Land Acquisition Priority SystemWith significant wildlife habitat in need of protection and limited funding available to accomplish the task, determining where to acquire land with Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) dollars is a challenging task. To assist in the development of the Administration’s budget request, the Service identifies and ranks refuge projects using the Land Acquisition Priority System (LAPS). LAPS is an automated scoring system that provides a uniform and objective approach to ranking proposed land acquisition projects within the National Wildlife Refuge System. The LAPS biological rankings are a small part of the overall budget process. The final project list submitted by the Administration to Congress reflects additional non-biological criteria, such as Director, Department, and Administration priorities, potential sources and levels of funding, appropriation history and carryover, partner and Congressional support, unique land acquisition opportunities, and – critically – up to date information on willing sellers. LAPS informs the budget process by providing decision makers with information on the relative biological strengths of each project. However, the LAPS rankings do not determine which refuge projects receive funding in a given fiscal year. Congress, in consultation with the Service, determines which refuges receive land acquisition funds. Nor does LAPS determine which lands are included as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Each refuge has a precise acquisition boundary that was created through a rigorous planning process. LAPS’ primary role is to assist decision makers in prioritizing where to direct limited conservation dollars. Annual FWS LWCF Budget Process
The Service developed LAPS in the late 1980’s, and it received the benefit of a public review and comment. The Service revised the system in 2000 based on feedback from the General Accountability Office and conservation partners. Each year, the Service updates LAPS to incorporate new biological data and input from the field, regions, and our partners. LAPS’ computer-based system scores and ranks refuge projects with willing sellers using expert data provided by the Service’s Fisheries, Endangered Species, and Migratory Birds program offices. LAPS scores four components tied to those trust resources: (1) Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, (2) Endangered Species, (3) Bird Conservation, and (4) Landscape and Ecosystem Conservation. All refuges are scored using the same criteria. LAPS Scoring Components:
LAPS Project lists: Land and Water Conservation Fund Fiscal Year 2014 Land Acquisition Priority List (474 KB PDF) Land and Water Conservation Fund Fiscal Year 2013 Land Acquisition Priority List (456 KB PDF) Land and Water Conservation Fund Fiscal Year 2012 Land Acquisition Priority List (88 KB PDF) Land and Water Conservation Fund Fiscal Year 2011 Land Acquisition Priority List (112 KB PDF) Land and Water Conservation Fund Fiscal Year 2010 Land Acquisition Priority List (536 KB PDF) Land and Water Conservation Fund Fiscal Year 2009 Land Acquisition Priority List (520 KB PDF) Land and Water Conservation Fund Fiscal Year 2008 Land Acquisition Priority List (145 KB PDF) Land and Water Conservation Fund Fiscal Year 2007 Land Acquisition Priority List (67 KB PDF) |