Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced today that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will invest in 14 urban water quality projects within communities across the state. Secretary Naig made the announcement alongside city and community leaders from West Des Moines at an event at Legacy Woods, the location of one of the new water quality projects. The announcement was made as part of the annual Iowa Soil and Water Conservation Week. 

Utilizing funding from the state’s Water Quality Initiative (WQI) and other sources, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will provide cost-share grants that cover up to 50 percent of the total cost of each project. The Department is investing nearly $2.7 million to support the 14 projects, which 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. 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,” said Secretary Naig.

The Department provides financial and technical assistance to the communities and organizations implementing these urban water quality practices. To receive state funding, the urban water quality projects must include education and outreach components and involve local partners. These community-based projects raise awareness about new stormwater management methods and encourage others to adopt similar practices to improve water quality.

These urban conservation projects include water quality practices like bioretention cells, bioswales, native plantings, permeable pavers, rain gardens, tree trenches, native landscaping, sediment forebays, oxbows, and wetlands among many other proven practices.

2025 project locations listed in alphabetical order: Algona, Ankeny, Bondurant, Cedar Rapids, Clear Lake, Clinton, Decorah, Des Moines, Dunlap, Durant, Evansdale, Mount Ayr, Oskaloosa, and West Des Moines.  

Read the full press release with project details here. 

To learn more about urban conservation practices and projects in Iowa, visit CleanWaterIowa.org.