Following its passage by the Iowa House of Representatives Monday, the state moved one step closer to creating a permanent and dedicated Natural Resource and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund. The legislation will protect and improve the states water quality, agricultural soils, natural areas and fish and wildlife habitat.
Iowas House of Representatives passed Senate File 2310 by an overwhelming bipartisan margin of 92-7, following a unanimous 50-0 passage by the Senate in late February. This legislation will be forwarded to Governor Culvers desk to hopefully be signed into law. Enactment of this bill will provide greater clarity and accountability of allocation and distribution of funds from the new trust fund. Voters will be able to vote on this bill during the general ballot election on November 2, 2010.
The future looks much brighter for Iowas wetland and waterfowl resources, said James Roetman DUs Iowa volunteer state chairman from Pocahontas. The passage of this important legislation provides much more specificity, understanding and assurance to Iowa voters and our members that these funds will be invested wisely, and as intended, as they head to the polls in November.
The legislatively-created Sustainable Natural Resources Advisory Committee provided recommendations for SF 2310. The bill broadly defines that trust fund moneys be allocated and invested toward protection and enhancement of Iowas natural resources and outdoor recreational amenities. These recommendations were based on specific natural resource needs and current funding limitations estimated at approximately $150 million per year. According to the advisory committee, Iowa ranks 47th out of 50 states nationally in current conservation spending and 49th in total public land ownership.
Ducks Unlimited has a long history of involvement in this effort and is supportive of the proposed constitutional amendment.
This will help accelerate the conservation of wetlands, shallow lakes, wildlife management areas and other important waterfowl habitats in Iowa, said Steve Adair DU director of the Great Plains Regional Office.
DU has worked closely with many other organizations and supporters to build strong bipartisan support for this legislation, said Roetman. Were grateful for the overwhelming support it received in both chambers and realize its now up to Iowa voters to make this vision a reality on November second.
At least three other states have amended their respective constitutions to provide dedicated funding for habitat conservation including Missouri in 1976, Arkansas in 1996 and Minnesota in 2008.
