2023 Iowa Code › Title XI - NATURAL RESOURCES › Chapter 455B - JURISDICTION OF DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES › Section 455B.263 - Duties.

455B.263 Duties.
1. The commission shall deliver to the general assembly by January 15, 1987, a plan embodying a general groundwater protection strategy for this state which considers the effects of potential sources of groundwater contaminations on groundwater quality. The plan shall evaluate the ability of existing laws and programs to protect groundwater quality and recommend any necessary additional or alternative laws and programs. The department shall develop the plan with the assistance of and in consultation with representatives of agriculture, industry, and public and other interests. The commission shall report to the general assembly on the status and implementation of the plan on a biennial basis. This section does not preclude the implementation of existing or new laws or programs which may protect groundwater quality.
2. The commission shall designate the official representative of this state on all comprehensive water resources planning groups for which state participation is provided. The commission shall coordinate state planning with local and national planning and, in safeguarding the interests of the state and its people, shall undertake the resolution of any conflicts that may arise between the water resources policies, plans, and projects of the federal government and the water resources policies, plans, and projects of the state, its agencies, and its people. This section does not limit or supplant the functions, duties, and responsibilities of other state or local agencies or institutions with regard to planning of water-associated projects within the particular area of responsibility of those state or local agencies or institutions.
3. The commission shall enter into negotiations and agreements with the federal government relative to the operation of, or the release of water from, any project that has been authorized or constructed by the federal government when the commission deems the negotiations and agreements to be necessary for the achievement of the policies of this state relative to its water resources.
4. The commission, on behalf of the state, shall enter into negotiations with the federal government relative to the inclusion of conservation storage features for water supply in any project that has been authorized by the federal government when the commission deems the negotiations to be necessary for the achievement of the policies of this state, however, an agreement reached pursuant to these negotiations does not bind the state until enacted into law by the general assembly.
5. A water user who benefits from the development by the federal government of conservation storage for water supply shall be encouraged to assume the responsibility for repaying to the federal government any reimbursable costs incurred in the development, and a user who accepts benefits from the developments financed in whole or part by the state shall assume by contract the responsibility of repaying to the state the user’s reasonable share of the state’s obligations in accordance with a basis which will assure payment within the life of the development. An appropriation, diversion, or use shall not be made by a person of any waters of the state that have been stored or released from storage either under the authority of the state or pursuant to an agreement between the state and the federal government until the person has assumed by contract the person’s repayment responsibility. However, this subsection does not infringe upon any vested property interests.
6. a. In its contracts with water users for the payment of state obligations incurred in the development of conservation storage for water supply, the commission shall include the terms deemed reasonable and necessary:
(1) To protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the people of the state.
(2) To achieve the purposes of this chapter.
(3) To provide that the state is not responsible to any person if the waters involved are insufficient for performance.
b. The commission may designate and describe any such contract, and describe the relationships to which it relates, as a sale of storage capacity, a sale of water release services, a contract for the storage or sale of water, or any similar terms suggestive of the creation of a property interest. The term of the contracts shall be commensurate with the investment and use concerned, but the commission shall not enter into any such contract for a term in excess of the maximum period provided for water use permits.
7. The commission shall procure flood control works and water resources projects from or by cooperation with any agency of the United States, by cooperation with the cities and other subdivisions of the state under the laws of the state relating to flood control and use of water resources, and by cooperation with the action of landowners in areas affected by the works or projects when the commission deems the projects to be necessary for the achievement of the policies of this state.
8. The commission shall promote the policies set forth in this part and shall represent this state in all matters within the scope of this part. The commission shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A as necessary to transact its business and for the administration and exercise of its powers and duties.
9. In carrying out its duties, the commission may accept gifts, contributions, donations and grants, and use them for any purpose within the scope of this part.
[C50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §455A.3, 455A.8, 455A.15, 455A.17; 82 Acts, ch 1199, §17, 96]
C83, §455B.263
83 Acts, ch 137, §10; 85 Acts, ch 7, §3; 2011 Acts, ch 25, §143
Referred to in §455B.264, 455B.265A, 455B.266