Write your Editor

[SAMPLE LETTERS]

Over 500 Iowa streams and rivers in all 99 counties are considered impaired by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.  This number has nearly doubled since 2006.  It's time to let your friends, neighbors, co-workers andfamily know that this is an issue that is important to you and that you support fully funding Iowa's Water & Land Legacy amendment.

Below you will find sample language for letters to the editor.  Below you will find contact information for a number of larger newspapers in the state.  If you would like more information to help with your letter please email iowaswaterandlandlegacy@gmail.com

You can submit letters to the below papers :

Des Moines Register – ONLINE SUBMISSION  EMAIL SUBMISSION

Cedar Rapids Gazette – EMAIL SUBMISSION

Quad City Times – ONLINE SUBMISSION

Waterloo Courier – ONLINE SUBMISSION    EMAIL SUBMISSION

Sioux City Journal – ONLINE SUBMISSION

Council Bluffs Non Pareil – ONLINE SUBMISSION

Get the Facts...

• Funding Iowa’s natural resources and conservation is a wise investment for the future of our state.  More than 27,000 jobs are funded by outdoor recreation, we are losing valuable federal conservation dollars because we are unable to come up with a state match, and we lose 5 tons per acre of our world-famous soil every year due to erosion.

 • Iowans are using our state parks now more than ever. Last year alone attendance was up more than 5%, yet budget cuts are threatening to close entire state parks. Iowa families deserve outdoor recreation close to home in these tough economic times. Let’s make state parks a budget priority.

 • Water quality monitoring has been cut dramatically over the last year. Clean water is a right of all Iowans and should always be made a budget priority.

 • As Iowans once again face more flooding as record amounts of snow and ice begin to melt, we are reminded of the importance of funding for watershed improvement and wetlands restoration. Iowan’s can’t afford another 1993 or 2008, so let’s make watershed improvement a budget priority.

Examples

Below you will find letters from the campaign for Iowa's Water & Land Legacy amendment.  They include important facts and statements that support sustainable funding for conservation.  Now that the amendment is passed, Iowa's Water & Land Legacy coalition is focused on:

• Protecting The Natural Resources & Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund Formula
• Fully Funding REAP (Resource Enhancement & Protection) at $20 million/year
• Protecting Existing Levels of Funding For Voluntary Conservation Practices, Public Lands, & Fish/Wildlife Habitat
• Sustainably Funding The Natural Resources & Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund

Vote Yes on Legacy to Preserve Resources - Lisa Schulte-Moore/Iowa State University/The Nature Conservancy
Wide Support Behind Conservation Measure - Ben Moore/Pheasants Forever
For Environment, Vote YES on Question 1 - Pat Hayes/Dubuque County Conservation Board
Says Vote Yes on Question 1 - Dave Haggard/Ducks Unlimited
Iowa Needs New Land Amendment - Matt Fisher/The Nature Conservancy