy and water structures and removed invasive species . Some of the funding for this successful project came from the Great American Outdoor Act, which is part of the Biden administration’s America the Beautiful initiative, a decade-long campaign to conserve, connect and restore 30% of our country’s lands and waters by 2030. Locally led and voluntary conservation work across public, private, and Tribal lands and waters are helping reduce maintenance backlogs and to ensure visitors are safe and comfortable on public lands.

A team of four young people with local ties are gaining valuable experience working on historic preservation projects in the park. They are currently restoring the historic 1875 fence surrounding the Armory and will be completing various projects through December.  The youth are members of the Student Conservation Association and part of a Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) Legacy Restoration Fund Maintenance Action Team (MAT). 

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland traveled to Yosemite National Park this weekend as part of a month-long tour to celebrate the historic investments from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), a bipartisan investment that improves visitor experiences, bolsters climate resilience and invests in the economy by creating good-paying jobs in our national parks, wildlife refuges, recreation areas and Bureau of Indian Education (BIE)-funded schools. Throughout the month of August, Interior Department leaders will span throughout the nation to highlight how these investments are addressing long-deferred maintenance projects.

Two major park monuments, the Bridge Monument and the Grady Monument, were recently stabilized and restored with funding provided by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). August 4, 2023, is the third anniversary of the historic legislation that is funding infrastructure improvements in national parks throughout the country.

Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, and Minidoka National Historic Site will receive over $9 million in funding from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) to update and repair infrastructure, improve employee safety, and expand visitor opportunities in the South Idaho Parks. GAOA is a significant investment that is reducing the burden of backlogged maintenance and repair projects in national parks.

Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, and Minidoka National Historic Site will receive over $9 million in funding from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) to update and repair infrastructure, improve employee safety, and expand visitor opportunities in the South Idaho Parks. GAOA is a significant investment that is reducing the burden of backlogged maintenance and repair projects in national parks.

From our iconic national parks and fire management infrastructure to migratory birding grounds and elementary schools, the Great American Outdoors Act is a historic investment in our public lands. As we celebrate GAOA’s third anniversary, we’d like to share seven things to love about the impact of its Legacy Restoration Fund.

San Juan National Historic Site superintendent Myrna I. Palfrey today announced the National Park Service (NPS) is investing close to $70 million dollars for the preservation of the historic fortifications of the park with support from various fund sources including the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), legislation that provides funding to improve infrastructure and expand recreation opportunities in national parks and other public lands. For fiscal years 2023 and 2024, the San Juan National Historic Site has embarked on a series of projects to ensure that historic fortifications are ready to meet challenges related to the effects of climate change and sea level rise. These funds will be used to enhance operations; complete conservation work on museum and archival collections, visitor services, protection and education; and the maintenance and preservation of the fortifications, buildings and landscapes that are part of the historic site.

Entrance fees will be waived on Friday, August 4 at Death Valley National Park and all other National Park Service (NPS) sites. This is the third anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), which is making a huge difference in the protection and enjoyment of national parks and other public lands.

From the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC to Mount Rainier National Park in Washington state and beyond, the Great American Outdoors Act is making a huge difference in the protection and enjoyment of national parks and other public lands. On August 4, as the Department of the Interior commemorates the three-year anniversary of the signing of the Great American Outdoors Act, all National Park Service (NPS) entrance fees will be waived to celebrate the landmark legislation.