Secretary Naig Announces Funding for Urban Water Quality Initiative Projects on Earth Day
DES MOINES, Iowa (April 22, 2020) – Secretary Mike Naig announced that 11 urban Water Quality Initiative (WQI) projects across Iowa will receive $1.1 million in state funds this year. Applicants and partners have committed to investing an additional $6.8 million in the projects, bringing total urban WQI investments to $7.9 million in 2020.
“Iowans are good stewards of the land year-round, and right now is a great time to recognize their dedication,” said Secretary Mike Naig. “These projects are an investment in the people and communities where they are. They will also help show the conservation progress we can make when rural and urban citizens and public and private partners work together. Every person and every city in Iowa can be a leader in improving water quality, both in our state and downstream.”
Project Details
City of Elkhart Main Street Restoration — $100,000 in state funding, plus $252,500 in partner and applicant contributions, will help install permeable pavers that control stormwater flow and provide non-point source treatment of runoff. The project, located at the top of the watershed, will be a building block for future conservation work and support existing nutrient reduction efforts.
Decorah Vesterheim Heritage Park and Museum — $100,000 in state funding, plus $174,830 in partner and applicant contributions, will be used to construct a stormwater management structure that will help improve water quality in Decorah by removing nutrients. The project will also serve as an educational tool for museum visitors from Iowa and around the globe.
Calhoun County Soil and Water Conservation District, Lake City — $85,000 in state funding, plus $85,000 in partner and applicant contributions, will be used to construct four bioretention cells that will treat stormwater runoff from the hospital and surrounding businesses in Lake City. In addition to improving water quality in the area, the project will also promote education and awareness about the importance of stormwater management in reducing nutrient levels.
Underwood Stormwater Management — $100,000 in state funding, plus $318,341 in partner and applicant contributions, will be used to construct the town’s first stormwater management project, which will include a series of biowales and bioretention cells throughout the Charles Creek drainage way. Once completed, the practices will capture and treat stormwater drainage from both urban and agricultural areas.
Fourmile Creek Greenway Stormwater Wetland — $65,000 in state funding, plus $313,281 in partner and applicant contributions, will be used to install a stormwater wetland to treat water before it is discharged into the creek. This project will reduce water nutrient levels and support the overall Four Mile Creek water management plan. The project will also be highly visible from the recreational trail and will reuse existing excavated materials from a road removal project to reduce the structure’s construction footprint.
Waukee Public Library Multi-Practice Project — $100,000 in state funding, plus $2,000,000 in partner and applicant contributions, will be used to install permeable pavers, biocells, and a stormwater basin. Together, these practices will improve water quality in Waukee by capturing and treating 23 acres of runoff from surrounding areas. In addition to enhancing the aesthetics of the library’s parking area, the project will facilitate conversations about the importance of water quality and provide a wildlife habitat.
The Department is finalizing the details of the five remaining projects.
For more information about the state’s Water Quality Initiative, visit cleanwateriowa.org.