House File 756 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE
BY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION
(SUCCESSOR TO HSB 194)
Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to regional watershed, land use, and floodplain
2 management policies.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
4 TLSB 1725HV 83
5 da/rj/8
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. Section 466A.2, subsection 2, paragraph c, Code
1 2 2009, is amended by adding the following new subparagraphs:
1 3 NEW SUBPARAGRAPH. (8) Structures and conservation systems
1 4 for the prevention and mitigation of floods within the
1 5 watershed of the project.
1 6 NEW SUBPARAGRAPH. (9) Removal of channels of waterways to
1 7 allow waterways to meander.
1 8 Sec. 2. Section 466B.1, Code 2009, is amended to read as
1 9 follows:
1 10 466B.1 SHORT TITLE.
1 11 This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the
1 12 "Surface Water Protection and Flood Mitigation Act".
1 13 Sec. 3. Section 466B.3, subsection 3, Code 2009, is
1 14 amended by adding the following new paragraph:
1 15 NEW PARAGRAPH. d. Whether the potential for flood damage
1 16 in each watershed in the state has been reduced.
1 17 Sec. 4. Section 466B.3, subsection 4, paragraph l,
1 18 unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2009, is amended to read as
1 19 follows:
1 20 The governor, who shall be the chairperson, or the
1 21 governor's designee. As the chairperson, and in order to
1 22 further the coordination efforts of the council, the governor
1 23 may invite representatives from any other public agency,
1 24 private organization, business, citizen group, or nonprofit
1 25 entity to give public input at council meetings provided the
1 26 entity has an interest in the coordinated management of land
1 27 resources, soil conservation, flood mitigation, or water
1 28 quality. The governor shall also invite and solicit advice
1 29 from the following:
1 30 Sec. 5. Section 466B.3, subsection 4, Code 2009, is
1 31 amended by adding the following new paragraphs:
1 32 NEW PARAGRAPH. m. The dean of the college of engineering
1 33 at the university of Iowa or the dean's designee.
1 34 NEW PARAGRAPH. n. The director of the rebuild Iowa office
1 35 or the director's designee.
2 1 NEW PARAGRAPH. o. The director of the Leopold center for
2 2 sustainable agriculture or the director's designee.
2 3 NEW PARAGRAPH. p. The director of the center for energy
2 4 and environmental education of the university of northern
2 5 Iowa, or the director's designee.
2 6 Sec. 6. Section 466B.3, subsection 6, paragraph b,
2 7 subparagraph (9), Code 2009, is amended to read as follows:
2 8 (9) Review best available technologies on a regular basis,
2 9 so that investments of time and program resources can be
2 10 prioritized and directed to projects that will best and most
2 11 effectively improve water quality and reduce flood damage
2 12 within regional and community subwatersheds.
2 13 Sec. 7. Section 466B.3, subsection 6, Code 2009, is
2 14 amended by adding the following new paragraph:
2 15 NEW PARAGRAPH. c. The council shall develop
2 16 recommendations for policies and funding promoting a watershed
2 17 management approach to reduce the adverse impact of future
2 18 flooding on this state's residents, businesses, communities,
2 19 and soil and water quality. Policy and funding
2 20 recommendations shall be submitted to the governor, the
2 21 general assembly, and the rebuild Iowa office not later than
2 22 November 15, 2009. The council shall consider policies and
2 23 funding options for various strategies to reduce the impact of
2 24 flooding including but not limited to additional flood plain
2 25 regulation; wetland protection, restoration, and construction;
2 26 conservation easements and other land management; perennial
2 27 ground cover and other agricultural conservation practices;
2 28 pervious pavement, bioswales, and other urban conservation
2 29 practices; and permanent or temporary water retention
2 30 structures. In developing recommendations, the council shall
2 31 consult with the rebuild Iowa office, hydrological and land
2 32 use experts, representatives of cities, counties, and soil and
2 33 water conservation districts, and other urban and regional
2 34 planning experts.
2 35 Sec. 8. Section 466B.4, subsection 1, Code 2009, is
3 1 amended by adding the following new paragraph:
3 2 NEW PARAGRAPH. e. The land in watersheds and flood plains
3 3 should be managed to reduce flooding, reduce flood damage,
3 4 ameliorate the effects of drought, improve water quality,
3 5 improve habitat and the natural environment, increase
3 6 renewable energy production, and enhance economic and
3 7 recreational opportunities.
3 8 EXPLANATION
3 9 GENERAL. This bill provides for the management of
3 10 watersheds by two bodies: the watershed improvement review
3 11 board (board) under Code chapter 466A, and the water resources
3 12 coordinating council (council) under Code chapter 466B.
3 13 BOARD == WATERSHED IMPROVEMENT GRANTS. Currently the board
3 14 is authorized to finance local watershed improvement projects
3 15 in order to enhance the management and use of water for a
3 16 variety of purposes relating to drinking, agriculture,
3 17 recreation, sport, and economic development. The bill
3 18 authorizes the board to finance the installation of structures
3 19 for the prevention and mitigation of floods and the removal of
3 20 channels to allow waterways to meander.
3 21 COUNCIL == WATER RESOURCE PROGRAMS. Currently, the council
3 22 is composed of a number of state officials whose agencies are
3 23 interested in agriculture, natural resources, economic
3 24 development, financing, transportation, public health, or
3 25 education. The bill adds as members the dean of the college
3 26 of engineering at the university of Iowa, the director of the
3 27 rebuild Iowa office, the director of the Leopold center for
3 28 sustainable agriculture, and the director for the center for
3 29 energy and environmental education of the university of
3 30 northern Iowa, or their designees.
3 31 The purpose of the council is to preserve and protect
3 32 Iowa's water resources, and to coordinate the management of
3 33 those resources in a sustainable and fiscally responsible
3 34 manner. The bill requires the council to develop
3 35 recommendations for policies and funding to reduce the adverse
4 1 impact of future flooding.
4 2 LSB 1725HV 83
4 3 da/rj/8