1. 1. The department shall inventory the wetlands and marshes of each county and make a preliminary designation as to which constitute protected wetlands. The department shall consult with the county conservation board in making the preliminary designations. Upon completion of the inventory with preliminary designations, the department shall use an existing map or prepare a map and a list of the marshes and wetlands which are designated as protected wetlands in each county. The department shall file at least one copy of the list and map with the county conservation board and the county recorder. The department shall notify the landowners affected by the preliminary wetlands designation by certified mail. The notice shall state that any person may challenge the designation of the protected wetlands or may request the designation of additional marshes or wetlands as protected wetlands, by doing one of the following:

   1. a. Filing a petition for a hearing with the director within sixty days following the date of notice. The petition shall state specifically the reasons for disputing the preliminary designations of the department. The hearing shall be held in the county within sixty days following the expiration of the sixty-day period for filing petitions.
   2. b. Filing a request for mediation with the farm mediation service as provided in section 654A.16 within sixty days following the date of the notice. The department shall participate in mediation as provided in section 654A.16.
2. 2. Within sixty days following the completion of the hearing, or the issuance of a mediation release in which both parties agree to the designation or no agreement is reached, the director shall issue an order designating the protected wetlands in the county. The order shall be considered a final decision of the department in a contested case for the purposes of judicial review pursuant to chapter 17A.

90 Acts, ch 1199, §2 C91, §108.12 C93, §456B.12 2011 Acts, ch 25, §143

Referred to in §427.1(23), 654A.16