Urge lawmakers to fund conservation efforts

Nine years ago this month I was asked to join several other coalitions on behalf of Iowa Ducks Unlimited to develop dedicated, sustainable funding for natural resources in Iowa.

The coalition developed a plan of action and worked to put an initiative on the 2010 ballot, which was supported by more than 90 percent of legislators voted. The initiative passed by an overwhelming 63 percent.

Yet here we are - almost five years since the ballot passed - without funding for natural resources.

Many articles, letters to the editor and opinion pieces have recently supported raising the sales tax three-eighths of one percent to fund the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund. This is what the voters supported in the Constitutional amendment.

A three-eighths of 1 percent sales tax increase would generate about $170 million per year. So, do the math - that's approximately $850 million dollars that could have been invested so far on natural resources. The average Iowa family will pay less than $1 per week to fund this effort; which offers a great return on investment for a cleaner, healthier Iowa and better quality of life for all Iowans.

Think of the impact to Iowa if we were investing $170 million per year into our economy. Think of the tourism dollars that could be raised (and new jobs created) if people were coming to Iowa for our outdoor adventures - hiking, biking, camping, hunting and angling. Our state parks are absolutely beautiful - they just need some TLC!

We have 53 percent of our waterways ranking 'poor” and about 500 waterways impaired. Area lakes are being shut down for algae contamination, We're 47th in the nation in conservation spending. Our state parks have infrastructure issues, and the millennials are rushing to other outdoor states to live and spend their money.

Are you satisfied with ranking at the bottom nationally for natural resource spending? Are you pleased that Iowa continues to have major water problems? Are you happy with what we're leaving future generations? I know I'm not.

Many Iowa groups are supporting this, including Ducks Unlimited, Iowa Soybean Association, the Nature Conservancy, Iowa Corn Growers, Pheasants Forever, the Greater Des Moines Partnership, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, and many others.

The people have taken action, and now we are asking the legislature and governor to follow the leadership of the people, exhibit their own leadership and take responsibility to provide funding for the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund.

We now have bills in both the house and the senate ready to be taken up in January. However, legislators continuing to work to get our funding have told us that they haven't heard enough from the citizens of Iowa. Legislators have not heard that we WANT the fund funded.

So Iowans, fellow citizens, please call, write, email and/or bang on the doors of your legislators. Ask them to please fund the trust. The future of our natural resources for our children and grandchildren depend upon it.

' Tammi S. Kircher is chairwoman elect of Iowa Ducks Unlimited. More information: www.ducks.org/iowa