Sec. 9308.
(1) A conservation district organized under this part constitutes a governmental subdivision of this state and a public body corporate and politic, exercising public powers, and a conservation district and the conservation district board has all of the following powers, in addition to powers otherwise granted in this part:
(a) To conduct surveys, investigations, and research relating to the conservation of farmland, forestland, and natural resources, to publish the results of the surveys, investigations, or research, and to disseminate that information upon obtaining the consent of the landowner or the necessary rights or interest in the lands. In order to avoid duplication of research activities, a district shall not initiate any research program except in cooperation with the government of this state or any of its agencies or with the United States.
(b) To conduct demonstrational projects within the district on lands owned or controlled by this state or any of its agencies, with the cooperation of the agency administering and having jurisdiction of the lands, and on any other lands within the district upon obtaining the consent of the owner of the lands or the necessary rights or interest in the lands, to demonstrate by example the means, methods, and measures by which farmland, forestland, and natural resources may be conserved and soil erosion in the form of soil blowing and soil washing may be prevented and controlled.
(c) To carry out preventive and control measures within the district including, but not limited to, engineering operations, methods of cultivation, the growing of vegetation, changes in use of land, and other measures to achieve purposes listed in declaration of policy, on lands owned or controlled by this state or any of its agencies, with the cooperation of the agency administering and having jurisdiction of the lands, and on any other lands within the district upon obtaining the consent of the landowners or the necessary rights or interests in the lands.
(d) To cooperate or enter into agreements with and, within the limits of appropriations made available to it by law, to furnish financial or other aid to any agency, governmental or otherwise, or any landowner within the district or his or her designated representative, in the conducting of erosion-control and prevention operations within the district, subject to conditions as the directors consider necessary to advance the purposes of this part.
(e) To obtain options upon and to acquire, by purchase, exchange, lease, gift, grant, bequest, devise, or otherwise, any property, real or personal, or rights or interests in property; to maintain, administer, and improve any properties acquired, to receive income from the properties, and to expend income in carrying out the purposes and provisions of this part; and to sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of any of its property or interests in property in furtherance of the purposes and provisions of this part.
(f) To make available, on the terms it prescribes, to landowners or their designated representatives within the district and to other conservation districts, agricultural and engineering machinery and equipment, fertilizer, seeds, and seedlings, and other material or equipment that will assist landowners or their designated representatives to carry on operations upon their lands for the conservation of farmland, forestland, and natural resources and for the prevention and control of soil erosion.
(g) To engage in plant rescue operations and to propagate, plant, harvest, and, subject to section 9304a, sell only conservation species. A conservation district that violates this subdivision is subject to a civil fine of not more than $100.00 per day of violation. An action to enforce this subdivision may be brought by the state or a county in the circuit court for the county in which the conservation district is located or in which the violation occurred.
(h) To provide technical assistance to other conservation districts.
(i) To construct, improve, and maintain structures as may be necessary or convenient for the performance of any of the operations authorized in this part.
(j) To develop comprehensive plans for the conservation of farmland, forestland, and natural resources and for the control and prevention of soil erosion within the district or other conservation districts. The plans shall specify, in such detail as is possible, the acts, procedures, performances, and avoidances that are necessary or desirable for the effectuation of the plans, including the specification of engineering operations, methods of cultivation, the growing of vegetation, cropping programs, tillage practices, and changes in use of land; and to publish the plans and information described in this subdivision and bring them to the attention of residents of the district.
(k) To take over, by purchase, lease, or otherwise, and to administer any farmland, forestland, or natural resource conservation project located within its boundaries undertaken by the United States or any of its agencies or by this state or any of its agencies; to manage, as agent of the United States or any of its agencies or of this state or any of its agencies, any farmland, forestland, or natural resource conservation project within its boundaries; to act as agent for the United States or any of its agencies or for this state or any of its agencies in connection with the acquisition, construction, operation, or administration of any farmland, forestland, or natural resource conservation project within its boundaries; to accept donations, gifts, and contributions in money, services, materials, or otherwise, from the United States or any of its agencies or from this state or any of its agencies, and to use or expend the money, services, materials, or other contributions in carrying on its operations; and to accept money, gifts, and donations from any other source not specified in this subdivision.
(l) To sue and be sued in the name of the district; to have a seal that is judicially noticed; to have perpetual succession unless terminated as provided in this part; to make and execute contracts and other instruments necessary or convenient to the exercise of its powers; and to make, and from time to time amend and repeal, rules and regulations in a manner that is not inconsistent with this part to carry into effect its purposes and powers.
(m) To borrow money for facilities or equipment for conservation purposes and pledge the assets of the district as collateral against loans. Any money borrowed shall be solely the obligation of the conservation district and not the obligation of the state or any other public entity in the state.
(n) As a condition to the extension of any benefit under this part to, or the performance of work upon, any lands not owned or controlled by this state or any of its agencies, the directors may require contributions in money, services, materials, or otherwise to any operation conferring the benefits, and may require landowners to enter into and perform agreements or covenants as to the permanent use of the lands that will tend to prevent or control erosion on those lands.
(o) To act as a compliance assistance agent for other federal, state, and county laws.
(p) To act as the enforcing agency for a county if designated under section 9105.
(q) To collaborate with the department in reviewing applications for exemption as qualified forest property under section 7jj of the general property tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.7jj[1].
(r) Subject to subsection (2), in cooperation with the department, to evaluate nonindustrial private forestlands.
(s) Subject to subsection (3), to provide landowners any of the following:
(i) Technical assistance regarding potential environmental, ecological, and economic benefits of forestry, wildlife habitat, and wetland development and restoration.
(ii) Contact information for qualified foresters.
(iii) Contact information for other forest resource professionals that may have voluntarily provided information to the department.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a conservation district shall not develop management plans for nonindustrial private forestlands. A district shall provide a landowner upon request with a list of qualified foresters to develop management plans. The list shall be developed and maintained by the department. If requested by a landowner, the conservation district shall post on its website notice that the landowner is seeking forest management plan preparation; timber harvesting, marketing, or thinning; or similar services. If, after the notice is posted for at least 30 days on the conservation district's website, a landowner is unable to identify a private forester willing to develop a forest management plan, the conservation district may, upon approval by the department, prepare a forest management plan for the landowner.
(3) The exercise of powers under subsection (1)(s) does not affect the regulatory authority of any state department.
(4) Unless authorized by the county board of commissioners of each county in which a conservation district is located, a conservation district shall not enforce state or federal laws.
(5) Unless otherwise specifically provided by law, provisions with respect to the acquisition, operation, or disposition of property by other public bodies are not applicable to a district organized under this part.
History: Add. 1995, Act 60, Imd. Eff. May 24, 1995 ;-- Am. 1998, Act 463, Imd. Eff. Jan. 4, 1999 ;-- Am. 2013, Act 45, Imd. Eff. June 6, 2013
Popular Name: Act 451
Popular Name: NREPA