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The Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment

 

Canoer at sunset


 

Question As It Appeared on the Ballot

Clean Water, Wildlife, Cultural Heritage and Natural Areas

"Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to dedicate funding to protect our drinking water sources; to protect, enhance, and restore our wetlands, prairies, forests, and fish, game, and wildlife habitat; to preserve our arts and cultural heritage; to support our parks and trails; and to protect, enhance, and restore our lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater by increasing the sales and use tax rate beginning July 1, 2009, by three-eighths of one percent on taxable sales until the year 2034?” 
 

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Lake at Sugar Hills, Itasca County

Thank you to all of our supporters who voted YES on their ballots November 4! The dedicated funding initiative, known as the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, was passed and will be added to the Minnesota Constitution!

Big Rewards For Our Water and Our Land

The timing couldn’t be better. Forty percent of the waters we have tested fail to meet federal water quality standards. More than 1 million acres of natural areas and farmland could be lost over the next 25 years, as Minnesota continues growing faster than any other state in the Midwest.

Our kids need clean water and the chance to roam in natural areas in order to grow up healthy. Yet funding for natural resources has remained near historic lows, and we are losing access for hunting, fishing and wildlife watching.

This initiative asked voters to increase the state sales tax by 3/8 of one percent to fund clean water projects, wildlife habitat, natural areas, parks and cultural heritage projects.

A small portion will yield big rewards for our land: this bill will provide about $300 million each year for the next 25 years, 80 percent of which will fund the protection of clean water and wildlife habitat.

Investing In Our Future

“This amendment is about future generations and increasing our investment in the future of Minnesota,” said Peggy Ladner, state director of the Conservancy. “Acting now to ensure that we properly protect our water, natural areas and cultural heritage for our children and grandchildren is an investment well worth making.”

Minnesotans understand that core values are well worth protecting in our Constitution, especially when future generations rely on our actions today.

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © John Gregor/ColdSnap Photography (Lake at Sugar Hills, Itasca County); Photo © Robert Carr (Canoer).