28N.3  Mississippi river partnership council — powers and duties.
  1.  The Mississippi river partnership council may collaborate with the water resources coordinating council established pursuant to section 466B.3.
  2.  a.  The Mississippi river partnership council’s duties shall include all of the following:
  (1)  Reviewing activities and programs administered by state and federal agencies that directly impact the Mississippi river.
  (2)  Working with local communities, organizations, and other states to encourage partnerships that promote sustainable economic development opportunities in counties along the Mississippi river; enhance awareness about the river and its uses; encourage the protection, restoration, and expansion of critical habitats; and promote the adoption of soil conservation and water quality best management practices.
  (3)  Working with federal agencies to optimize the implementation of programs and the expenditure of moneys affecting the Mississippi river and counties in Iowa along the Mississippi river, including the upper Mississippi river basin association and the Mississippi parkway planning commission.
  (4)  Advising and making recommendations to the water resources coordinating council established in section 466B.3, the governor, the general assembly, and state agencies, regarding strategic plans and priorities impacting the Mississippi river, methods to optimize the implementation of associated programs, and the expenditure of moneys affecting the river and counties bordering the Mississippi river.
  (5)  Encouraging communities in counties bordering the Mississippi river to develop watershed management plans for their communities to address storm water, erosion, flooding, sedimentation, and pollution problems and encouraging projects for the natural conveyance and storage of floodwaters; the enhancement of wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation opportunities; the recovery, management, and conservation of the Mississippi river; and the preservation of farmland, prairies, and forests.
  (6)  Identifying and promoting opportunities to enhance economic development and job creation in communities along the Mississippi river, as well as other measurable development efforts, which are compatible with the ecological health of the Mississippi river and the state.
  (7)  Helping identify possible sources of funding for watershed management projects and sustainable economic development opportunities.
  (8)  Functioning as a forum for discussion and providing advice or recommendations on matters of public interest that are reasonably related to the purpose of the council.
  b.  The Mississippi river partnership council shall only administer its duties as provided in paragraph “a” within the ten Iowa counties bordering the Mississippi river.
  3.  The department of agriculture and land stewardship, the department of natural resources, the economic development authority, and the department of transportation may apply for grant moneys or may solicit moneys from sources to support the work of the Mississippi river partnership council.
2009 Acts, ch 146, §3, 14; 2011 Acts, ch 118, §85, 89
Implementation of chapter subject to availability of funding or in-kind services for start-up and first-year administration expenses; 2009 Acts, ch 146, §14 
Code editor directive applied