KENTUCKY — Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Rep. James Comer (R-Tompkinsville) are seeking passage of legislation to better fund the popular Land Between the Lakes Recreation Area (LBL) in western Kentucky and Tennessee. The LBL area covers over 171,000 acres.

What You Need To Know

  • LBL is located between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley in western Kentucky and Tennessee 

  • The recreation area extends across Lyon and Trigg counties in Kentucky and Steward County in Tennessee

  • LBL was established as a national recreation area in 1963 by President John F. Kennedy

Comer said the legislation would provide additional funding each year from the U.S. Forest Service, change the composition of the recreation area’s advisory board and make sure user fees are used to improve the area. 

“And then there’s the law enforcement aspect, because it’s such a big swath of land,” Comer said. “You have federal law enforcement that’s supposed to patrol the area, but they had to cut all that back down.” 

McConnell, who is leading the push in the Senate said, “As Kentucky’s senior senator, I see it as my responsibility to ensure the Land Between the Lakes is well-funded, well-maintained, and well-preserved for generations to come.” 

“We’ve got a backlog of over a million dollars in maintenance. So that’s what started all this,” said Lyon County Judge Executive Wade White, who agrees there is a need for change. 

The bill will also work to ensure that families who once lived in LBL and were asked to leave their homes in the 1950s and 60s when their communities became a part of the recreation area can access the cemeteries there. 

“A lot of the people and their descendants who had to leave have been very outspoken that they need to keep these promises and take care of certain things,” White explained. 

Comer and McConnell introduced this legislation in April. It was approved by a Senate committee in July sending it the full Senate for consideration. A vote has not yet been scheduled.