Campaign Spotlight
| UT |
Cache County |
11/4/2008 |
Bond for the protection of farmland, recreational lands, watersheds, wildlife habitat and trails |
$10,000,000 |
About the Campaign:
A first-ever effort to pass a land conservation bond measure in Cache County, Utah, is getting into gear. The $10 million bond, which goes to the voters in November, would help preserve the countys agricultural industry and rural lifestyle as well as prevent an increase in traffic congestion that could harm the valleys economy.
Cache County, a high valley encircled by mountains and national forests, is considered the breadbasket of Utah. The county seat, the city of Logan, is home to Utah State University, founded as an agricultural college. But the county is losing 600 acres of farmland to development a year, threatening its rural feel and close communities.
North of Logan almost to the Idaho border used to be all farmland, but 40 years of development in that part of the county have led to congested roadways and air-quality problems. It has also blurred the lines between towns, making a sense of community harder to maintain, said Shauna Kerr, former Utah state director at The Trust for Public Land and now a consultant to the ballot campaign. Kerr grew up in the county and went to school at Utah State. "Many people dont want to see that replicated on south end of valley," she said.
Dave Rayfield, a member of the county Critical Lands Advisory Committee, said that his committee has been working for eight years to get a county financing mechanism approved to protect land for agriculture, wildlife and recreation. County matching funds are essential in order to take advantage of available state and national funds, he said.
This winter, more than 70 percent of county residents said they would vote for a $20 million land-conservation bond, in a poll commissioned by The Trust for Public Land. Earlier this summer, the County Council finally approved a $10 million bond measure. It would increase property taxes by $18 a year for a house valued at $180,000, typical for the county, and by $33 a year for a business with the same value.
The Cache Critical Lands Conservation Campaign, sponsored by the Conservation Campaign, is leading the effort to educate voters and pass the measure in November. The Conservation Campaign contributed seed money to jump start local fundraising.
"Some of the business interests are stepping up," said Kerr. They understand the importance to the economy of easily transporting products in and out of the valley, and also the value of keeping the valley attractive to tourists and workers. "Once a place becomes congested, its no longer as desirable," she said.
"Its a friendly, warm, inviting and beautiful valley," Kerr said. "I think people are recognizing that it will not remain that way without some conscious effort and planning. One of the tools of that planning is some kind of conservation finance method."
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Get Involved in the Local Campaign:
To contiribute to the local campaign, send checks payable to:
Critical Lands Conservation Bond, a project of the Conservation Campaign
Attn: Dave Rayfield
193 North 200 East
Logan, UT 84321
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