Meet the WSLCA

History

As an incident of statehood, most states west of the Mississippi River received grants of federal land to assist in the funding of public education facilities and other governmental programs. Known as school lands, trust lands or grant lands, these properties were scattered throughout the various states.

The grants by which the states were given the public lands are solemn trusts. These trusts provide that proceeds from sale or use of the land be applied specifically to education and other various purposes. Thus, these lands may not be used without compensation to the state.

These lands are managed by state agencies called land offices, land commissions or land boards -- collectively identified as commission. Five are headed by statewide elected officials.

Most commissioners also manage lands under navigable waterways to protect resources and produce revenue. Some land commissioners also act as the fire prevention and control agency for their state.

WSLCA was founded in 1949 in response to a need for more coordinated management of federal and state trust lands. As early as 1935, western state land commissioners recognized that, without establishing formal and unified relations with the Department of the Interior and other federal agencies, inconsistent and uncoordinated management of public lands would continue.

Types of Land Managed

State land managers deal with three primary administrative responsibilities.

School trust lands - Most western states received grants of federal land when they became states. These land grants were given to the states to generate income for public education and other state programs. States are required by law to use school trust lands for those purposes.

Sovereign lands - State land managers administer lands that lie below the ordinary high water mark of navigable lakes and rivers. These lands are managed for the protection of navigation, commerce, fish and wildlife habitat, aquatic beauty, public recreation, and water quality. Leases of these lands are a source of revenue.

Fire control - Some state land managers are responsible for prevention and control of wildfire on state and private lands.

WSLCA Member Facts

Acreage

Surface: 146 million
Mineral: 220 million
Submerged: 81 million

Revenues

Land Revenues: $1.346 billion
Distributed to Beneficiaries: $1.999 billion
(includes income from permanent fund investments)
Value of Permanent Funds: $41.026 billion

Meetings

WSCLA meetings are held twice each year and are hosted by member states.

Objectives

The Association's objectives are:

to maximize the earnings and preserve the assets of the member states' educational trusts and encourage prudent administration of those trusts;
to acquire and evaluate information regarding public land, water and resource management policies;
to develop prudent public land and water management policies; and
to provide information, education, and assistance concerning the foregoing to the member states and interested parties.