§ 455B.199 — Water resource restoration sponsor program

Iowa § 455B.199

• Jurisdiction: Iowa
• Title XI: NATURAL RESOURCES
• Ch. 455B: JURISDICTION OF DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Text

1. The department shall establish and administer a water resource restoration sponsor
program to assist in enhancing water quality in the state through the provision of financial
assistance to communities for a variety of impairment-based, locally directed watershed
projects.
2. For purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
a. “Qualified entity” means the same as defined in section 384.84.
b. “Sponsor project” means a water resource restoration project as defined in section
384.80.
3. Moneys in the water pollution control works revolving loan fund created in section
455B.295, and the drinking water facilities revolving loan fund created in section 455B.295,
shall be used for the water resource restoration sponsor program. The department shall
establish on an annual basis the percentage of moneys available for the sponsor program
from the funds.
4. The interest rate on the loan under the program for communities participating in a
sponsor project shall be set at a level that requires the community to pay not more than the
amount the community would have paid if they did not participate in a sponsor project.
5. Not more than ninety percent of the projected interest payments on bonds issued under
section 384.84 or the total cost of the sponsor project shall be advanced to the community,
whichever is lower.
6. A proposed sponsor project must be compatible with the goals of the water resource
restoration sponsor program, shall include the application of best management practices for
the primary purpose of water quality protection and improvement, and may include but not
be limited to any of the following:
a. Riparian buffer acquisition, enhancement, expansion, or restoration.
b. Conservation easements.
c. Riparian zone or wetland buffer extension or restoration.
d. Wetland restoration in conjunction with an adjoining high-quality water resource.
e. Stream bank stabilization and natural channel design techniques.
61 JURISDICTION OF DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, §455B.199B
f. In-stream habitat enhancements and dam removals.
g. Practices related to water quality or water quality protection that are included in a field
office technical guide published by the natural resources conservation service of the United
StatesdepartmentofagricultureorareincludedintheIowastormwatermanagementmanual
published by the department of natural resources.
7. A proposed sponsor project shall not include any of the following:
a. Passive recreation activities and trails including bike trails, playgrounds, soccer fields,
picnic tables, and picnic grounds.
b. Parking lots, unless a parking lot is constructed in a manner to improve water quality
and construction is consistent with a field office technical guide published by the natural
resources conservation service of the United States department of agriculture or the Iowa
stormwater management manual published by the department of natural resources.
c. Diverse habitat creation contrary to the botanical history of the area.
d. Planting of nonnative plant species.
e. Dredging.
f. Supplemental environmental projects required as a part of a consent decree.
8. A sponsor project must be approved by the department prior to participating in the
water resource restoration sponsor program.
9. Aresolutionbythecitycouncilmustbeapprovedandincludedaspartofanapplication
for the water resource restoration sponsor program. After approval of the project, the city
council shall enter into an agreement pursuant to chapter 28E with the qualified entity who
shall implement the project.
10. A water resource restoration project shall not include the acquisition of property, an
interest in property, or improvements to property through condemnation.
11. The commission shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A necessary for the
administration of this section.