The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is investing in 14 urban water quality projects across the state. Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig made the announcement alongside local leaders Monday at an event at Legacy Woods in West Des Moines as part of Iowa Soil and Water Conservation Week.

Using funding from the state’s Water Quality Initiative and other sources, the agriculture department will provide cost-share grants that cover up to 50% of the total cost of each project. The department is investing nearly $2.7 million to support the 14 projects, which will leverage an overall investment of more than $5.7 million.

The projects include water quality practices like bioretention cells, bioswales, native plantings, permeable pavers, rain gardens, tree trenches, native landscaping, sediment forebays, oxbows and wetlands among many other proven practices. Central Iowa projects include:

• Ankeny, Upper Fourmile Creek Wetland, $200,000: Polk County is partnering with the city of Ankeny to plan the construction of two stormwater wetlands. This is part of a larger Fourmile Creek greenway restoration project that includes nine oxbows and wetlands with stream restoration on Fourmile Creek.
• Bondurant, Parks and Recreation Event Center, $127,500: The city of Bondurant is converting the fire station into a multi-use parks and recreation event center. This project will include bioretention cells to manage stormwater and shared permeable paver parking through a public-private partnership.
• Des Moines, Birdland Park and Marina, $108,000: This project is part of the Birdland Park and Marina improvements and includes bioretention cells and conversion of turfgrass to diverse native landscaping. These water quality efforts will treat surface runoff from the parking lot and Birdland Drive prior to entering the Des Moines River.
• West Des Moines, Legacy Woods Nature Sanctuary, $250,000: The Legacy Woods Nature sanctuary will have a series of water quality features including native plantings, bioretention cells and a grass swale leading to a stormwater wetland. Water from the property drains into Jordan Creek and then the Raccoon River. These water quality practices are the beginning phase of a larger master plan that features accessibility to trails, recreation, a playground, and a new heritage center adjacent to the Jordan House Museum. The project aims to preserve culture and natural resources through conservation practices and public education.