The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has announced it will invest in 14 urban water quality projects across the state including two in the Quad Cities region.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced Monday, April 28, that public and private partners will invest a total of $5.7 million in statewide urban water quality improvements. He made the grant announcement in West Des Moines alongside city and community leaders. It also was part of the annual Iowa Soil and Water Conservation Week. The event was held at Legacy Woods, one of the locations of the new water quality projects.
Clinton, Durant get grants
In the Quad Cities, these two projects received investments from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship:
- Bickelhaupt Arboretum in Clinton – $214,500 for renovations and enhancements. Clinton Community College (CCC) is updating the 15-acre Bickelhaupt Arboretum. It attracts visitors from around the world. The improvements include a permeable parking lot and walkway, bioretention cell, and native landscaping to protect Rock Creek. The project also expands the college’s educational offerings while improving water quality by filtering pollutants and reducing impervious cover and runoff.
- Feldham Park in Durant – $220,668 for the construction of the new permeable parking lot. The City of Durant is installing a new parking lot to improve water before it drains into Mud Creek. The new type of permeable pavement it is using also will serve as a model for other communities in Iowa.
According to a news release, the ag department will use funding from the state’s Water Quality Initiative (WQI) and other sources to provide cost-share grants that cover up to 50% of the total cost of each project. The department’s $2.7 million investment in the 14 projects will leverage an overall investment of more than $5.7 million.
“No matter where you live in Iowa – city, town, or farm – everyone has a role to play in helping to protect our vital natural resources, like soil and water,” Mr. Naig said in a news release. “Since 2015, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has invested significantly in 140 urban water quality projects across the state, collaborating with local partners to advance and accelerate the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy goals.”
Cities receiving grants
In addition to the Quad Cities area projects, these community projects also are receiving funding:
- Algona, $275,000, for downtown cultural district improvements.
- Ankeny, $200,000, for various wetlands improvements at Upper Fourmile Creek Wetland.
- Bondurant, $127,500, is transforming its fire station into a multi-use Parks and Recreation Event Center, which will include bioretention cells to manage stormwater and shared permeable paver parking.
- Cedar Rapids, $177,625, for improvements at Morgan Creek Wetland. The Linn County Conservation Board will construct a wetland/pond hybrid at Morgan Creek Park.
- Clear Lake, $12,500, for the city’s installation of a bioretention cell at Veterans Memorial Golf Course.
- Decorah, $377,000, for water quality improvements including an infiltration basin in a new city park.
- Des Moines, $108,000, for Birdland Park and Marina improvements including bioretention cells and conversion of turfgrass to diverse native landscaping.
- Dunlap, $236,358, for improvements of Pleasant View Pond including construction of a forebay and wetland to treat 474 acres of agricultural drainage prior to entering the pond.
- Evansdale, $80,522, for water quality improvements at Angels Park/Meyers Lake including a bioretention cell that will treat parking lot runoff before it reaches Meyers Lake.
- Mount Ayr, $368,995, Town Square streetscape reconstruction project that will incorporate permeable paver surfaces and bioretention cells and ultimately reduce pressure on the Grand River.
- Oskaloosa, $46,666, for Mahaska County Conservation Board to create environmental learning spaces at Caldwell Park.
- West Des Moines, $250,000, for Legacy Woods Nature Sanctuary for a series of water quality features including native plantings, bioretention cells and a grass swale leading to a stormwater wetland.
Innovation showcased
“Our new partnership project at Legacy Woods in West Des Moines showcases innovative practices that improve water quality and protect our rich natural resources,” Mr. Naig said in the release. “These practices also enhance recreation, preserve our cultural heritage, and provide the public with educational opportunities. Thank you to the West Des Moines Community Foundation, City of West Des Moines, and West Des Moines Historical Society for partnering with us on this project, as well as the many public and private partners who are helping with other urban projects across the state.”
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship provides financial and technical assistance to communities and organizations investing in urban water quality practices. To receive state funding, the projects must include education and outreach components and involve local partners.
To learn more about urban conservation practices and projects, visit CleanWaterIowa.org.
