Hf-45

[ElkHunter]

Please contact your legislators about H-45. Could go into detail, but all I'll say is FB supports this section:grin:​

HF 45—REAL PROPERTY ACQUISITION CURTAILED​

HF 45, division IV, contains a provision that forbids the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to enter into a new arrangement to acquire or otherwise control real property upon enactment, except donated property.

Benefits of DNR Lands


Jobs, Recreation, Economy Boon

• Recreation on natural areas is a significant economic anchor in Iowa. Hunters, anglers and wildlife viewers spent $974,000,000 in retail sales in Iowa, creating and supporting more than 17,800 jobs and creating a total economic benefit of $1.54 billion.
• Visits to Iowa’s state and county lakes, parks and trails translates to 50 million visits, supports 27,400 jobs, and generates statewide spending of $2.63 billion. (“Economic Value of Iowa’s Natural Resources”, ISU, Center for Agricultural and Rural Development.)
• Each acre of public wildlife area generates $402 annually in economic activity.

Landowner and Public Service Provided


Meeting the needs of Iowa’s agricultural interests and outdoor enthusiasts

• All DNR-owned lands are purchased only from willing sellers. Typically, landowners have wanted the DNR to purchase the lands to set aside for flood plain management and recreation.
• DNR public lands represent natural areas considered marginal land for agricultural purposes, with a very low average CSR (corn suitability rating) of 32.1.
• Less than 1% of the lands and water acres of Iowa are under protection by the DNR.

· In the fall of 2010, 16 Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Forums were conducted around the state, and attendees included current license buyers (residents and non-residents); natural resources partner groups such as Pheasants Forever, National Wild Turkey Federation, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and Ducks Unlimited; the general public; and Iowa legislators. Participants were invited to discuss fish and wildlife management practices in Iowa, and asked to provide feedback on current and future concerns and opportunities. One concern that was brought up at every meeting was the lack of enough public lands or over-crowding on existing public lands for hunting and trapping activities. Iowa ranks 49th in the country in the percentage of public land. (National Wilderness Institute)

Fiscal Impacts


No real savings

• Most land is acquired with federal dollars, which would otherwise be spent in other states.

• The DNR uses no General Funds for land acquisition; buys only from willing sellers at or below the appraised fair market value.
• The REAP Open Spaces fund allocated to the DNR is specifically mandated to be used for open space protection and for the development of parks and facilities. There are requirements within this fund that include a percentage for cost-sharing with private conservation organizations; a percentage for the Protected Waters Area program; and a percentage that goes to pay local property tax payments. The DNR pays annual property taxes to Iowa counties. In FY 11, the DNR paid $690,000 in local property taxes. If the DNR was prevented from using these funds for land, the money would be allocated for park and facility development projects and to pay property taxes on existing state lands. There would be no savings to the state of Iowa.

Possible Unintended Consequences of House Study Bill 1
· DNR manages 130,000 acres of land under lease agreements with federal or local governments. These lease agreements let the DNR manage lands adjacent to forests, parks, wildlife management areas, preserves and fisheries, providing for more public recreational opportunities , natural resource management, and access. The language would prohibit additional leases, including renewals, which typically happen every 5-10 years.
· DNR often procures temporary construction easements or flooding easements from willing sellers to access property, to construct roads or buildings, to improve wildlife habitat (i.e., wetlands) or to improve water quality in lakes, ponds and streams. This law would delay that practice and that capability, thereby impacting a number of management efforts and construction projects.
· The law would temporarily stop the very successful conservation easement program where the DNR acquires only the conservation value of certain tracts of land, of which many are donated. Much of this work is done in partnership with the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, etc. A conservation easement lets landowners remain in ownership of their land, while ensuring permanent conservation protection. Conservation easements assist in protecting and improving water quality, wildlife habitat and natural resources in general. Conservation easements have been an especially valuable tool in protecting trout fisheries in cold water streams and in matching some federal and conservation programs as well as those managed by the partners above.
· Landowners would have new responsibilities for site clean-up. The DNR allows owners of certain lands to avoid some clean up of the site provided they agree to restrict the use of the land to minimize harmful effects. For example, if a landowner has some contaminated groundwater, that person may execute an environmental covenant with the DNR to prohibit wells. This is often used for leaking underground storage tanks and other contaminated sites. When the DNR holds one of these covenants, this means the DNR has a legal property interest on the ground/site in question. Under this law, this would not be allowable and the DNR could not offer this service to landowners.

 

[henry5146]

just a thought here, we always hear the nr landowners bytch and complain that they cant get tags to hunt their own land. in some cases these people have been spending 5 to 10 k dollars for tags clearly not every nr landowner could afford this but, i question what can they afford, they clearly have the money to spend on attorney fees to fight for their residency , proposal: create a nr landowner tag. but: make it like 120 minimum acerage or something like that , but... charge like 1-2 k per year for that tag. like one buck , good for any season and unlimited does . i do not know how many nr landowners there are but i think it could be quite large 10, 15, 20k who knows. take half that money , lets call it 750 dollars for argument sake and use that money to buy up state lands 10,000 people x 1000 dollars =10 million dollars. guess what - iowa could have bought the 8000 acre dejo ranch in wayne county for that money in one year. are we crazy, i would gladly let a nr landowner hunt his farm only for the ability to pick up 8000 acres of hunting land. these people will absolutely pay that . of course you place heavy restrictions on how land ownership is established, but my point is that 10000 nr landowners could pay the state 20 million dollars in one year, that is a lot of land, and a lot of whatever else we need. all we need to do is take it. now to all of those people that are gonna say something negative, lets just take into consideration that 2 yaers ago, people were selling and buying land for 3000 dollars(southern counties) if that wasnt enough then for a resident to sell his land then i dont think we need to worry about all the land being gobbled up, talk to any realtors and they will tell you, money does mean living there for his whole life. this is just a thought

 

[oldgene]

Rally for Iowa's Natural Resources, Iowa State Capital, February 9, 9:00 to 3:00. The house passed HF 45 and Pheasants Forever is leading this rally. Hard to believe the house passed this after the voter's overwhelmingly passed Iowa's Water & Land Legacy amendment. Details go to www.iowapheasantsforever.org.