§450-G.__Drought prediction and auction; agreement

1.__Prediction.__On or before March 1st of each year, the board shall issue a prediction as to whether drought conditions are expected during the year.

2.__Determination.__If drought conditions are predicted or otherwise declared, the board shall determine the total number of acres of irrigated land, serviced by irrigation systems located within one or more of the affected areas, that may not be irrigated that year in order to maintain the acceptable river stream flow.

3.__Irrigation reduction auction; agreement.__Upon a determination pursuant to subsection 2, the board shall conduct an irrigation reduction auction whereby a participant operating an irrigation system located within the affected areas is given an opportunity to enter into an agreement with the board, agreeing that in exchange for a certain sum of money per acre of irrigated land serviced by the irrigation system, the participant will not irrigate those acres for the remainder of that calendar year.__The board shall pay the sum so agreed upon from the unexpended balance of the drought protection fund.

4.__Maximum dollar amount.__In conducting the irrigation reduction auction, the board shall establish a maximum dollar amount per acre to be expended from the drought protection fund for such purposes.

5.__Terms and conditions.__An agreement entered into in accordance with this section must be upon such terms and conditions as the board considers necessary.

6.__Payment.__An agreement must provide for payment of the agreed upon sum within 30 days from the date of execution of the agreement by the parties.

7.__Noncompliance.__Failure of a participant to comply with all terms of an agreement is a violation of the agreement and this article and is subject to enforcement by the board as provided in this article.

8.__Violation.__A participant who enters into an agreement in accordance with this section may not irrigate during the period covered by the agreement on those acres that the participant has agreed not to irrigate.__If the participant irrigates those acres during the period covered by the agreement,