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Conservation leaders hail 2008 legislative sessionOklahoma Conservation leaders in Oklahoma are hailing the just completed legislative session as "landmark" for natural resource work statewide. "The 2008 legislative session was definitely one for the record books when it comes to natural resource conservation," said Scotty Herriman, president of the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts. "The legislature passed significant conservation legislation and allocated an all time record level of funding for natural resource conservation work this spring. You can't ask for much more than that." Herriman sighted several legislative accomplishments including the passage Senate Bill 1766 by Rep. Dale DeWitt and Sen. Charles Wyrick, a measure that modernizes the Oklahoma Conservation District Act by updating the statute to reflect changes in federal law. This legislation also allows Conservation District directors the ability to purchase state insurance in the same manner that school board members can and the measure limits liability on water quality in flood control structures, a change that according to Herriman was desperately needed. "This change in liability law takes a real burden off of our local District Boards," Herriman said. "We can't control what someone does in or above a watershed lake. This change in the law simply says that since we can't control what goes in the water, we shouldn't be held liable for what someone else does." Herriman also praised the legislature and the governor for the approval of a record funding level for conservation including the passage of $25 million in bond funds to repair damaged caused by the floods of 2007 and 2008. "Whether it's flood control dams, waterways, terraces or other land improvements, the entire conservation infrastructure suffered incredible damage this past year," Herriman said. "The state answered this spring with a record $36 million for conservation. When this is matched with federal and local sources, this money will become roughly $126 million to fix the damage caused to dams and other parts of the conservation infrastructure. With this help, we can make sure that the protection we have enjoyed for the last 60 plus years is maintained for the future." Clay Pope, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts agreed with Herriman that the 2008 Legislature was indeed historic. "Even during the days of the Dust Bowl, Oklahoma has never put as many resources into conservation efforts as they did this spring," Pope said. "Governor Henry and the members of the Senate and the House are to be commended for passing the $25 million bond package to deal with the damage our state suffered this past year, as well as their appropriation of over $11 million from general revenue and gross production taxes for ongoing conservation needs. When this record appropriation is combined with the passage of landmark legislation like Senate Bill 1766, it becomes clear that the 2008 legislative session was a great success for natural resource protection and conservation." 6/16/08 Date: 6/12/08
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