§ 455B.262 — Declaration of policy and planning requirements

Iowa § 455B.262

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

Text

1. It is recognized that the protection of life and property from floods, the prevention
of damage to lands from floods, and the orderly development, wise use, protection, and
conservation of the water resources of the state by their considered and proper use is of
paramount importance to the welfare and prosperity of the people of the state, and to realize
these objectives, it is the policy of the state to correlate and vest the powers of the state
in a single agency, the department, with the duty and authority to assess the water needs
of all water users at five-year intervals for the twenty years beginning January 1, 1985,
and ending December 31, 2004, utilizing a database developed and managed by the Iowa
geological survey, and to prepare a general plan of water allocation in this state considering
the quantity and quality of water resources available in this state designed to meet the
specific needs of the water users. The department shall also develop and the department
shall adopt no later than June 30, 1986, a plan for delineation of floodplain and floodway
boundaries for selected stream reaches in the various river basins of the state. Selection of
the stream reaches and assignment of priorities for mapping of the selected reaches shall
be based on consideration of flooding characteristics, the type and extent of existing and
anticipated floodplain development in particular stream reaches, and the needs of local
governmental bodies for assistance in delineating floodplain and floodway boundaries. The
plan of floodplain mapping shall be for the period from June 30, 1986, to December 31, 2004.
After the department adopts a plan of floodplain mapping, the department shall submit a
progress report and proposed implementation schedule to the general assembly biennially.
The department may modify the floodplain mapping plan as needed in response to changing
circumstances.
2. The general welfare of the people of the state requires that the water resources of the
state be put to beneficial use which includes ensuring that the waste or unreasonable use, or
unreasonable methods of use of water be prevented, and that the conservation and protection
of water resources be required with the view to their reasonable and beneficial use in the
interest of the people, and that the public and private funds for the promotion and expansion
of the beneficial use of water resources be invested to the end that the best interests and
welfare of the people are served.
3. Water occurring in a basin or watercourse, or other body of water of the state, is public
water and public wealth of the people of the state and subject to use in accordance with this
chapter,andthecontrolanddevelopmentanduseofwaterforallbeneficialpurposesisvested
in the state, which shall take measures to ensure the conservation and protection of the water
resources of the state. These measures shall include the protection of specific surface and
69 JURISDICTION OF DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, §455B.263
groundwater sources as necessary to ensure long-term availability in terms of quantity and
quality to preserve the public health and welfare.

Legislative History

[C50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §455A.2; 82 Acts, ch 1199, §16, 96]