In tough economy, Iowa follows Minnesota's lead, OKs conservation proposal

Iowa voters on Tuesday agreed to establish a constitutionally protected Natural Resources Outdoor Recreation Fund.

The amendment to the state's constitution was approved by 62 percent of voters, a figure similar to the mark Minnesota voters reached in approving the Legacy Amendment in 2008.

The fact that Iowans spoke so boldly for conservation in an economy that is considerably worse than Minnesota's was in 2008 suggests that — contrary to some critics' viewpoints — Minnesota voters would have approved the Legacy Amendment no matter what year it was on the ballot, including this year.

The trust fund established by the Iowa vote is intended to improve the state's water quality, protect agricultural soils, enhance critical fish and wildlife habitat, and provide additional public recreation areas.

"Iowans showed by an almost two-to-one ratio that outdoor recreational opportunities and the continued enhancement of our natural resources are indeed important to them," said James Roetman, Ducks Unlimited Iowa state chairman. "DU, along with a broad coalition of more than 130 different groups worked hard to create this dedicated funding mechanism that will do so much for Iowa's wildlife habitat."

Minnesota-based Pheasants Forever and its thousands of Iowa members also supported the amendment idea.

Iowa has lost more than 90 percent of its original 6 million acres of wetlands. As a result, the state's water quality, wildlife populations and residents have suffered, DU said in a press release after Tuesday's vote.

Iowa isn't completely on the conservation bandwagon yet. The Iowa Legislature still has to put money into the trust fund. A sales tax increase there must be approved by the Legislature, and when that occurs, 3/8 of 1 percent — the same as in Minnesota — of future sales tax revenue will be secured in the fund.