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Throughout history, humans have been more inclined to take from, rather than replenish the earth. So, it's refreshing to see a coalition coming together on Capitol Hill with a goal of creating an ongoing source of funding to be used for protecting, preserving and restoring some of Utah's most vital natural resources.
They're pushing House Bill 102, the Land and Water Reinvestment Act. Their approach makes sense.
The state has long levied a Severance Tax on resources extracted from the ground - minerals and oil and gas. The idea behind H.B. 102 is to redirect a portion of that revenue back to where it came from.
Nine percent of the Severance Tax - about $6 million annually - would go toward sustaining three different state sponsored programs designed to restore vital watersheds, protect agricultural rangeland and preserve critical habitats. The remainder of the Severance Tax would go where it does now - into the General Fund.
The legislation is supported by such diverse groups as the Utah Cattlemen's Association, Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, and the Nature Conservancy.
Add KSL to the list.
With open space in Utah disappearing at an alarming rate, it is imperative to do what the title of House Bill 102 suggests - to reinvest in land and water. The state should take this modest step toward replenishing the earth.
