(1)    Central agency. The department is the central agency of this state responsible for setting and implementing statewide soil and water conservation policies and administering the state’s soil and water conservation programs. The department shall coordinate its soil and water conservation program with the nonpoint source water pollution abatement program established under s. 281.65, the inland lake protection and rehabilitation program established under ch. 33 and other programs with objectives related to soil and water conservation administered by the department of natural resources or by other state or federal agencies.

   (2)   Powers.

      (a)    Accept gifts. The department may accept contributions of money or gifts for soil and water conservation purposes.

      (b)    Require reports. The department may require reports from the counties as needed.

   (3)   Duties.

      (a)    Information. The department shall keep county land conservation committee members generally informed of activities and experience useful to them.

      (b)    Development; coordination. The department shall assist in developing and coordinating the plans and programs of each county.

      (c)    Rules. The department shall promulgate rules governing implementation of this chapter and distribution of state or federal funds by the department to the counties. The department shall comply with the procedures under s. 92.04 (3) in promulgating these rules.

      (d)    Advise University of Wisconsin System. The department shall advise the University of Wisconsin System annually on developing research and educational programs relating to soil and water conservation.

      (e)    Studies. The department may undertake studies and investigations and make and issue reports and recommendations with respect to state soil and water conservation program needs. Biennially, the department shall prepare a state soil and water conservation report. This report shall include a description of present soil and water resource uses and a projection of future trends, an assessment of soil and water conservation problems in relation to soil and water resource use practices and any actions necessary to correct or solve these problems including specific goals, action schedules, program evaluation criteria and provisions for the coordination of these actions with programs developed by other agencies for the development, management and conservation of soil, water and related natural resources. This report shall include the identification of counties and specific parcels within these counties where soil and water conservation problems are most acute and recommendations for actions necessary to correct or solve these problems.

      (f)    Nonpoint source water pollution abatement. The department shall perform the duties specified for the department in the nonpoint source water pollution abatement program under s. 281.65 (5).

      (g)    Watershed protection and flood prevention act. The department has responsibility over programs provided by 16 U.S. Code § 1001 to 1008 relating to the planning and carrying out of works of improvement for soil and water conservation and other purposes.

      (h)    Model ordinances. The department shall make available model ordinances for counties and municipalities concerning regulation and control of land use and land management practices as authorized under s. 92.11.

      (i)    Provide staff. The department shall provide staff to assist the board in performing its statutory duties.

      (j)    Milkhouse wastewater. The department, in consultation with appropriate state and federal agencies, shall promulgate guidelines for determining eligibility for financial assistance under ss. 92.14 and 281.65 for milkhouse wastewater.

      (k)    Nutrient management rules. The department shall promulgate rules to improve agricultural nutrient management in this state. The rules shall be consistent with rules promulgated under s. 281.16 (3) and shall include incentives, educational and outreach provisions and compliance requirements.

      (L)    Technical assistance; performance standards. The department shall provide technical assistance to county land conservation committees and local units of government for the development of ordinances that implement standards adopted under s. 92.07 (2), 92.15 (2) or (3) or 281.16 (3). The department’s technical assistance shall include preparing model ordinances, providing data concerning the standards and reviewing draft ordinances to determine whether the draft ordinances comply with applicable statutes and rules.