TO: Reporters and Editors
RE: Governor Culver Signing HF 2400
DA: Thursday, April 3, 2008
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey issued the following statement today regarding Iowa Governor Chet Culver signing HF 2400, which codifies the recommendations of the Watershed Quality Planning Task Force.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Division of Soil Conservation was a member of the Watershed Quality Planning Task Force. The Division of Soil Conservation is also responsible for a wide variety of soil and water quality conservation programs and assists the 100 Soil and Water Conservation Districts across the state.
HF 2400 includes a number of provisions designed to protect water quality across the state. The legislation calls for:
Creation of a Water Resource Coordinating Council in the Governors Office to coordinate the management of Iowa’s water resources. The council will include a wide variety of groups, including the Sec. of Agriculture and the Director of the Division of Soil Conservation.
Support for a Water Quality Research and Marketing Campaign to educate Iowans about the need to take personal responsibility for water quality in their local watershed.
Larger Watershed Assessment, Planning, Prioritization and Implementation to look at regional watersheds in the state.
Smaller Watershed Assessment, Planning, Prioritization and Implementation to look at local, community-based, subwatershed improvement plans.
Support for Smaller Watershed Monitoring and Measurement to help communities with monitoring and measurement of subwatersheds.
Assess and Prioritize Wastewater and Stormwater Treatment Infrastructure to find which present the greatest level of risk to water quality and health of residents.
Northey’s comment regarding HF 2400 which was signed today follows here:
“Improving water quality is central to the work at the Department and I looking forward to working with the Governor’s office and the other council members to continue to advance this important issue and better coordinate our efforts. I thank the legislature and the Governor for providing strong, bi-partisan leadership to get this legislation passed.
“The Council has the potential to help the wide variety of groups focused on improving water quality in the state work together better and avoid duplication that can result from a lack of coordination.”
