Iowa Code § 483A.3B - Game bird habitat development programs

1. Allocation of revenue — accounts. All revenue collected from wildlife habitat fees as provided in section 483A.3, subsection 1, paragraph “d”, that is deposited in the state fish and game protection fund and that is allocated pursuant to this section shall be allocated as follows: a. Not less than two dollars of each wildlife habitat fee collected shall be allocated to the game bird wetlands conservation account. b. Not less than one dollar of each wildlife habitat fee collected shall be allocated to the game bird buffer strip assistance account. c. Notwithstanding section 12C.7, subsection 2, interest or earnings on moneys collected from wildlife habitat fees that are deposited in each account created under this section shall be credited to that account. Notwithstanding section 8.33 or section 456A.17, moneys credited to each account created under this section shall not revert to the state general fund at the close of a fiscal year. d. All revenue collected from wildlife habitat fees as provided in section 483A.3, subsection 1, paragraph “d”, that is allocated pursuant to this section shall be used as provided in this section, except for that part which is specified by the department for use in paying administrative expenses as provided in section 456A.17. 2. Game bird wetlands conservation program. a. All moneys allocated to the game bird wetlands conservation account shall be used by the department only to carry out the purposes of the game bird wetlands conservation program and shall be used in addition to funds already being expended by the department each year for wetlands conservation purposes. b. The purpose of the game bird wetlands conservation program is to create a sustained source of revenue to be used by the department to qualify for federal matching funds that are available for wetlands conservation and to undertake projects in conjunction with soil and water conservation districts, county conservation boards, and other partners that will aid in wetlands and associated habitat conservation in the state, including the acquisition, restoration, maintenance, or preservation of wetlands and associated habitat. c. (1) All moneys that are allocated to the game bird wetlands conservation account shall accumulate in the account until the account balance is equal to one million dollars or an amount sufficient to be used by the department to qualify for federal matching funds. Each time the account balance reaches an amount sufficient to be used by the department to qualify for federal matching funds, the department shall apply for such matching funds, and upon obtaining such funds, shall expend the state and federal revenues available at that time to undertake projects as set forth in paragraph “b”. (2) Additional moneys that are generated by game bird wildlife habitat fees and allocated to the game bird wetlands conservation account shall again accumulate in the account, and each time the account balance is equal to one million dollars or an amount sufficient to be used by the department to qualify for federal matching funds, the department shall again apply for federal matching funds, and upon obtaining such funds, shall expend the state and federal revenues available at that time to undertake projects as set forth in paragraph “b”. d. The department shall use all state revenue and federal matching funds obtained under the federal North American Wetlands Conservation Act to undertake the purposes of the game bird wetlands conservation program as set forth in paragraph “b”. State revenue allocated to the account shall be used by the department only for projects that increase public recreational hunting opportunities in the state and shall not be used for projects on private land that is not accessible to the public for recreational hunting. 3. Game bird buffer strip assistance program. a. All moneys allocated to the game bird buffer strip assistance account shall be used by the department only to carry out the purposes of the game bird buffer strip assistance program and shall be used in addition to funds already being expended by the department each year for such purposes. The department shall not reduce the amount of other funds being expended for these purposes as of July 1, 2007. b. The purpose of the game bird buffer strip assistance program is to increase landowner participation in federally funded conservation programs that benefit game birds and to increase opportunities for recreational hunting on private lands. To the extent possible, moneys allocated to the game bird buffer strip assistance account shall be used in conjunction with and to qualify for additional funding from private conservation organizations and other state and federal agencies to accomplish the purposes of the program. The funds may be used to provide private landowners with cost-sharing assistance for habitat improvement practices on projects that are not eligible for federal programs or where federal funding for such projects is not adequate. The department may utilize the funds to provide marketing and outreach efforts to landowners in order to maximize landowners’ use of federal conservation programs. The department may coordinate such marketing and outreach efforts with soil and water conservation districts and other partners. c. (1) All moneys that are allocated to the game bird buffer strip assistance account shall accumulate in the account for a period of three years. At the end of the three-year period, the moneys in the account shall be used by the department to carry out the purposes of the game bird buffer strip assistance program as set forth in paragraph “b”. The department shall, by rule pursuant to chapter 17A, establish eligibility requirements for the program and procedures for applications for and approval of projects to be funded under the program. The department shall expend moneys from the account only for projects on private land that is accessible to the public for recreational hunting. (2) Additional moneys that are generated by game bird wildlife habitat fees and allocated to the game bird buffer strip assistance account shall accumulate in the account and shall be used by the department every three years as set forth in subparagraph (1). 2007 Acts, ch 194, §4; 2018 Acts, ch 1159, §7, 28 Referred to in §483A.3