Reynolds Using $100 Million in Pandemic Relief For Water Quality Projects

(Des Moines, IA)  —  Governor Kim Reynolds is using 100-million dollars in American Rescue Plan Act funding for water quality infinitives.  Twenty-five million is going into a state fund that provides grants to farmers implementing conservation practices, as part of the voluntary Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy.  Reynolds announced the remaining 75-million dollars will go into a Water Infrastructure Fund.  Grants from the fund will help finance projects that do things like reduce agricultural run-off, reduce flood risks and reuse wastewater.  The governor’s office says carbon sequestration projects would also be eligible, meaning some of the 75 million could finance construction of carbon pipelines through the state.  Reynolds called the investments historic and said the money will “help protect, preserve and restore Iowa’s water resources.”