New voluntary pilot project designed to improve water quality in key watersheds upstream of Des Moines and Cedar Rapids.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig last week announced a new $3 million conservation cost-share pilot project aimed at reducing nutrient runoff and improving water quality in key watersheds that feed into the Des Moines and Cedar Rapids metro areas.

The Streamside Buffer Initiative will provide financial incentives for farmers and landowners to plant perennial buffers along streams to reduce the flow of nutrients into major source water areas serving the state’s two largest cities.

“I am excited to introduce this new pilot project to accelerate the adoption of streamside buffers in fields and watersheds where they can support downstream water users,” said Naig. 

The pilot project is open to farmers and landowners in the North Raccoon, Boone, Middle Cedar and Turkey River watersheds, as well as Dubuque County. 

Designed for flexibility

The state-funded cost-share initiative is intended to be more flexible than existing federal cost-share programs to encourage more voluntary participation by farmers and landowners, Naig noted. 

Enrolled buffers must be between 30 and 100 feet wide on land currently in row crop production. Participants must commit to maintaining the buffers for at least 10 years.

Under the program, harvested buffers will receive a one-time payment of $1,750 per acre ($250 per acre for establishment costs and $1,500 per acre for foregone income). Non-harvested buffers will receive a one-time payment of $3,500 per acre ($500 per acre for establishment costs and $3,000 per acre for foregone income).

Farmers and landowners are encouraged to incorporate complementary conservation practices, like saturated buffers and bioreactors, on streamside buffers for additional water quality benefits.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) is initially allocating $3 million from the state’s Water Quality Initiative (WQI) fund to support the pilot project. 

IDALS has invested more than $65.8 million in conservation practices and technical support in the Des Moines and Cedar Rapids basins since 2003, Naig noted.

“We’re proud of the work that’s been done and the progress that’s been made to implement the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy,” said Naig. “We recognize there’s still a tremendous amount of work to do, especially in these watersheds because they provide source water for the state’s largest metropolitan areas.” 

Farmers and landowners in the targeted watersheds can enroll in the Streamside Buffer Initiative pilot project by visiting their local U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Service Center. 

Naig also encouraged farmers who live outside of the pilot project area to explore other available state and federal cost-share opportunities, including IDALS’ cover crop cost-share program.