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Two New 'Wild' License Plates Revealed
DES MOINES - Two new Iowa license plates to help fund natural resources will be available for purchase at county treasurers' offices this spring. The plates were unveiled by Lt. Gov. Patty Judge Saturday at the State Capitol during the Resource Enhancement And Protection (REAP) Congress. The two new designs, featuring a brook trout and a deer, will attract two of the largest groups of Iowan outdoor enthusiasts, anglers and deer hunters, said Ross Harrison, DNR REAP coordinator. The license plates were designed by Cedar Rapids artist Greg Bordignon. At a purchase price of $45, and annual renewal of $25 for the numbered plates, the REAP program receives $35 from each purchase and $10 from renewals. The DNR's Wildlife Diversity program gets $10 from the purchase and $15 from renewals. The two new plates join three others dedicated to those natural resource programs: the goldfinch/rose, pheasant and eagle plates which together generate about $1 million a year and outsell all of the state's other specialty plates. Bordignon also designed the current pheasant and eagle plates. Harrison predicted the two new plates may double the current income within two years because of the popularity of the designs. "The brook trout is Iowa's only native trout, and is the best indicator of water quality of any fish species." REAP provides funding to cities, counties and state conservation efforts, as well as to landowners and conservation organizations and individuals. Currently funded at $18 million in appropriations from state gaming revenues, the license plate income is added on top of that amount. REAP's public participation component includes a congress every two year for citizen input into running the program. The DNR's nongame wildlife program uses its license plate revenue to match federal money for projects dealing with wildlife that are not hunted or fished, and therefore not managed by use of hunting and fishing license revenue. |
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