Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced Tuesday that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will invest in 14 urban water quality projects within communities of all sizes across the state.
Utilizing funding from the state’s Water Quality Initiative (WQI) and other sources, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will provide cost-share grants that cover up to 50 percent of the total cost of each project. The Department is investing nearly $3.6 million, which will leverage an overall investment of approximately $10 million across
These urban conservation projects include water quality practices like bioretention cells, bioswales, native plantings, permeable pavers, rain gardens, soil quality restoration, and wetlands among many other proven practices.
The city of Bloomfield will get $216,250 for the Fox River-Bloomfield Square Permeable Sidewalk project. Bloomfield is updating the Historical Bloomfield Square north and west sidewalks by installing permeable pavers and bioretention cells. These practices intercept stormwater from the sidewalks and filter it before releasing it to storm drains, rivers, and streams.