Senate Resolution 148 PAG LIN 1 1 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1 2 BY WARNSTADT, HOUSER, SEYMOUR, WIECK, GRONSTAL, 1 3 KETTERING, VEENSTRA, CONNOLLY, LUNDBY, BLACK, 1 4 KIBBIE, RAGAN, BEALL, STEWART, QUIRMBACH, COURTNEY, 1 5 FRAISE, DVORSKY, SHULL, DOTZLER, KREIMAN, HATCH, 1 6 McCOY, BOLKCOM, DEARDEN, HOLVECK, 1 7 HORN, and JOHNSON 1 8 A Resolution urging the United States Congress to 1 9 appropriate funds to the National Park Service to 1 10 assist state and local governments and private 1 11 landowners in developing a comprehensive plan to 1 12 preserve and restore the Loess Hills in Iowa. 1 13 WHEREAS, the Loess Hills in Iowa are a unique 1 14 natural resource that are recognized worldwide for 1 15 their unique landscape and geological value; and 1 16 WHEREAS, the Loess Hills are also recognized for 1 17 their unique cultural and archaeological resources; 1 18 and 1 19 WHEREAS, the National Park Service and a team of 1 20 Iowa specialists completed a Special Resource Study 1 21 and Environmental Assessment of the Loess Hills in 1 22 2002; and 1 23 WHEREAS, the Special Resource Study provided 1 24 national recognition that the Loess Hills in western 1 25 Iowa with their extensive prairie ecosystems are of 1 26 "exceptional value"; and 1 27 WHEREAS, the Special Resource Study catalogued a 1 28 series of threats to the integrity of the Loess Hills 1 29 including erosion, displacement of prairie, unplanned 1 30 growth, and degradation of archaeological resources; 2 1 and 2 2 WHEREAS, a comprehensive plan would complement and 2 3 assist in synthesizing the efforts of a broad range of 2 4 state, private, and federal programs; and 2 5 WHEREAS, the need for assistance is most acute in 2 6 the twelve special landscape areas that have been 2 7 identified in the Loess Hills; and 2 8 WHEREAS, federal assistance is needed to aid state 2 9 and local governments and private landowners in the 2 10 Loess Hills in their efforts to preserve these last 2 11 native prairies of Iowa and this scenic landform; and 2 12 WHEREAS, the State of Iowa and the nation are 2 13 celebrating the visit of the Lewis and Clark Corps of 2 14 Discovery to this treasured Iowa landform 200 years 2 15 ago; NOW THEREFORE, 2 16 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the Iowa Senate 2 17 urges Congress to immediately act to authorize and 2 18 appropriate funding to the National Park Service so 2 19 that the National Park Service can participate with 2 20 the Loess Hills Development and Conservation Authority 2 21 and with representatives of the Iowa Department of 2 22 Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the Iowa Department 2 23 of Natural Resources, the Iowa Department of 2 24 Transportation, educational institutions, 2 25 nongovernmental organizations, and private landowners 2 26 in the development of a comprehensive plan to ensure 2 27 the long=term protection of the Loess Hills in Iowa; 2 28 and 2 29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the 2 30 Senate send copies of this Resolution to the President 3 1 of the United States; the President of the United 3 2 States Senate; the Speaker of the United States House 3 3 of Representatives; and to members of Iowa's 3 4 congressional delegation. 3 5 LSB 5465SS 80 3 6 av/gg/14.1