HF 2111 (LSB 5202YH (3) 88)

HOUSE FILE 2111

BY  ISENHART

A BILL FOR

An Act providing for the powers of commissioners of soil and water conservation districts.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 161A.7, subsection 1, paragraphs a and b, Code 2020, are amended to read as follows:
   a.  To conduct surveys, investigations, and research relating to the character of soil erosion and health, soil erosion, water quality, water quantity, floodwater, and sediment damages, and the related preventive and control measures needed, to. A district shall publish the results of such surveys, investigations or, and research activities, and to shall disseminate information concerning such related preventive and control measures; provided, however, that. However, in order to avoid duplication of a research activities activity, no a district shall not initiate any research program except in cooperation consultation with the Iowa agricultural experiment station located at Ames, Iowa state university of science and technology as provided in chapter 266, and pursuant to a cooperative agreement entered into between the district and the Iowa agricultural experiment station and such district or a public or private entity recognized by the Iowa agricultural experiment station.
   b.  To conduct demonstrational demonstration projects within the district on lands owned or controlled by this state or any of its agencies, with the consent and cooperation of the agency administering and having jurisdiction thereof of those lands, and or on any other lands within the district upon obtaining the consent of the owner or occupier of such lands or the holder of the necessary rights or interests in such lands, in order to demonstrate by example. The information collected from the demonstration projects shall be used to improve the means, methods, and measures by which soil and soil or water resources may be conserved, and; soil health or water quality enhanced; soil erosion in the form of soil blowing and soil washing may be prevented and controlled; provided, however, that in order to avoid duplication of agricultural extension activities, no and flooding may be prevented or reduced. A district shall initiate any demonstrational projects, except a demonstration project in cooperation consultation with the Iowa agricultural extension service whose offices are located at Ames, Iowa, state university of science and technology as provided in chapter 266, and pursuant to a cooperative agreement entered into between the district and the Iowa agricultural extension service and such district or a public or private entity recognized by the Iowa agricultural extension service.
    Sec. 2.  Section 161A.7, subsection 1, paragraph n, subparagraph (1), unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2020, is amended to read as follows:
   The district plan shall contain a comprehensive long-range assessment of soil and surface water resources in the district consistent with rules approved by the committee under section 161A.4. In developing the plan the district may receive technical support from the United States department of agriculture natural resources conservation service and the county board of supervisors in the county where the district is located. The division, and the Iowa cooperative extension service in agriculture and home economics, or a public or private entity recognized by the Iowa agricultural extension service, may provide technical support to the district. The support may include but is not limited to the following:
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   GENERAL. This bill amends Code chapter 161A, the “Soil Conservation Districts Law” (Code section 161A.1), including provisions governing the powers of commissioners of soil and water conservation districts (districts) relating to the prevention of soil erosion, flooding, and sediment damage (Code section 161A.7). The commissioners are the governing body of each of the state’s 100 districts (Code section 161A.5), working in conjunction with the division of soil conservation and water quality of the department of agriculture and land stewardship (division) and the state soil conservation and water quality committee (Code section 161A.4).
   POWERS. The bill amends provisions authorizing commissioners to exercise a number of powers, subject to certain limitations, including to conduct (1) surveys, investigations, research activities, and (2) demonstration projects. The bill provides that the commissioners must also act to conserve or enhance soil health and water resources, and reduce the effects of flooding. The bill provides that when conducting research activities or demonstration projects, the commissioners must consult rather than cooperate with Iowa state university (ISU); either with the Iowa agricultural experiment station or the Iowa agricultural extension service. The bill also provides that the commissioners are no longer required to enter into a cooperative agreement with ISU if they enter into an agreement with a public or private entity recognized by ISU.
   TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. Under current law, the commissioners are required to develop a soil and water resource conservation plan for their district (a comprehensive long-range assessment of soil and water resources) with technical support provided by the division or ISU. The bill provides that the technical support may be provided by a public or private entity recognized by ISU.