Campaign Spotlight

State	Jurisdiction Name	Date	Description	Total Funds At Stake
IA	Iowa	11/2/2010	Authorizes the establishment of the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund and dedicates a future 3/8-cent sales tax increase to the Trust Fund to protect farmland, and improve water quality and natural areas including parks, trails, and fish and wildlife habitat.	$0

About the Campaign:
In November 2010, Iowans will vote on a constitutional amendment to establish the Iowa Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund. This is an essential first step toward establishing a permanent and constitutionally protected funding source for protecting water quality, conserving agricultural soils, and enhancing natural areas, including parks, trails, and fish and wildlife habitat.

Once the Trust Fund is established, the Iowa legislature must then approve a sales tax increase to generate the $150 million a year needed to adequately protect the state's natural resources.

Putting the Trust Fund on the ballot required approval by two separate General Assemblies of the Iowa Legislature. The ballot measure passed in 2008 and 2009, with more than 90 percent of the legislators voting yes.

Iowa's Land and Water Legacy (IWiLL) is organizing the TCC-sponsored campaign to pass the measure. IWiLL is a diverse coalition of 35 organizations representing conservation, environment, agriculture, wildlife, sportsmen's and recreation interests in Iowa.

What's At Stake
Iowa has consistently underfunded natural resource conservation and outdoor recreation programs at the expense of other budget priorities. As a result, the state's rivers and streams have some of the poorest water quality in the nation, and erosion threatens agricultural soils that are an essential part of the state's economy.

By providing a consistent, protected source of funding (in addition to annual state budget allocations), the Trust Fund would enhance a broad range of conservation programs, including the Resource Enhancement and Protection program (REAP), watershed protection, lakes restoration, trails, natural resources management, agriculture and land stewardship.

The Trust Fund would be an investment in the state's beauty, recreational opportunities and quality of life, and ultimately pay economic dividends by attracting visitors and businesses, diversifying local economies and increasing tax revenues related to hunting, angling and other outdoor activities.

Get Involved in the Statewide Campaign:
To see a presentation or to volunteer, contact IWiLL c/o:
Rosalyn Lehman, Campaign Coordinator: rlehman@tnc.org, 515-202-7720 or
Mark Langgin, Campaign Manager: marklanggin@gmail.com, 515-707-0266.

Checks/contributions can be sent to:

Iowa's Water & Land Legacy
PO Box 93176
Des Moines, IA 50393-3176

Get Involved with the Conservation Campaign:

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