In addition to the duties and powers otherwise conferred upon the Department of Natural Resources, it shall have the following duties and powers:

(1) To offer such assistance as may be appropriate to the commissioners of soil and water conservation districts, organized as provided in this chapter, in the carrying out of any of their powers and programs;

(2) To keep the commissioners of each of the several districts organized under the provisions of this chapter informed of the activities and experience of all other districts organized under this chapter and to facilitate an interchange of advice and experience between such districts and cooperation between them;

(3) To coordinate the programs of the several soil and water conservation districts organized under this chapter so far as this may be done by advice and consultation;

(4) To secure the cooperation and assistance of the United States and any of its agencies and of agencies and counties of this State, in the work of such districts;

(5) To disseminate information throughout the State concerning the activities and programs of the soil and water conservation districts organized hereunder and to encourage the information of such districts in areas where their organization is desirable;

(6) To receive gifts, appropriations, materials, equipment, lands and facilities and to manage, operate and disburse them for the benefit of the soil and water conservation districts;

(7) To coordinate the development of comprehensive conservation plans for environmental improvement on all lands owned or controlled by the State;

(8) To coordinate the development of a statewide landscape inventory and formulate guidelines for assisting local conservation districts, municipalities, counties, and other groups in implementing landscape and beautification programs;

(9) To coordinate the development of a comprehensive plan for implementation of the standard soil survey information and to prepare guidelines for local conservation districts, counties, municipalities and other agencies of State and local government in the use of soil survey data for land use planning, development and conservation;

(10) To coordinate the development of a statewide flood plain lands area inventory and to formulate guidelines for the conservation, protection and use of flood plain lands, excluding tidelands and marshlands;

(11) To coordinate and assist local conservation districts, counties, and municipalities in developing policies and procedures for an adequate erosion and sediment control program; and engage in an educational informational program to acquaint municipalities, conservation districts, counties, and developers with sedimentation control management measures applicable to their activities, and familiarize these people with the program of the district;

(12) To coordinate the development of a statewide irrigable land inventory and to formulate guidelines for the conservation, protection and use of such lands;

(13) To coordinate the development of a statewide inventory of the availability of rural lands for recreational uses, and to formulate guidelines for the conservation, protection and use of such lands; and

(14) To coordinate the development of conservation guidelines for incorporation into local and statewide land use plans.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 63-67; 1952 Code Section 63-67; 1942 Code Section 5806-104; 1937 (40) 242; 1951 (47) 431; 1965 (54) 106; 1970 (56) 2331; 1972 (57) 2271; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1184.