(Des Moines) The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced Tuesday that nine Soil and Water Conservation District partners will receive a combined $451,176 in cost-share funding to improve water quality at eight publicly owned lakes across the state.
The funding comes through the Publicly Owned Lakes program, which supports conservation efforts on private land in watersheds above public lakes and reservoirs. Practices funded include cover crops, grassed waterways, terraces, sediment control basins, and grade stabilization structures—all designed to reduce nutrient runoff and sedimentation.
Three lakes in southwest Iowa will benefit from this round of funding:
Lake Icaria (Adams County): $42,750
12 Mile Lake (Union and Adair Counties): $45,000
3 Mile Lake (Union and Adair Counties): $133,793.19
IDALS allocates a portion of its annual soil conservation funding to protect Iowa’s lakes. Local districts apply for the funding, and the DNR prioritizes watersheds serving significant public lakes. This initiative complements broader state and local efforts to enhance Iowa’s surface water quality.
