161A.80A Blufflands protection program and revolving fund.

1. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

a. For purposes of this section only, “bluffland” means a cliff, headland, or hill with a broad, steep face along the channel or floodplain of the Missouri or Mississippi river and their tributaries.

b. “Conservation organization” means a nonprofit corporation incorporated in Iowa or an entity organized and operated primarily to enhance and protect natural resources in this state.

2. A blufflands protection revolving fund is created in the state treasury. All proceeds shall be divided into two equal accounts. One account shall be used for the purchase of blufflands along the Mississippi river and its tributaries and the other account shall be used for the purchase of blufflands along the Missouri river and its tributaries. The proceeds of the revolving fund are appropriated to make loans to conservation organizations which agree to purchase bluffland properties adjacent to state public lands. The department of agriculture and land stewardship, in conjunction with the department of natural resources, shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to administer the disbursement of funds. Notwithstanding section 12C.7, interest or earnings on investments made pursuant to this section or as provided in section 12B.10 shall be credited to the blufflands protection revolving fund. Notwithstanding section 8.33, unobligated or unencumbered funds credited to the blufflands protection revolving fund shall not revert at the close of a fiscal year. However, the maximum balance in the blufflands protection revolving fund shall not exceed two million five hundred thousand dollars. Any funds in excess of two million five hundred thousand dollars shall be credited to the rebuild Iowa infrastructure fund. No loan shall be made under this section on or after July 1, 2025.

3. This section is repealed on July 1, 2030.

2015 Acts, ch 132, §45

Referred to in §161A.80B