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State Representative Rick Hansen
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-6828
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
Column/LTE
HOUSE BONDING CONSERVATION EFFORTS WILL PAY OFF
At a time when 40 percent of Minnesota's water resources are considered "impaired," and hundreds more are falling victim to serious contamination and quality issues every year, demand for efforts to restore and protect wetlands is at an all-time high. A key conservation effort aimed at reversing this trend is the proven partnership of the federal government's Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) and the state's Reinvest in Minnesota Reserve (RIM).
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) effectively partner to operate this voluntary program that helps landowners protect, restore, and enhance wetlands on their property. It is a truly grassroots effort to prevent the further destruction of this Minnesota resource. This essential program joins government and private investments to garner long-term benefits for our environment and provide jobs in restoration work.
By providing essential conservation resources for our wetlands, RIM/WRP efforts are paying off in both dollars and jobs. According to a recent NRCS study, current WRP expenditures in Minnesota (approximately $16.5 million in FY2008) will generate an estimated $26 million in new production of goods and services, $23.9 million in wages and capital income, and over 250 new jobs for our state. That's an investment in our environment worth making.
Many of these new benefits are taking place in the construction sector of our economy - an area hard-hit by Minnesota's recent economic slowdown. At a time when job creation is central in the effort to put Minnesota's economy back on track, this progress is welcomed with open arms.
The House version of this year's bonding bill provides a significant $35 million for WRP/RIM projects statewide - $18 million of which would help rebuild critical wetlands in areas devastated by recent flooding. These regions include southeastern Minnesota, the Austin area, and the Red River Basin. The remaining $17 million would be dedicated to wetland restoration efforts throughout Minnesota.
The positive economic gains Minnesota is receiving from WRP/RIM investments in wetland conservation efforts statewide is a prime example of what government is capable of at it's very best. By making wise, direct investments in capital improvement efforts here in Minnesota through RIM, and attracting federal investment dollars from WRP to help in those efforts, we can complete essential capital projects while putting our state in a position to receive long-term environmental and economic benefits.
As we look toward final passage of the bonding bill in the coming weeks - a bill capable of creating 10,000 jobs in Minnesota - we need to remain mindful of the direct results government can achieve when we do the job right and maintain our commitment to making wise investments in our natural resources. That's why it's so important to have a strong reinvestment in RIM in this year's bonding bill.
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