Conservation Almanac

Almanac

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Rocky Mountain

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Iowa

Iowa Profile of State Programs and Policy Framework

Highlighted Local Programs

Iowa

Highlighted State Programs

Iowa

State Policy Framework

Iowa

Disclaimer

To avoid double counting acres where multiple programs contributed to the acquisition of a single parcel, the parcel acreage is only aggregated under the program that provided the majority of funding. For example, if the chart displays a dollar amount greater than $0, but also shows 0 acres, it is because the program was not the primary contributor for any parcels in that year.

Highlighted Local Programs

Local data coming soon.

Highlighted State Programs

Fish & Wildlife Trust Fund

The Department of Natural Resource’s Wildlife Diversity Program administers the Fish & Wildlife Trust Fund. The Trust Fund was set up in 1981 and receives funding through donations made on state tax forms as well as revenue from hunting, fishing and trapping licenses. Besides land acquisition for vital habitat, the program focuses on education, restoration, research and survey projects.

YearAcresDollars
2005 55.0 $29,000
2004 117.5 $201,900
2003 27.0 $16,500
2002 9.6 $103,050
2001 2,565.9 $852,985
2000 1,114.4 $372,987
1999 4,285.3 $2,373,433
1998 626.8 $555,850
Total8,801.5 $4,505,705

Wildlife Habitat Stamp Program

The habitat stamp program generates revenue through the sale of hunting or fur harvester licenses. Funds generated from these fees are used for habitat development and some habitat acquisition.

YearAcresDollars
2005 97.7 $66,300
2004 5.0 $5,125
2003 1,137.5 $321,100
2001 101.3 $164,950
2000 218.7 $196,675
1999 1,028.4 $688,200
1998 376.0 $535,100
Total2,964.6 $1,977,450

Resource Enhancement And Protection (REAP)

The Resources Enhancement and Preservation Program (REAP) was passed by the legislature in July of 1989 and is authorized to receive a direct appropriation from the state legislature of $20 million per year until 2021, though this level of funding has only occurred once. REAP funds are dispersed into eight different programs based upon percentages. The REAP formula is as follows:

DNR Open Space 28% DNR Land Management 9%
City Parks and Open Space 15% Historical Resources 5%
Soil and Water Enhancement 20% Roadside Vegetation 3%
County Conservation 20%

Besides direct appropriation, REAP utilizes a combination of funding sources including lottery sales, the general fund, and environmental license plate sales. REAP provides money for projects through state agency budgets or in the form of grants. Extensive public participation is widely encouraged and as a result most counties have REAP committees to help coordinate projects. In addition, there are regional REAP Assemblies and finally the REAP Congress, where five delegates are elected to serve on the statewide Congress. There, they will recommend to the Governor, state legislature, and state agencies suggestions made from each of the assemblies.

YearAcresDollars
2005 485.0 $703,900
2004 364.4 $1,111,220
2003 211.2 $213,500
2002 887.5 $1,362,545
2001 672.0 $844,900
2000 2,844.7 $2,049,423
1999 3,750.6 $2,103,174
1998 425.0 $280,295
Total9,640.4 $8,668,957

Iowa DNR State Revolving Fund

There are several programs that use the states revolving fund for land acquisition. These include:

Clean Water State Revolving Fund, for publicly owned wastewater facilities, when the land is “integral to the treatment process.” It does NOT include land on which treatment facilities will be sited. The agency has not made any loans for this program to date.

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, for public water supplies. Land can be purchased for siting of water facilities as long as there is a willing seller. Land or conservation easements can also be purchased through source water protection loans. To date $742,000 has been spent for this program, however the agency does not track number of acres.

The General Non-Point Source Program provides low-interest loans to applicants that are owners of record or have long-term control of the property where the project is to be implemented. Priority projects include but are not limited to: restoration of wildlife habitat; stream bank stabilization; urban stormwater management; remediation of storage tanks; water conservation and reuse; and wetland flood prevention areas, which includes land acquisition. Loans can also be made for the water quality components of other projects, such as municipal landfill closure, brownfield remediation, bird sanctuaries, and urban stormwater measures. Loan amount can be up to 100% of the project costs with a minimum loan of $10,000. Loan terms can be up to 10 years.

YearAcresDollars
2005 25.0 $513,000
Total25.0 $513,000

Department of Natural Resources (Iowa)

Outside of its other programs, the Department of Natural Resources acquires land to have as state parks, preserves, wildlife management areas, and recreation areas. Most of the funding for these acquisitions are provided through donations or the marine fuel tax. Funds from the marine fuel tax are derived from the excise tax on the sale of motor fuel used in watercraft and are appropriated by the general assembly to the Department of Natural Resources. Each year, as part of its approval of the department’s capital improvement plan, the commission designates an amount to be available for this program.

*Iowa Code section 452A.79

YearAcresDollars
2005 193.1 $3,000
2004 1,078.9 $607,280
2003 134.7 $45,000
2002 292.1 $0
2001 243.2 $692,000
2000 233.0 $334,607
1999 148.0 $0
1998 242.8 $0
Total2,565.8 $1,681,887

State Policy Framework

Substantial State Investment

Enable Local Financing

State Incentive for Local Land Conservation

Public-Private Partnerships

Conservation Tax Credits

Federal Partnerships

Some data was not provided on a yearly basis, but rather as an aggregate figure. In this case we have distributed total acres acquired and/or dollars spent evenly by year.