CHAPTER 161G
MISSISSIPPI RIVER BASIN HEALTHY WATERSHEDS INITIATIVE

  161G.1  Definitions.
  1.  “Department” means the department of agriculture and land stewardship.
  2.  “Fund” means the Mississippi river basin healthy watersheds initiative fund created pursuant to section 161G.2.
2010 Acts, ch 1191, §21

  161G.2  Mississippi river basin healthy watersheds initiative fund.
  1.  A Mississippi river basin healthy watersheds initiative fund is created within the department.
  2.  The fund is composed of money appropriated by the general assembly to the fund and moneys available to and obtained or accepted by the department from the United States, the state, or any other source for placement in the fund.
  3.  The fund shall be used by the department to support the Mississippi river basin healthy watersheds initiative as provided in section 161G.3.
  4.  The moneys in the fund are not subject to section 8.33 and shall not be transferred, used, obligated, appropriated, or otherwise encumbered except as provided in this section. Notwithstanding section 12C.7, subsection 2, interest or earnings on moneys in the fund shall be credited to the fund.
2010 Acts, ch 1191, §22

  161G.3  Mississippi river basin healthy watersheds initiative.
  1.  The department shall implement a voluntary program to assist in improving the health of the Mississippi river basin, including water quality and wildlife habitat.
  2.  The department shall implement the program consistent with requirements of the United States department of agriculture in its administration of the Mississippi river basin healthy watersheds initiative.
  3.  To the extent allowed by the United States department of agriculture, the department of agriculture and land stewardship may do all of the following:
  a.  Provide for conservation systems that manage and optimize nitrogen and phosphorus within fields to minimize runoff and reduce downstream nutrient loading.
  b.  Assist agricultural producers with a system of practices that will control soil erosion, improve soil quality, restore and enhance wildlife habitat, and manage runoff and drainage water for improved water quality. 
  c.  Avoid, control, and trap nutrient runoff and maintain agricultural productivity.
  d.  Partner with landowners to implement a range of land stewardship practices, including but not limited to conservation tillage, nutrient management, and other innovative practices.
2010 Acts, ch 1191, §23; 2012 Acts, ch 1023, §26