Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is beginning construction on eight additional abandoned mine land (AML) reclamation projects in southeast Iowa. The eight projects, which represent more than $5 million in combined investment by the Department, are expected to be complete by the end of 2026. 

"The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is committed to working alongside our public and private partners to restore and protect our rich natural resources. Each abandoned mine land reclamation project reflects the state’s ongoing investment in conservation and is a visible sign of progress, producing cleaner water, healthier soil, and safer land for future generations,” said Secretary Naig. “These AML projects reduce hazards, improve wildlife habitat and create new opportunities for agriculture, conservation and recreation in Iowa.”

Coal mining began in Iowa as early as the 1840s with coal production peaking around 1917. Years later, the federal government enacted the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, which required companies to remove hazards and stabilize coal mines after they finished mining. This legislation paved the way for the Department’s AML program, which began in 1983. Iowa has more than 13,000 acres of AML sites located primarily in Davis, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, Van Buren and Wapello counties.

AML sites may include dangerous piles, embankments, high walls, pit ponds and bare acidic soils that need to be graded and neutralized for reclamation. Funding for reclamations is made available through a partnership with the Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) located in the United States Department of the Interior. 

These eight projects are in addition to 10 others currently under construction. An additional 12 sites are in the design and planning phase. Approximately 122 projects have been completed during the past four decades, with a total investment of nearly $112 million dollars. There are approximately 138 sites awaiting reclamation.

Find details on the individual projects here.