Digest of Federal Resource Laws of Interest to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service
Water Bank Act
Water Bank Act -- Public Law 91-559 (84 Stat. 1468; 16 USC 1301-1311) approved
December 19, 1970, authorized the Secretary of Agriculture, after coordination
with the Secretary of Interior, to enter into 10-year contracts with landowners
to preserve wetlands and retire adjoining agricultural lands. Annual payments
may be made to participating owners, and the costs of conservation measures may
be shared. Total annual payments to owners were limited to $10 million in any
year.
Public Law 96-182 (93 Stat. 1317) approved January 2, 1980, increased the
annual maximum payments to owners from $10 million to $30 million. It also
expanded coverage to wetland types 6 and 7 (shrub and wooded swamp) and
clarified that the definition of wetlands includes artificially created inland
fresh areas and other types the Secretary may designate.
The Secretary of Agriculture is directed to reexamine payment rates every 5
years after 1980, and the amount to be expended in any one State in any calendar
year is limited to not more than 15 percent of the funds appropriated.
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