Iowa communities can now apply for state funding to support the implementation of urban water quality improvement projects, announced Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig on Oct. 1.

Urban conservation projects capture stormwater and allow it to be better absorbed into the ground to prevent nutrients and sediment from entering local water sources. Examples of eligible urban conservation projects include bioretention cells, bioswales, native landscaping, permeable pavement, rain gardens, tree trenches and wetlands.

“There’s still work to be done to meet the goals outlined in Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy, and partnering with municipalities helps us make a meaningful impact,” Naig said. “This funding allows municipal planners and engineers to implement permanent practices that help manage stormwater to prevent flash flooding, erosion and nutrient runoff, which has an effect on water quality locally and downstream.”

Partnering to improve water quality

Municipalities, county conservation boards, soil and water conservation districts; other government agencies; nonprofit, non-governmental organizations; public water suppliers; and watershed management organizations are eligible to apply.

Successful preproposals will use established partnerships and include strong outreach and education components. The proposed urban water quality improvement projects should be spearheaded and implemented by local leaders, organizations and volunteers.

Completed projects will serve as local and regional demonstration sites; these sites are intended to show homeowners, municipalities and businesses how to adopt permanent infrastructure that reduces nutrient loads in surface waters.

Pre-apply by Dec. 6

The pre-applications must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. Dec. 6. Applicants will be notified by Jan. 10 if they have been selected to submit a full application, which will be due on Feb. 7. Projects selected to receive funding will be announced in early March.

Pre-application guidance is at iowaagriculture.gov or requested by contacting the Iowa Ag Department’s Division of Soil Conservation and Water Quality at 515-281-5851.

This is the sixth year that Urban Conservation Water Quality Initiative Demonstration Project funding has been offered through the Iowa Department of Agriculture. Currently, 55 projects have been awarded funding — nine in 2015, 12 in 2016, 12 in 2017, 11 in 2018 and 11 in 2019.

In total, the state has awarded over $4.1 million in funding; private partners and landowners have provided an additional $11.2 million to support these urban conservation projects.

Background on initiative

The Iowa Water Quality Initiative was established in 2013 to help implement the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy. INRS is a science- and technology-based approach to achieving a 45% reduction in nitrogen and phosphorus losses to improve water quality in Iowa and downstream. The strategy brings together both point sources, such as municipal wastewater treatment plants and industrial facilities, and nonpoint sources, including farm fields and urban stormwater runoff to address these issues.

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