Residents in the 10 counties surrounding Lake Rathbun will form a “SouthernIowa Development and Conservation Authority” if a bill which cleared theSenate today becomes law. The counties include Appanoose, Clarke, Davis,Decatur, Jefferson, Lucas, Monroe, Van Buren, Wapello and Wayne. The Authority’s mission is to promote measures which stem soil erosion anddeal with stream channels which have been destabilized as grassland has beenconverted to cropland. The bill has already won House approval and theGovernor is expected to sign it.