(1) The director, in consultation with the council, may develop and establish priorities, procedures, and protocols for the implementation of a surface water quality monitoring program to do both of the following:

    (a) Promote voluntary water quality monitoring by farms.

    (b) Monitor and benchmark the effectiveness of conservation practices and MAEAP standards in cooperation with participating farmers.

    (2) Water quality information collected under this section by the department in cooperation with farmers shall be aggregated and made available to the commission of agriculture and rural development. Specific locations or persons involved in water quality information collection are exempt from disclosure under the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246.