Interest Groups with Water and Related Land Resources Programs in Minnesota, 1971

Abstract

In 1971, there were at least 49 Interest groups in Minnesota with major Water and related land resources programs, 4 Leagues and Associations with minor water and related land resources programs, at least 80 organizations that tend to have a continuing interest in water and related land resources issues, and at least 150 National organizations concerned with water and related land resources programs which have or could have members in the State. The Minnesota Senate 1971 registration files for lobbyists listed 1lO lobbyists in the field of water and related land resources; the House files listed 138 lobbyists. Personnel of State agencies were among these lobbyists. Of the 53 Interest groups (49 Interests groups and 4 Leagues and Associations mentioned above), 40 were conservation-preservation oriented, 8 had the word environmental in their name, and 5 were development and management oriented. Taking into consideration multiple memberships, it is estimated that approximately 25,000 citizens in Minnesota were members of the 53 Interest groups in 1971. Membership in individual Interest groups ranged from 13 to 12,000. Expenditures in 1971 for water and related land resources programs of the 53 Interest groups probably totaled in excess of $250,000. Annual expenditures by individual Interest groups ranged from $100 to in excess of $35,000. These figures do not include the thousands of hours of volunteer time by members. The sources of income were dues, contributions, donations and grants. The affairs of 45 of the 53 Interest groups were under the direction of Officers; 8 Interest groups had Boards; and 14 Interest groups had staffs. It is estimated that the number of water and related land resources Interest groups increased from about 16 in 1950 to 25 in 1960 to 33 in 1965 to 53 in 1971. Some of the Interest groups with large numbers of members and expenditures in 1971 were: Minnesota Environmental Control Citizens Association, Minnesota Public Interest Research Group, Minnesota Conservation Federation, Minnesota Association of Commerce and Industry, and Sierra Club.