and duties.
1.A southern Iowa development and conservation authority is created. The counties
of Appanoose, Clarke, Davis, Decatur, Jefferson, Lucas, Monroe, Van Buren, Wapello,
and Wayne are entitled to one voting member each on the authority, but membership or
participation in projects of the authority is not required. Each member of the authority
shall be appointed by the respective board of supervisors for a term to be determined by
each board of supervisors, but the term shall not be for less than one year. An appointee
shall serve without compensation, but an appointee may be reimbursed for actual expenses
incurred while performing the duties of the authority as determined by each board of
supervisors. The authority shall meet, organize, and adopt rules of procedures as deemed
neces
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and duties.
1. A southern Iowa development and conservation authority is created. The counties
of Appanoose, Clarke, Davis, Decatur, Jefferson, Lucas, Monroe, Van Buren, Wapello,
and Wayne are entitled to one voting member each on the authority, but membership or
participation in projects of the authority is not required. Each member of the authority
shall be appointed by the respective board of supervisors for a term to be determined by
each board of supervisors, but the term shall not be for less than one year. An appointee
shall serve without compensation, but an appointee may be reimbursed for actual expenses
incurred while performing the duties of the authority as determined by each board of
supervisors. The authority shall meet, organize, and adopt rules of procedures as deemed
necessary to carry out its duties. The authority may appoint working committees that
include other individuals in addition to voting members.
2. The mission of the authority is to develop and coordinate plans for projects related to
the unique natural resources, rural development, and infrastructure problems of counties
in the most fragile areas of the southern Iowa drift plain. The authority’s mission is
established in part as a response to the erosion of soils, degradation of water resources,
and the destabilization of stream channels in the fragile glacial till soils of southern Iowa
that have occurred in a large part due to unchecked conversion of grassland to cropland.
This land use conversion was brought about by the economic pressures of past federal
agricultural policies that disregarded the fragile nature of the southern Iowa soil resource
and the incompatibility of these soils with the subsidized commodities. The resulting erosion
of the land has damaged the rural infrastructure of this area, destroyed public roads and
bridges, adversely impacted stream water quality and riparian habitat, affected other public
and private improvements, and severely threatens the potable water supply of the region.
Reducing soil erosion, preventing sedimentation, and stopping nutrients and pesticides from
entering water resources are all necessary to protect the rural infrastructure in the southern
area of the state. Important protection measures include structural improvements and the
reestablishment of grasslands for sustainable economic uses.
3. The authority shall cooperate with the division of soil conservation and water quality
of the department of agriculture and land stewardship and the affected soil and water
conservation districts, the department of natural resources, and the state department of
transportation in carrying out its mission and duties. The authority shall also cooperate with
appropriate federal agencies, including the United States environmental protection agency,
5 LOESS HILLS AND SOUTHERN IOWA DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION, §161D.13
the United States department of interior, and the United States department of agriculture
natural resources conservation service. The authority shall make use of technical resources
available through member counties and cooperating agencies.
4. The authority shall administer the southern Iowa development and conservation fund
created under section 161D.12 and shall deposit and expend moneys in the fund for the
planning, development, and implementation of development and conservation activities or
measures in the member counties.
5. This section is not intended to affect the authority of the department of natural
resources in its acquisition, development, and management of public lands within the
counties represented by the authority.