FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 12, 2011
Contact: Taryn Tuss (CEQ) (202) 456-6998
Adam Fetcher (DOI) (202) 208-6416
Jim Brownlee (USDA) (202) 720-4623
Molly Hooven (EPA) (202) 564-2313
Moira Kelley (DOA) (703) 614-3992
America’s Great Outdoors Progress Report Shows Conservation, Recreation
Gains and Economic Benefits
WASHINGTON – The Obama Administration today detailed how the President’s America’s
Great Outdoors Initiative (AGO) is opening up access to lands and waters, restoring critical
landscapes, reconnecting Americans to the natural world, and supporting thousands of jobs and
billions of dollars in economic activity.
With the release of the 2011 America’s Great Outdoors Progress Report, 15 federal agencies
outlined their combined conservation and recreation successes, including gains in youth
employment, new trail designations, the creation of urban campgrounds, and historic investments
in large landscapes such as the Everglades.
In addition to social, cultural and historic value, America’s outdoors provide vital jobs and
economic benefits to communities across the country. For example, National Parks see more
than 280 million visitors, generating $12 billion in visitor spending and supporting nearly
250,000 jobs. The Outdoor Industry Association estimates recreation activities including hiking,
camping, and fishing contribute $730 billion to the U.S. economy, support more than 6 million
jobs, and generate $289 billion annually in retail sales and services.
“The quality and accessibility of our outdoor spaces have a significant impact on the economic
and physical health of American communities,” said Nancy Sutley, Chair of the Council on
Environmental Quality. “Actions under the America’s Great Outdoors initiative are
reinvigorating a national discussion about the value of conservation, resulting in smart,
innovative strategies and investments that respond to the priorities of American communities.”
“Easy access to quality outdoor recreation areas is something that all Americans should enjoy –
whether they are young or old, live in rural or urban areas, and no matter how take advantage of
the natural world,” said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. “Under the banner of America’s
Great Outdoors, President Obama has made it clear that conservation is a priority for this
administration. We will continue to invest in land and water projects that have the backing of
communities who depend on the job-creating power of the outdoor economy.”
“AGO is not only protecting our environment, it's creating jobs,” said Secretary of Agriculture
Tom Vilsack. “We're working with farmers and ranchers to conserve working agricultural lands;
we're restoring our forests in ways that create jobs in recreation and forest products; and we're
creating employment opportunities for young adults, veterans and others on our National
Forests.”
"Through this initiative, we're reconnecting Americans with the great outdoors and helping to put
local residents to work cleaning up the areas that they cherish," EPA Administrator Lisa P.
Jackson said. "In preserving their environment, Americans are creating healthier, more vibrant
communities today and ensuring lasting prosperity for future generations."
“America's Great Outdoors initiative focuses on reconnecting Americans to their natural
environments,” said Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works). “This is
beneficial for many reasons; health, community, ecosystem restoration and most importantly the
happiness and well-being of our children. Not all cities, towns and rural areas in this country are
blessed with easy accessibility to outdoor recreation. This initiative is about engaging
communities with the outdoors; kids in particular.”
President Obama launched AGO in April 2010 to foster a 21st century approach to conservation
that is designed by and accomplished in partnership with the American people. In February, the
Council on Environmental Quality, U.S. Department of Interior (DOI), U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) presented an AGO
report to the President outlining a conservation action plan using input received from more than
100,000 public comments and 51 public listening sessions across the country.
The Progress Report released today describes how agencies are working together and with
private sector, non-profit and community partners to leverage resources and deliver on-theground results for Americans. For example:
 USDA announced $100 million in landowner agreements with farmers and ranchers to
restore wetlands and permanently conserve nearly 24,000 acres of agricultural land in the
Northern Everglades.
 EPA awarded nearly $30 million in Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grants, including
funds to groom Chicago’s to 24 beaches on a daily basis and build a protective barrier to
make swimming areas cleaner. These actions should result in fewer swimming bans and
advisories due to contamination.
 DOI worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to designate 41 National Recreation
Trails stretching across 17 states, adding 650 miles to the national trails system.
 USDA improved access for hunting by enrolling eight additional states and one tribe in
the “Open Fields” Voluntary Public Access Program, which works with states to provide
landowners with incentives to expand lands available for hunting.
 Federal agencies and partners worked together to provide more than 50,000 young people
with paid work and service learning opportunities on public lands and waters over the
past two years.
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DOI and USACE worked together to designate three new National Water Trails including
the Lake Michigan National Water Trail in Illinois and Indiana, the Quinebaug River
Water Trail in Connecticut, and the Susquehanna River Water Trail in Pennsylvania.
Led by EPA, USDA, DOI and the Department of Housing and Urban Developmen, 11
agencies came together to form the Federal Urban Waters Partnership, leveraging Federal
funds to revitalize urban waters and surrounding communities through pilot projects in
seven initial cities.
USDA worked with other Federal agencies to launch new landscape-scale projects in
Saginaw Bay, Michigan; Monterey Bay, California; and the Lake Champlain area in New
York and Vermont, investing $3.5 million to underwrite conservation activities on
working lands based on extensive stakeholder input.
In the year ahead, agencies will collaborate on new initiatives including:
 Landscape-scale conservation in the longleaf pine ecosystem, the grasslands of the
northern Great Plains, the Crown of the Continent in the northern Rockies, the southwest
deserts, and the northern forests of New England and New York.
 Pilot projects that bring together agency resources to increase access to urban parks and
waterways.
 Public-private partnerships that will deliver on-the-ground conservation and restoration
outcomes across America’s military installations, national forests, national wildlife
refuges, state lands, and working private lands.
Additionally, the Department of the Interior will soon release a 50-state report outlining 100
locally-supported outdoor initiatives that promise to reconnect Americans to the natural world as
part of AGO. The projects identified in the forthcoming report will represent what states believe
are among the best investments in the nation to support a healthy, active population, and create
travel, tourism and outdoor recreation jobs across the country. The report is a result of 50
meetings with Governors and stakeholders held by Secretary Salazar and other senior Interior
officials to solicit ideas on how to best implement AGO in their states.
To read the Progress Report or for more information about the America’s Great Outdoors
initiative, visit: www.americasgreatoutdoors.gov or
www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ceq/initiatives/ago.