Minnesota voters pledge $5.5 billion to protect lands and waterways

SAINT PAUL — Passing the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment Tuesday, Minnesotans vowed to protect the natural resources of the land of 10,000 lakes.

The ballot measure is the largest by any state to focus on conservation, surpassing the previous record of $2.9 billion set by New Jersey in 1998.

“Minnesota voters are willing to pay to protect our waters and natural lands for our children and grandchildren,” Susan Schmidt, director of The Trust for Public Land’s Minnesota Office (TPL), said in a press release. “They know that these lakes and natural lands play an important role in preserving our quality of life.”

The ballot measure will invest $290 million annually over the next 25 years — protecting parks, natural areas, wetlands and other areas necessary for clean water, culturally historic regions and trails.

“Tuesday’s results demonstrate sustained support among voters for new investments in land conservation, even in a very tough economic climate,” said Ernest Cook, Director of TPL’s Conservation Finance program, in the same press release.

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Source : MarketWatch