REAP stands for Resource Enhancement and Protection. REAP provides money for projects through state agency budgets or in the form of grants. Several aspects of REAP also encourage private contributions that help accomplish program objectives. REAP is funded from gaming receipts and from the sale of the natural resource license plate. The program is authorized to receive $20 million per year until 2021, but the state legislature sets the amount of REAP funding every year. This year REAP was appropriated $16 million. When you add license plate and interest income, its total budget is about $16.5 million. In its 25 years, REAP has benefited every county in Iowa by supporting more than 14,535 projects. REAP has funded these projects with over $300 million in state investments, leveraging two to three times the amount in private, local and federal dollars. REAP funds go into eight different programs based upon a percentages that are specified in the law. These percentages, or what many people call the REAP formula are the following. The first $350,000 each year goes to Conservation Education <http://www.iowadnr.gov/Environment/REAP/REAPFundingatWork/ConservationEducation.aspx>. 1% of balance goes for DNR Administration. Remaining balance is then divided as follows: (3%) Roadside Vegetation <http://www.iowadnr.gov/Portals/idnr/uploads/REAP/REAP%20Roadside%20Vegetation%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf>, (5%) Historical Resources <http://>, (9%) Public Land Management <http://www.iowadnr.gov/Portals/idnr/uploads/REAP/REAP%20Public%20Land%20Management%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf>, (15%) City Parks and Open Space <http://www.iowadnr.gov/Portals/idnr/uploads/REAP/REAP%20City%20Parks%20Fact%20Sheetpdf.pdf>, (20%) Soil and Water Enhancement <http://www.iowadnr.gov/Portals/idnr/uploads/REAP/REAP%20Soil%20and%20Water%20Enhancement%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf>, (20%) County Conservation, (28%) State Open Space <http://www.iowadnr.gov/Portals/idnr/uploads/REAP/REAP%20Open%20Spaces%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf> . The State Open Space account allows purchasing of land from willing sellers in order to permanently protect it. With this money the state can partner with non-profits or other government entities to acquire land for parks, prairies, forests, and rivers. This benefits all Iowans by protecting our scenic rivers from damaging development, increasing access for hunters, and protecting rare plant and animal species. HF 106 reduces the REAP Open Spaces Account from 28% to 9% and current allocation of 9% to state land management account be increased to 28%. Also requires DNR to prepare a report itemizing properties acquired to implement statewide open space acquisition program with funds allocated to Open Spaces Account, including all properties required from the inception of the account through 6/30/17. Sierra Club, Iowa Chapter opposes HF106. -- *Fish have to swim, birds have to nest, tell the Corps to do their best* *Debbie Neustadt * *Des Moines, Iowa* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to [log in to unmask] Users of Listserv are subject to the Sierra Club's Terms and Conditions (http://www.sierraclub.org/terms). For more information, see our support site (http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp).