27—12.74(161C) Agricultural drainage well closure.

1. 12.74(1)  Eligible practices.

   1. a. Agricultural drainage well plugging and cistern removal.
   2. b. Tile outlet from plugged agricultural drainage well to a suitable, legal outlet.
2. 12.74(2)  Implementation of practice. This practice shall not be used to provide outlet(s) for previously undrained wetland(s) as defined and classified under state or federal law.
3. 12.74(3)  Outlets with excess capacity. Tile outlets which exceed the minimum capacity required to provide one-half inch drainage coefficient to the area originally served by the drainage well shall be permitted, if approved by the technician. Any additional cost resulting from providing such excess capacity shall not be cost-shared by the state.

Practices listed in this rule are eligible for water protection practice fund reimbursement where installation of the practice is consistent with current drainage law of the state of Iowa. This practice is intended to assist in the voluntary closure of agricultural drainage wells registered with the department of natural resources prior to September 30, 1988. It is not intended to be a substitute for future agricultural drainage well assistance programs authorized in Iowa Code section 159.29 that will be developed in conjunction with the Iowa department of agriculture and land stewardship’s agricultural drainage well research and demonstration project.