NOTE TO EDITORS: The following is a joint news release from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

DES MOINES — The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are encouraging groups across the state to apply for grant funding to help improve Iowa’s water quality. 

Watershed and water quality improvement grants from IDALS’ Division of Soil Conservation (DSC) and DNR allow groups, such as Soil and Water Conservation Districts and other organizations, to create watershed projects. Watershed and water quality projects help individual Iowans make changes on the land in order to improve the quality of water entering our rivers, streams and lakes. 

“We’ve seen many Iowans use these watershed and water quality improvement grants and make a lot of progress in improving our state’s lakes, rivers and streams,” said Bill Ehm, the DNR’s Water Policy Coordinator. “We’re encouraging new groups to apply for our grants and continue that effort. Iowans have worked hard to improve our water, and there’s still work to do.” 

“Local Soil and Water Conservation Districts can help individual landowners, organizations, and towns address watersheds and improve water quality issues through project grants,” said Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey. “These funds can offer support technically and financially to address water quality issues.”  

In a joint application process, Iowa Soil and Water Conservation Districts can apply for funding from DNR Section 319, and/or the Water Protection Fund (WPF) and the Watershed Protection Fund (WSPF) from IDALS-DSC. Other groups and organizations are invited to apply for Section 319 funding through the DNR. 

The DNR is able to provide these grants annually through funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The grants, made possible through Section 319 of the federal Clean Water Act, are often called “Section 319 Grants” and currently fund about 50 projects in Iowa. The IDALS-DSC is able to provide grants annually through funding from the Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) program and the state’s Environment First Fund. Currently, 71 watershed and water quality projects in 66 Soil and Water Conservation Districts are supported by these funds. 

The deadline for applications for fiscal year 2008 grants is April 1, 2008. 

Groups considering applying for a grant can contact Steve Hopkins, DNR watershed improvement coordinator, at (515) 281-6402 with questions and for one-on-one assistance regarding Section 319 grants. Those with questions about WPF or WSPF funding can contact Jim Gillespie, IDALS Field Services Bureau Chief at (515) 281-7043. 

More information on grants and watershed improvement is available on the IDALS-DSC Web site at http://www.agriculture.state.ia.us/waterprojdev.htm or DNR’s Web site at http://watershed.iowadnr.gov.

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