Section 466B.31. Watershed planning advisory council.

  1.  A watershed planning advisory council is established for purposes of assembling a diverse group of stakeholders to review research and make recommendations to various state entities regarding methods to protect water resources in the state, assure an adequate supply of water, mitigate and prevent floods, and coordinate the management of those resources in a sustainable, fiscally responsible, and environmentally responsible manner. The advisory council may seek input from councils of governments or other organizations in the development of its recommendations. The advisory council shall meet once a year and at other times as deemed necessary to meet the requirements of this section. The advisory council may appoint a task force to assist the advisory council in completing its duties.

  2.  The watershed planning advisory council shall consist of all of the following members:

  a.  The voting members of the advisory council shall include all of the following:

  (1)  One member selected by the Iowa association of municipal utilities.

  (2)  One member selected by the Iowa league of cities.

  (3)  One member selected by the Iowa association of business and industry.

  (4)  One member selected by the Iowa water pollution control association.

  (5)  One member selected by the Iowa rural water association.

  (6)  One member selected by growing green communities.

  (7)  One member selected by the Iowa environmental council.

  (8)  One member selected by the Iowa farm bureau federation.

  (9)  One member selected by the Iowa corn growers association.

  (10)  One member selected by the Iowa soybean association.

  (11)  One member selected by the Iowa pork producers council.

  (12)  One member selected by the soil and water conservation districts of Iowa.

  (13)  One person representing the department of agriculture and land stewardship selected by the secretary of agriculture.

  (14)  One person representing the department of natural resources selected by the director.

  (15)  Two members selected by the Iowa conservation alliance.

  (16)  One member selected by the Iowa drainage district association.

  (17)  One member selected by the agribusiness association of Iowa.

  (18)  One member selected by the Iowa floodplain and stormwater management association.

  (19)  One member selected by Iowa rivers revival.

  b.  The nonvoting members of the advisory council shall include all of the following:

  (1)  Two members of the senate. One senator shall be appointed by the majority leader of the senate and one senator shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate.

  (2)  Two members of the house of representatives. One member shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and one member shall be appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives.

  3.  By December 1 of each year, the watershed planning advisory council shall submit a report to the governor, the general assembly, the department of agriculture and land stewardship, the department of natural resources, and the water resources coordinating council. The report shall include recommendations regarding all of the following:

  a.  Improving water quality and optimizing the costs of voluntarily achieving and maintaining water quality standards.

  b.  Creating economic incentives for voluntary nonpoint source load reductions, point source discharge reductions beyond those required by the federal Water Pollution Control Act, implementation of pollution prevention programs, wetland restoration and creation, and the development of emerging pollution control technologies.

  c.  Facilitating the implementation of total maximum daily loads, urban storm water control programs, and nonpoint source management practices required or authorized under the federal Water Pollution Control Act. This paragraph shall not be construed to obviate the requirement to develop a total maximum daily load for waters that do not meet water quality standards as required by section 303(d) of the federal Water Pollution Control Act or to delay implementation of a total maximum daily load that has been approved by the department and the director.

  d.  Providing incentives, methods, and practices for the development of new and more accurate and reliable pollution control quantification protocols and procedures, including but not limited to development of policy based on information and data that is publicly available and that can be verified and evaluated.

  e.  Providing greater flexibility for broader public involvement through community-based, nonregulatory, and performance-driven watershed management planning.

  f.  Assigning responsibility for monitoring flood risk, flood mitigation, and coordination with federal agencies.

  g.  Involving cities, counties, and other local and regional public and private entities in watershed improvement including but not limited to incentives for participation in a watershed management authority created under this chapter.

  4.  Each year, the voting members of the advisory council shall designate one voting member as chairperson.

2010 Acts, ch 1116, §1

; 2011 Acts, ch 131, §98, 158