(1) The conservation assistance revolving account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. Moneys from the account may only be spent after appropriation. Moneys placed in the account shall include principal and interest from the repayment of any loans granted under this section, and any other moneys appropriated to the account by the legislature. Expenditures from the account may be used only to make loans to landowners for projects enrolled in the conservation reserve enhancement program and the continuous conservation reserve program.

(2) In order to aid the financing of conservation reserve enhancement program projects and continuous conservation reserve program projects, the conservation commission, through the conservation districts, may make interest-free loans to these enrollees from the conservation assistance revolving account. The conservation commission may require such terms and conditions as it deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this section. Loans to landowners shall be for costs associated with the installation of conservation improvements eligible for and secured by federal farm service agency practice incentive payment reimbursement. Loans under this program promote critical habitat protection and restoration by bridging the financing gap between project implementation and federal funding. The conservation commission shall give loan preferences to those projects expected to generate the greatest environmental benefits and that occur in basins with critical or depressed salmonid stocks. Money received from landowners in loan repayments made under this section shall be paid into the conservation assistance revolving account for uses consistent with this section.

Severability—2004 c 277: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [ 2004 c 277 s 919.]

Effective dates—2004 c 277: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately [April 1, 2004], except for sections 117 and 202 of this act, which take effect April 16, 2004." [ 2004 c 277 s 920.]