A bill passed by the Iowa Senate would repeal programs currently in place for maintaining open space and trails, and require state agencies to submit new plans every five years. Critics worry the measure could have unintended consequences.

Senate File 516 would establish new requirements for state agencies to submit long-term management and maintenance plans for Iowa's public lands.

The priority would be on maintenance and protection of the state's existing properties over new public land acquisitions.

Polk County state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott - D-West Des Moines - said the bill could have the effect of stopping the acquisition of public lands at the same time that funding for public spaces is going down.

"When you couple that with stagnant funding for our natural resources and some potential cuts to trail funding," said Garriott, "it's going to result in the department not being able to acquire new public land."

The bill's supporters say it would modernize how the state plans for its trail and open-space management, and claim the intent is not to limit the acquisition of new public lands.

They say Iowa's current approach to managing its public spaces has been haphazard, and left bike trails unfinished, trails unmaintained and water damage unrepaired.

Trone Garriott said Iowa ranks near the bottom in terms of how many acres of public land it has, and adds that the state has made very little progress on a 30-year plan to acquire more of it.

She said the state's long history of blocking land acquisition lies in its agricultural roots.

"There are some lobbying entities that feel that any land that is not being used for agricultural production is wasted, and that trails and public lands are a threat to agriculture," said Garriott. "A lot of Iowans would like more access to the great outdoors."

The bill's future in the Iowa House is uncertain.

The Bureau of Land Management has announced a $161 million investment in habitat and wildland restoration projects in 11 western states.

Alaska is scheduled to receive $5 million for the Birch Creek and Fortymile Wild and Scenic Rivers, two of the state's most iconic recreational waterways.

Birch Creek is a 150-mile tributary of the Yukon River, popular with whitewater rafters for its challenging, multiday excursions. Fortymile River is almost 400 miles of creeks and rivers in east-central Alaska, the longest system within the National Wild and Scenic Rivers network.

Joel Webster, vice president of western conservation for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, said while not as large as BLM projects in other states, the money is critical.

"It's really about restoring impact from mining activity," Webster explained. "There's important salmon habitat in that landscape; landscape-level restoration, focused on cleaning up historic mining damage."

The BLM is investing more than $2 billion to restore public lands and waters across the United States, with an eye toward meeting conservation goals established in the America the Beautiful initiative.

At $27 million, Montana got the largest infusion of cash for three projects in that state, but even at $5 million, the investment is significant for Alaska, Webster acknowledged. He added the region as a whole will benefit from getting some of the habitat restoration it needs.

"You know, our federal land management agencies have been underfunded for a long time," Webster pointed out. "And to have this injection of cash and money to put on the ground, to partner with local stakeholders and do restoration work, is going to benefit all stakeholders."

The BLM said it will measure the restoration projects to make sure they are "successful and durable" as they progress.


get more stories like this via email

The federal government is investing $161 million into restoration projects across the West.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has selected 21 projects, including three in Idaho, for the funds - which originate from the Inflation Reduction Act passed by Congress last year.

Rob Thornberry is the Idaho field representative for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. He said the investments help a variety of the state's landscapes.

"In the Upper Snake area, it could be benefit for sage grouse," said Thornberry. "In central Idaho, the benefits could be for threatened and endangered species such as bull trout, salmon and steelhead."

Thornberry said the funds also could be used to replace culverts or do riparian restoration. The three projects in Idaho total nearly $27 million.

Thornberry said this is good news for people who use public lands.

"BLM's commitment of $161 million to restore 21 landscapes across the West will benefit fish and wildlife," said Thornberry. "It will benefit hunters and anglers, and it'll benefit local economies in the areas where BLM lands are going to be restored."

Thornberry said the projects are a chance for a variety of groups to collaborate on the ground. BLM wants input from tribes in the region as well.

The Nevada hunting and fishing community is sharing its top 10 conservation priorities for 2023 with Gov. Joe Lombardo's office, as they seek to "ensure the continued conservation," of species and diverse habitats in the state.

The priorities range from supporting science based management techniques to conserving big game corridors and seasonal habitats.

Larry Johnson, president of the Coalition for Nevada's Wildlife, said wildfires present "the greatest adverse impacts," to wildlife populations in Nevada. He added in a bad wildfire year, the state can burn over a million acres.

"Unfortunately, at our lower elevations and everything but our very high elevations, those wildfires, we destroy the native vegetation, and it is taken over by invasive species such as cheatgrass," Johnson explained.

Johnson pointed out cheatgrass is not only poor wildlife forage, it is fuel for wildfires.

According to Johnson's group and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, nearly one quarter of the approximately 20 million acres of priority and greater sage-grouse habitat in Nevada has burned in the last 30 years. Greater sage-grouse numbers have also significantly dropped by almost 80% in the Great Basin since 1960.

Johnson argued most human activity has an effect on wildlife. His group supports developing a statewide plan for siting energy projects. He added both traditional and renewable energy projects, transmission lines and other energy infrastructure can have negative effects on wildlife if not located and operated responsibly.

Johnson emphasized highways and fences pose negative impacts to big game. Despite the challenges, Johnson remains optimistic policymakers will listen.

"Things need to be done very carefully with our existing wildlife resources in mind," Johnson contended. "And it can be done. We just have to be smart about it, that is all."

Johnson hopes the priorities will be heard and considered as people are relocating to Nevada for its vast public lands and traditional love for the sporting heritage.


get more stories like this via email