Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986, approved November 10, 1986, by the United States government, authorized the purchase of wetlands using Land and Water Conservation Fund

Land and Water Conservation Fund

The United States' Land and Water Conservation Fund is a Federal program that was established by Act of Congress in 1964 to provide funds and matching grants to federal, state and local governments for the acquisition of land and water, and easements on land and water, for the benefit of all...

 monies, removing a prior prohibition on such acquisitions. It required the Secretary to establish a National Wetlands Priority Conservation Plan, required the states to include wetlands in their Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plans, and transferred to the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund amounts equal to the import duties on arms and ammunition.