§ 466.4 — Conservation buffer strip program

Iowa § 466.4

• Jurisdiction: Iowa
• Title XI: NATURAL RESOURCES
• Ch. 466: IMPROVEMENT OF WATERSHED ATTRIBUTES

Text

1. As used in this section, “conservation buffer strip” means a riparian buffer, filter strip,
waterway, contour buffer strip, shallow water area for wildlife, field border, or any vegetative
barrier on private land that meets the criteria established by the United States department of
agriculture, natural resources conservation service.
2. a. The department of agriculture and land stewardship, in consultation with the
department of natural resources, shall establish a program to accelerate the United States
department of agriculture’s program to install conservation buffer strips in this state.
b. The department of agriculture and land stewardship shall request waivers from
the United States department of agriculture to initiate projects that reward landowners
maintaining current conservation practices. The goal of the projects is to discourage the
destruction of existing conservation buffer strips and to monetarily reward landowners who
maintain quality conservation practices. If the waivers are granted, up to twenty-five percent
of the program resources shall be committed to establishing projects.

c. The department of agriculture and land stewardship shall request a waiver from the
United States department of agriculture for the purpose of establishing that a person who
is subject to a twenty-five percent reduction in conservation buffer strip payments due to
grazing shall be allowed ninety days to graze animals.
d. The department of natural resources shall establish a prairie seed harvest program
to assist in the restoration of prairies and provide for private land stewardship and public
resource management through assistance with the implementation of buffer and filter strip
practices, and public or private habitat development and management. The department shall
carry out these efforts through landowner contacts and cooperation with private and public
organizations.
e. Thefive-yeargoaloftheconservationbufferstripprogramshallbetomeettheobjective
of water quality improvement by enrolling an additional four hundred seven thousand five
hundred acres.