IDALS accepting applications for water quality demonstration projects

by | Oct 10, 2017 | 5 Ag Stories, News

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship today requested pre-applications for projects located in urban areas that are focused on improving water quality.

Projects should focus on conservation measures that reduce a property’s contribution to water quality degradation, runoff and flooding by incorporating practices such as bioretention cells, wetlands, native landscaping and other approved nutrient reduction practice technologies.

?Iowans in both the rural and urban areas of our state are taking on the challenge of improving water quality and we are excited to start taking pre-applications for another round of urban projects to join the 22 Ag projects that are currently underway through the Iowa Water Quality Initiative,? said Mike Naig, Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. ?We hope that interested communities, watershed groups or other organizations will take this opportunity to learn about the cost-share funding that is available and consider applying.?

Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCDs), counties, county conservation boards, cities or other units of government, not-for-profit non-governmental organizations (NGOs), public water supply utilities or watershed management organizations are eligible to submit applications.

In addition to demonstrating urban conservation practices, projects should include strong outreach/education components to distribute information on these practices to promote increased awareness and adoption of available practices and technologies for achieving reductions in nutrient loads to surface waters. Successful projects will serve as local and regional hubs for demonstrating practices and providing practice information to homeowners, municipalities, businesses, and local communities.

The maximum three-page pre-application must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, December 8, 2017. Pre-applications selected to submit a full application will be notified by January 12, 2018 and the full applications will be due on February 9, 2018. Projects selected to receive funding will be announced in early March.

Project pre-application guidance can be found on the Department?s website at www.IowaAgriculture.gov under ?Hot Topics? or can be requested by contacting the Department?s Division of Soil Conservation and Water Quality at 515-281-5851.

Currently, 34 Urban Conservation Water Quality Initiative Demonstration Projects have been funded, nine in 2015, thirteen in 2016 and twelve in 2017. The state has awarded over $2.45 million in funding and partners and landowners participating in the projects will provide over $6.22 million to support urban conservation efforts.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey created the Urban Conservation program in 2008 and has urban conservationists that work to educate communities, businesses, developers and homeowners about practices that can be used in urban areas to reduce runoff and improve water quality.