Join The Nature Conservancy in support of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. Vote YES on November 4!

For an average of $5/month, every Minnesota household can help protect and clean our waters, protect Minnesota's wildlife habitat and preserve our way of life for our children, grandchildren and generations to come.

For nearly a decade, there has been an effort to establish a source of dedicated funding for Minnesota’s natural resources. Funding for the environment and natural resources is at a 30-year low in Minnesota—funding we badly need to protect our water, wildlife and way of life.

After much work by The Nature Conservancy and others, a dedicated funding initiative, known as the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, was passed by the Minnesota Legislature on the second day of the 2008 session and will appear on the Minnesota ballot on November 4.

The Nature Conservancy, along with more than 200 other organizations, supports adding the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment to the Minnesota constitution.

Big Rewards For Our Water and Our Land

The timing couldn’t be better. Forty percent of the waters we have tested fail to meet federal water quality standards. More than 1 million acres of natural areas and farmland could be lost over the next 25 years, as Minnesota continues growing faster than any other state in the Midwest.

Our kids need clean water and the chance to roam in natural areas in order to grow up healthy. Yet funding for natural resources remains near historic lows, and we are losing access for hunting, fishing and wildlife watching.

This initiative asks voters to increase the state sales tax by 3/8 of one percent to fund clean water projects, wildlife habitat, natural areas, parks and cultural heritage projects.

A small portion yields big rewards for our land: if passed, this bill would provide about $300 million each year for the next 25 years, 80 percent of which will fund the protection of clean water and wildlife habitat.

Investing In Our Future

“This amendment is about future generations and increasing our investment in the future of Minnesota,” said Peggy Ladner, state director of the Conservancy. “Acting now to ensure that we properly protect our water, natural areas and cultural heritage for our children and grandchildren is an investment well worth making.”

Minnesotans understand that core values are well worth protecting in our Constitution, especially when future generations rely on our actions today.

Vote “YES” on Election Day, November 4!

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © John Gregor/ColdSnap Photography (Lake at Sugar Hills, Itasca County); Photo © Robert Carr (Canoer).