The Land and Water Conservation Fund, in existence since 1964, is slated for an 83 percent reduction under the Department of Interior's fiscal 2006 spending plan.

U.S. House members passed the plan last week and it now heads to the Senate. But state officials, the outdoor recreation industry and others have begun mobilizing to get the funding restored.

Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. noted in a letter to Sen. Bob Bennett that in 2004 alone, "Utah leveraged $1.2 million in grant money and still had millions of unmet needs. I believe the answer is not to abandon the [Land and Water Conservation Fund], but to ensure its funding for this and future generations of Americans."

State Parks and Recreation Director Mary Tullius says the state's share of about $1 million annually from the fund may not by itself sound like a lot of money. But it adds up over four decades, especially when combined with state and local matches.

"Utah has received $46 million from the fund," Tullius said, adding that translates to a $150 million potential investment. "That money has done so much good across Utah for communities that wouldn't otherwise be able to develop these kinds of things."

The Land and Water Conservation Fund helped nine parks and recreation projects last year.

Among those were the Beaver City ballpark, Willow Pond Park in Murray, Rock Creek Park in Davis County and Ivins Community Park. The fund has also helped in making land acquisitions to enlarge places such as Antelope Island and Bear Lake state parks. Dimple Dell Regional Park in Salt Lake County was the beneficiary of Land and Water money.