S105 - 2021 Appropriations Act. (SL 2021-180)

Overview: Section 5.9.(k) of S.L. 2021-180 establishes the Streamflow Rehabilitation Assistance Program (Program), to be administered by the Soil and Water Conservation Commission (Commission) to assist the State's political subdivisions, soil and water conservation districts, and nonprofit organizations to restore the integrity of drainage infrastructure by removing stream blockages, restoring streams and streambanks, and rehabilitating small watershed structural projects.

The Commission must ensure that debris removed from streams with Program funds are either removed from the 100-year floodplain or are processed in a manner that the debris would not pose a risk of significant streamflow impairment during a subsequent flood event. Program funds may be used for project engineering, permitting, and administrative costs, as well as providing matching funds for any disaster recovery activities funded by the federal government.

Section 5.9.(a) allocates $38 million to the Commission to be used to establish and administer the Program.

No later than January 31 each year, the Division of Soil and Water Conservation of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services must prepare and submit a comprehensive report on the implementation of this Program to the Environmental Review Commission and the Fiscal Research Division.

This section became effective July 1, 2021.