Initiative 1 is investment in Utah

I also like Initiative 1's emphasis on local control by involving local governments and civic leaders in the decisionmaking process. While most funding will be available for land and water protection, enhancement programs to improve wildlife habitat, soils and groundwater management will also be eligible. And in rural communities with different quality-growth priorities, projects to build trails, recreational facilities and protect historic landmarks can be funded, too.

Initiative 1 is about more than just open space. Initiative 1 has strong bipartisan support from The Salt Lake Tribune, the Deseret Morning News, KSL-TV, both gubernatorial candidates, numerous conservation groups and business and civic leaders statewide. It is a balanced proposal that puts people first — by allowing landowners and local communities to protect what's special to them, without government control, on an entirely voluntary basis.

Finally, when I think of what other states are doing in this area, I have to ask: Are we as Utahns any less proud of our natural environment? In recent years conservation bonds have passed in Nevada ($200 million), Colorado ($170 million) and Arizona ($173 million) — while Utah's only state source for this purpose, the LeRay McAllister Fund, has been cut 74 percent by the Legislature to less than $800,000 today.

Our neighboring states recognize how important these investments are to make. It's time we did, too. There's an old saying, "I didn't plan to fail, I just failed to plan." As a pilot, I can literally see this happening from the air. We can invest now by passing Initiative 1, or we can "fail to plan" and become just another Western state. For me this is an easy choice. On Nov. 2 I'm voting Yes on Initiative 1. I hope you will, too.

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Jake Garn is a former U.S. senator and on the board of the Nature Conservancy of Utah.