You Can Protect Minnesota’s Wildlife Habitat and Water Quality!

Vote Yes Tuesday, November 4, 2008.

October 13, 2008

To Partners and Friends of Great River Greening:

Forty percent of the lakes, rivers, and streams tested by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency are so polluted that they do not meet basic health standards. More alarming, eighty-five percent of Minnesota waters have yet to be tested. Over one million acres of wooded lands, natural areas, and farmland will be lost over the next 25 years according to Minnesota DNR Observations on Land Use Changes.

But, we as individuals can make a difference. We can help to reverse these frightening trends by voting on the Clear Water, Wildlife, Cultural Heritage and Natural Areas Amendment Tuesday, November 4, 2008.

The 2008 Legislature passed a bill placing the Clean Water, Wildlife, Cultural Heritage and Natural Areas Amendment to the Minnesota Constitution on the fall ballot. If approved by voters, one-third of the money that will be raised by this amendment will protect and restore lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater; another third will protect our land and wildlife habitat; and the final third will support our parks, trails, arts and arts education, and preserve Minnesota’s history and cultural heritage.

The passage of a constitutional amendment guarantees that these new funds will be used only for protecting Minnesota's water, land, and legacy. They cannot be diverted for other purposes.

This amendment will cost the average Minnesota household less than $5 a month.

The amendment has the support of conservation and environmental organizations, the League of Women Voters, Republicans, and Democrats.

Your vote is crucial. If you cast a ballot but fail to vote upon the amendment, the state counts it as a no vote. Please vote yes on Tuesday, November 4.

To learn more about the Amendment or to hear debate on the issue, contact: www.YesForMN.org.