Iowa's Watershed Improvement Review Board awarded $2.4 million to seven projects that will improve water quality across the state. The grant funds will be matched by more than $5 million from the recipients to support these projects.

Since the inception in 2005, the Legislature has provided $20 million for these watershed improvement grants.  These approved projects have already completed watershed assessments that identified critical water resource areas and will focus on implementing specific water quality improvements.

Soil and water conservation districts, public water supply utilities, county conservation boards, cities, and local watershed improvement committees are eligible to apply.  Individual projects can request up to $500,000.

The approved grants are as follows:

• Competine Creek, Marion County Soil and Water Conservation District; project length 3 years; grant amount  $199,530.
• Des Moines Area Community College Lake Watershed, Polk County Soil and Water Conservation District; project length 2 years; grant amount $500,000.
• Duck Creek Watershed, River Action organization in Scott County; project length 2 years; grant amount  $124,375.
• Remsen Source Water Protection Project, City of Remsen in Plymouth County; project length 3 years; grant amount $160,800.
• Sands Timber, Taylor County Soil and Water Conservation District; project length 3 years; grant amount $499,751.
• Staff Creek and Beaver Creek, Howard County Soil and Water Conservation District; project length is three years; grant amount $392,950.
• Walnut Creek, Montgomery and East Pottawattamie County Soil and Water Conservation Districts; project length is 3 years; grant amount $489,455. 

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