Johnson County Conservation is pleased to invite the public to attend a free presentation by Dan Cohen titled “Securing the Promise: Iowa’s Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund.”
Learn about Iowa’s Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund and how it supports conservation, clean water, and outdoor recreation for current and future Iowans. Discover how its funding will support permanent, substantial, and reliable investments in water quality, soil conservation, wildlife habitat, and outdoor recreation opportunities statewide, and what this would mean for Iowans and Iowa communities.
In 2010, the question of whether to amend the Iowa Constitution to include the Trust Fund (also known as I WiLL) was placed on the general election ballot. A super-majority (60% or greater) of Iowans voted to create the Fund. However, for the past 16 years, the Iowa Legislature and Governor have neglected to fund the Trust.
Cohen is a retired Executive Director for the Buchanan County Conservation Board, and continues to work as an outdoor writer, wildlife photographer, and advocate for clean water, wildlife, and outdoor recreation. From 2006-2010, Cohen represented Iowa’s County Conservation System on the Governor-appointed Sustainable Funding for Natural Resources Committee, which recommended creating the constitutionally protected Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund. He continues to help secure the Trust Fund promise for current and future Iowans. Cohen’s writing and photography can be found on his Nature Communications Substack: https://dwcohen81.substack.com/.
This presentation is designed to help everyone learn how the Trust Fund works, why it matters, and what steps we can take to secure its promise of improved land and water for generations of Iowans.
Come learn, ask questions, and join the conversation about Iowa’s natural resources and the legacy we want to leave for future generations. We’d love to see you there—and feel free to share this invitation with others who care about Iowa’s outdoors. Doors open at 5 PM.