Vote for a sustainable future

As a state senator, Eagle Scout, and lifelong outdoorsman, I strongly endorse this year’s Johnson County Conservation Bond campaign. Please join me in flipping your ballot over and voting YES to approve the $30 million Johnson County Conservation Bond.

The Johnson County Conservation Bond is a smart investment that will both benefit us and serve future generations by protecting our natural resources and enhancing the spaces that make our community special.

This $30 million bond builds on the success of the 2008 bond, which protected 1,177 acres of land, improved local water quality, and added new bike trails. That effort also leveraged over $17 million in grants and donations — nearly doubling the county’s initial investment.

Our population is growing, and climate change is already putting pressure on our natural spaces. Expanding parks, improving flood resilience, improving our water quality, building more trails, and protecting more of our natural environment are all absolutely essential. The bond also will protect wildlife habitats and improve air quality by preserving trees and wooded areas.

At an average cost of just $7.09 per $100,000 of taxable valuation for homeowners, this bond is a cost-effective way to secure a better, healthier future. Strong conservation measures improve our health, create recreational opportunities, and can substantially enhance property values. As we continue to grow as a community, investments in parks and trails will encourage physical activity and offer places for residents to gather, relax, and connect with nature.

Johnson County has a history of using these funds wisely, and we’ve seen the positive results in places like the Clear Creek Trail and Pechman Creek Delta. Now, we have the opportunity to build on that legacy by approving this bond, ensuring that our community remains vibrant, healthy, and accessible for all.

In 2010, the very first vote I cast as an adult was to flip my ballot over and vote for the state constitutional amendment that created the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund. Unfortunately, more than a decade later, politicians in Des Moines have failed to fund the trust, despite overwhelming need for additional resources to protect our environment, improve water quality, and expand recreation opportunities for every Iowan.

But rather than simply bemoan inaction in Des Moines, we can take matters into our own hands by flipping our ballots over and voting YES to approve the Johnson County Conservation Bond. We have the opportunity to act and show that in our neck of the woods, we can come together to make the necessary investments to improve our present and safeguard our future.

Fundamentally, Johnson County residents have a simple choice to make this fall. We can seize this opportunity to protect the natural beauty of Johnson County and ensure that future generations enjoy the same clean water, wildlife, and parks that we do today. Or we can let this opportunity pass us by, leaving our land and water vulnerable to the impacts of changing climate and deteriorating physical environment.

I hope you’ll join me in flipping your ballot and voting YES for the Johnson County Conservation Bond. It’s a vote for cleaner water, healthier air, and better access to outdoor spaces. It’s a vote for a brighter, more sustainable future.

State Sen. Zach Wahls represents Coralville, North Liberty, Solon, and parts of Iowa City and rural Johnson County.