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Iowa Code (Last Updated: December 05, 2016) |
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Title XI. NATURAL RESOURCES |
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Chapter 466A. WATERSHED IMPROVEMENT GRANTS |
Section 466A.3. Watershed improvement review board.
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1. A watershed improvement review board is established.
a. The board shall consist of all of the following voting members, appointed by the named entity or entities and approved by the governor:
(1) One member of the agribusiness association of Iowa.
(2) One member of the Iowa association of water agencies.
(3) One member of the Iowa environmental council.
(4) One member of the Iowa farm bureau federation.
(5) One member of the Iowa pork producers association.
(6) One member of the Iowa rural water association.
(7) One member of the Iowa soybean association.
(8) One member representing soil and water conservation districts of Iowa.
(9) One member of the Iowa association of county conservation boards.
(10) One person representing the department of agriculture and land stewardship.
(11) One person representing the department of natural resources.
b. The board shall also include four members of the general assembly who shall serve as ex officio, nonvoting members. Not more than one member from each house shall be from the same political party. Two state senators shall be appointed, one by the majority leader of the senate and one by the minority leader of the senate. Two state representatives shall be appointed, one by the speaker of the house of representatives and one by the minority leader of the house of representatives. The legislator members shall serve terms as provided in section 69.16B. A legislator member may designate another person to attend a board meeting if the member is unavailable. Only the legislator member is eligible for per diem and expenses as provided in section 2.10.
2. A voting member other than a representative of a state agency shall be compensated as provided in section 7E.6 and is allowed actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. The moneys used to pay for compensation and expenses shall be paid from available interest or earnings on moneys in the fund.
3. a. The voting members of the board shall serve three-year staggered terms commencing and ending as provided in section 69.19. If a vacancy occurs, a successor shall be appointed in the same manner and subject to the same qualifications as the original appointment, to serve the remainder of the term.
b. The voting members of the board shall elect a chairperson and vice chairperson annually from the voting membership of the board. A majority of the voting members of the board constitutes a quorum. If the chairperson and vice chairperson are unable to preside over the board due to absence or disability, a majority of the voting members present may elect a temporary chairperson by a majority vote providing a quorum is present.
4. The watershed improvement review board shall carry out the purposes of this chapter as provided in section 466A.2, including by determining how moneys are to be expended from the watershed improvement fund and authorizing the expenditure of moneys from the fund. In carrying out those purposes, the board shall do all of the following:
a. Award local watershed improvement grants and monitor the progress of local watershed improvement projects awarded grants.
(1) A local watershed improvement grant may be awarded for an original period not to exceed five years. However, during those five years, the board may extend the period of the award for up to five additional years after the date that the original period would have ended.
(2) Each local watershed improvement grant awarded shall not exceed ten percent of the moneys appropriated for the grants during a fiscal year.
(3) Moneys deposited into the fund’s special account shall be used exclusively for awarding local watershed improvement grants and monitoring the progress of local watershed improvement projects awarded grants as provided in this paragraph “a”. However, any other moneys may also be used for awarding grants and monitoring the progress of projects.
b. Assist with the development of monitoring plans for local watershed improvement projects.
c. Review monitoring results before, during, and after completion of a local watershed improvement project.
d. Review costs and benefits of mitigation practices utilized by a project.
e. By January 31, annually, submit an electronic report to the governor and the general assembly regarding the progress of the watershed improvement projects during the previous calendar year.
f. Elicit the expertise of other organizations for technical assistance in the work of the board.
g. Independently develop and adopt administrative rules pursuant to chapter 17A to administer this chapter.
5. A watershed improvement review board member who also serves on a local watershed improvement committee shall abstain from voting on a local watershed improvement grant application submitted by the same local watershed improvement committee of which the person is a member. A member of the general assembly shall abstain from participating on any issue relating to a watershed which is in the member’s legislative district.