FOCUS: FOCUS: Polk County Water & Land Legacy $65M Bond Referendum
… A look at the details.
Issue overview
In 2012, the first “Polk County Water & Land Legacy Bond” was approved by 72% of voters. It provided $50M targeted to “help protect natural areas in Polk County to reduce future flooding risks, protect sources of our clean drinking water supply, and provide outdoor recreational opportunities for future generations.”
On November 2, Polk County voters will vote on a second Polk County Water and Land Legacy bond. The $65 million bond, will “fund land conservation by the Polk County Conservation Board to protect drinking water sources, protect the water quality of rivers, lakes, and streams, including the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers, protect wildlife habitat and natural areas, and provide more outdoor recreational opportunities for all Polk County residents.
References regarding the ballot referendum may be found here.
Leading the discussion:
Richard A. Leopold
Rich is the Director of Polk County Conservation. He has held a variety of natural resource and administrative positions, most notably the Director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources from 2007-2010. He has also held positions within the Iowa Environmental Council, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Minnesota and Iowa Departments of Natural Resources, and IOWATER, Iowa’s former statewide volunteer water-quality monitoring program. Iowa.