Roundup Record Tribune & Winnett Times -

As a direct result from his bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act, U.S. Senator Jon Tester secured $71,032.50 in Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) resources for the city of Winnett to renovate the city pool.

“My bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act continues to deliver for communities in every corner of Montana,” said Tester. “Because of the hard work of people across the state, we were able to get this bill signed into law, and now folks in Winnett will be able to enjoy top of the line renovations to the community swimming pool. Permanently and fully funding the LWCF was the right move, and it will keep growing our state’s $7.1 billion dollar outdoor economy for generations to come.”

Funding for the project comes from the National Park Service through an LWCF grant. Winnett will use the resources to repaire leaking pipes and install a PVC membrane liner in the pool to prevent leakage through the original concrete pool. Winnett will also replace the decking on the pool to hold the edge of the liner in place and provide a clean safe deck for pool users.

In 2020, Tester pushed his landmark Great American Outdoors Act through Congress and into law, which secured full, mandatory funding for the LWCF at $900 million a year, and $9.5 billion to address maintenance backlogs on public lands across the United States – including National Parks. Montana has seen hundreds of millions of dollars supporting LWCF projects to protect public access, habitat, and community recreation facilities.

Established in 1964, the LWCF uses revenues from oil and gas leasing to fund conservation and recreation priorities across the nation. Since its creation, the LWCF has invested millions into Montana's $7.1 billion outdoor recreation economy. Tester first sponsored a bill to fully fund the LWCF in 2009, and until recently was the only member of the Montana delegation to support full, mandatory funding for LWCF.