You have the answer let's push for fees at the state parks again, the money poured in at that time. A few people, who could afford more than I, killed it. I understand there were less damaging rowdy parties as well. Let's bring back Rickety Raccoon. I too, buy yearly stickers to adjacent state parks, Weir Nelson, Ely IA. In a message dated 1/20/2011 2:47:50 P.M. Central Standard Time, [email protected] writes:
Jim and all, I also support the state programs and was sad to see the state park fee did not go through way back then. I have a sticker for MN,NE,MO,CO, etc. because I travel in them frequently and appreciate the facilities that the state park passes have allowed to be very nice. Maybe it is time for IA to reconsider?!?! Maridel Ankeny > Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2011 11:13:14 -0500 > Subject: [ia-bird] DNR and habitat > To: [email protected] > From: [email protected] > > Birders > > It seems to me that there is a fair amount of ignorance floating around > relative to where the money comes from to purchase much of the land that > the DNR manages and also to manage that habitat. The response from a Boone > County resident talks about poorly maintained parks. I suspect the > respondent was referring to nearby Ledges State Park which indeed is > funded by state funds. The state parks have been poorly funded for years > and the responsibility falls on the state. They have failed to do their > part, even though the parks are very popular. Twenty some years ago, a > state park fee was instituted but was very unpopular with the general > public. In response to that loud outcry, the fee was eventiually dropped > (by the legislature) but in the process, REAP was started by the > legislature with part of the deal being to use REAP money to help make up > for the lost state park funds. Now REAP funds are to be cut. Can you > connect the dots? > > As far as DNR wildlife lands, there is little (no?) direct state general > funding used for those purchases. Major sources include license fees, > various wildlife stamp fees, money raised by various non profits in the > state which then purchase land, and money from a federal excise tax > collected on the sale of various types of outdoor equipment (e.g., guns, > ammunition, other hunting items, etc). The latter fund, P-R funds, come > back to the state and are a major source of funding for the management of > those lands. In the past 25 years, there have been several sources of > federal funds for land purchase which the state has taken advantage of. > Those are federal tax dollars and Iowa citizens have a right to a share of > them. Iowa has done well with some of those programs and has added a > substantial amount of new public lands through them. Putting a freeze on > new purchases through these funds won't save the state any money. It just > means that the money will go to other states. And landowners in Iowa, who > want to sell their land for such purposes, will lose out on a potential > buyer. > > I no longer live in Iowa but supported many of the above programs during > the 30 plus years I was a resident and continue to do so. And the results > of the constitutional amendment issue from last November show that a > strong majority of Iowans favor more public land. Stand up and be counted. > > Jim Dinsmore > The Villages, FL > > > --- > Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! > --- > Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: > Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 > --- > This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. > ----- > You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: [email protected] --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: [email protected] --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: [email protected]
