Dear Senator:

I am writing to express concern about the bill SF 2371(formerly LSB 6613),
Senator Bartz' Water Quality Initiative - I on Iowa.

This bill could be debated on Tuesday, March 7th.

Although this bill establishes policy for the Initiative on Improving Our
Watershed Attributes and sets requirements for conservation buffer strips
and other programs, the bill has numerous unacceptable elements.  One of
the most unacceptable is the wetland provision that would allow extensive
wetland drainage when new wetlands are constructed for water quality
benefits.  Another section has extreme restrictions on "credible" data to
be used for Iowa's impaired waters list.

The DNR worked for months to develop a plan that would be good for farmers
and would put money in their pockets.  It would be good for Iowa because it
would clean up our water and add to our quality of life.  It was a simple
plan that offered solutions through programs that are already in place,
already proven, and scientifically based.  We have had a waiting list of
farmers who want to add their land to Wetland Reserve Program, etc. --
farmers are willing to sign up for these programs.

The bill SF 2371 adds hurdles to solutions that we should already be using
in Iowa.  Some of the unacceptable criteria in this bill is almost
identical to those that the EPA rejected in 1998.

I urge you to oppose this bill.

Sincerely,
Jane R. Clark
9871 Lincoln Avenue
Clive, Iowa 50325

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