Fill Iowa’s Natural Resources Trust Fund, champion a legacy

As Iowa legislators return to the Capitol from after their holiday gift-giving, they should take note of this state’s precious natural gifts and promises made to provide a legacy of quality natural resources and outdoor recreation opportunities. Once back under the golden dome, it is time to finally fund the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund!

A beautiful state

Iowa is a land between two great rivers, with more than 17,000 miles of interior rivers and streams, and with lakes and ponds that attract people like magnets. The splendor of Iowa’s nature is found among natural gems that dot the landscape, providing places for Iowans to unwind and pursue outdoor recreation. Where people have access to clean water, trails, park facilities, and natural areas, there are known benefits. Iowans get healthier — mentally and physically. Local businesses emerge to cater to visitor demands. Communities thrive. People want to live, work, play, and stay in these places. Unfortunately, state investments are not sufficient to allow Iowans to fully realize these benefits. There are huge backlogs of projects needing to be implemented for clean water, trails, and parks. Iowans, compared to residents of most other states, are left wanting.

Promises made

In 2010, Iowans voted overwhelmingly to amend Iowa’s Constitution by creating a Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund. Ballot language stated the fund is for “purposes of protecting and enhancing water quality and natural areas in this State including parks, trails, and fish and wildlife habitat, and conserving agricultural soils in this State. Moneys in the fund shall be exclusively appropriated by law for these purposes.” Hence, the trust fund is protected by the Iowa Constitution for these purposes, and cannot be raided or redistributed in another manner. A promise was made to and by Iowans — the state would invest in a legacy of stewardship of its natural resources and opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Iowa no longer would be ranked near or at the bottom nationally in making these needed investments. Public will was asserted. Political will, however, has fallen short. More than 11 years after Iowans went to the polls, the Trust Fund remains empty.

Iowans championed past successes

Generations of Iowans worked to provide the natural resources and outdoor recreation opportunities that do exist today. Every parcel of public land or water, substantial park improvement, and section of trail has a unique story, with champions who struggled to accomplish great things with limited funds. Success is difficult, but made possible by some past legislation and sources of funding. The last broad state funding legislation for natural resources and outdoor recreation was the Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) program, enacted in 1989 — more than 30 years ago. Unfortunately, REAP too has struggled, having never been fully funded.

The game-changer for Iowa

Iowans continue demonstrating their need for natural resources and outdoor recreation, with demand for park facilities, trails, and natural areas reaching all-time highs during the Pandemic. The Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund is the game-changer for Iowans in this moment. Iowa’s political leaders must enact the funding mechanism — a mere 3/8 of one cent increase in state sales tax. There have been several proposed ways to do this over the years. Last year’s Invest in Iowa initiative would have done it through tax reform.

Funding the Trust will generate nearly $200 million annually, protected by the Iowa Constitution to be used only for natural resources and outdoor recreation purposes. It keeps promises made to and by Iowans — for cleaner water, protected soils, improved parks, and more enhanced places to hike, hunt, fish, bike, boat, picnic, watch wildlife, and relax and enjoy beauty in the outdoors. It represents a legacy — a gift to ourselves and future generations.

Dan Cohen is executive director of the Buchanan County Conservation Board and a freelance writer and photographer from rural Independence. He served on the Sustainable Funding for Iowa’s Natural Resources Committee which developed recommendations leading to the 2010 vote when Iowans added the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund to the state Constitution.