The general assembly finds that:
1. Iowa's most significant open space lands are essential to the well-being and quality of life for Iowans and to the economic viability of the state's recreation and tourism industry.
2. Many areas of high national significance in the state have not received adequate public protection to keep them free of visual blight, resource degradation, and negative impacts from inappropriate land use and surrounding development. Some of these areas include national park service and United States fish and wildlife service properties, national landmarks and trails, the Des Moines river greenbelt, the great river road, areas where interstate highways enter the state, cross major rivers, and pass by other areas of national significance, major state park and recreation areas, unique and protected water areas, and significant natural, geological, scenic, historic, and cultural properties of the state.
3. While state and federal funds are generally available for the acquisition and protection of fish and wildlife areas and habitats as well as boating access to public waters, funding programs for public open space acquisition and protection have not been adequate to meet needs.
4. Relative to other midwestern states, Iowa ranks last in the proportion of land acquired and protected for public open space.
5. A program shall be established to:
a. Educate the citizens of the state about the needs and urgency of protecting the state's open spaces.
b. Plan for the protection of the state's significant open space areas.
c. Acquire and protect those properties on a priority basis through a variety of appropriate means.
In addition to other goals for the program, it is intended that a minimum of ten percent of the state's land area be included under some form of public open space protection by the year 2000.
87 Acts, ch 174, § 1
CS87, § 111E.1
C93, § 465A.1
Referred to in § 465A.2
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© 2001 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa
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