Projects join 45 demonstrations, including 22 urban projects, already in place
(DES MOINES) – Today, Governor Terry Branstad, Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds and Iowa Sec. of Agriculture Bill Northey announced 12 urban conservation water quality initiative demonstration projects have been selected to receive $820,840 in funding. The 12 projects will provide nearly $1.18 million in matching funds to support water quality improvement efforts as well as other in-kind contributions.
Area communities participating in newly announced projects are: Ankeny, Burlington, Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Clive, Denison, Des Moines, Emmetsburg, Readlyn, Slater, Spencer, Urbandale, Windsor Heights and Waterloo.
“Water quality is a very important issue and today’s announcement is the next step for the Iowa Water Quality Initiative, which is continuing the effort to implement the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy,” said Branstad. “Lt. Gov. Reynolds and I have already visited a couple of the demonstration projects in place and have seen first-hand the work being done by Iowans on their farms and in their communities.”
Reynolds added, “We’re excited to get these 12 new projects underway. I want to commend and congratulate these communities for taking the necessary steps to support water quality in the state. We also look forward to continuing our conversation with the Legislature in the weeks ahead to finalize a plan that will continue to grow water quality efforts in the state.”
“The water quality demonstration projects, both those in urban and rural areas, have been incredibly valuable in helping us learn how to best implement these practices and have created a strong foundation as we look to further expand our efforts,” Northey said.
Projects will focus on conservation measures that capture and allow stormwater to be absorbed into the ground and reduce a property's contribution to water quality degradation, stream flows and flooding. They also include strong partnerships and outreach/education components to disseminate information to promote increased awareness and adoption of available practices and technologies for achieving reductions in nutrient loads to surface waters.
Practices which will be installed as part of these projects include bioretention cells, bioswales, native landscaping, permeable pavement, rain gardens, sedimentation basins, soil quality restoration, wetlands and other practices. More information about these and other urban water quality practices can be found at www.cleanwateriowa.org/
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship received 34 pre-applications for this funding after it was announced last fall and 14 projects were invited to submit full proposals. Twelve projects were selected to receive funding through the Water Quality Initiative.
Iowa has four urban conservationists that work with communities, businesses, developers and homeowners on practices that can be used in urban areas to reduce runoff.
This is the third time that urban conservation projects have been funded through the Water Quality Initiative and there are currently 22 active or completed urban demonstration projects across the state . The state awarded these initial 22 projects over $1.63 million in funding and partners and landowners participating in the projects are providing over $5 million to support these urban conservation efforts.
