DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and Iowa Department of Natural Resources Acting Director Bruce Trautman announced May 15 that 10 Iowa lakes will receive funding through the Publicly Owned Lakes Program. The program supports cost share for landowners to install conservation practices in the watershed above publicly owned lakes and reservoirs.
The lakes being targeted are:
• Lake Binder, Adams SWCD
• Lake Icaria, Adams SWCD
• Clarke County Reservoir, Clarke SWCD
• West Lake, Clarke SWCD
• Lake Geode, Des Moines and Henry SWCDs
• Volga Lake, Fayette SWCD
• Lake Miami, Monroe SWCD
• Hickory Grove Lake, Story SWCD
• Three Mile Lake, Union and Adair SWCDs
• Twelve Mile Lake, Union and Adair SWCDs
“This program is another great example of the partnership between the Department of Ag, Iowa DNR, USDA NRCS and local farmers and landowners to protect our state’s natural resources,” Naig said. “Our lakes are a tremendous asset and these funds will help make sure they are protected, so Iowans can continue to enjoy our state’s water resources.”
“This is a significant amount of funds dedicated solely to protecting Iowa’s lakes,” Trautman said. “These projects will benefit water quality in our lakes through many different projects by utilizing common conservation practices.”
This year $323,500 in funding to districts will allow for targeted conservation work, including 465 acres of cover crops, 25,825 feet of terraces, six grade control structures and six water and sediment control basins to be implemented above these lakes.
Each year, 5 percent of the appropriation to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship for soil conservation cost share goes toward protecting the water quality of publicly owned lakes in Iowa. Local Soil and Water Conservation Districts submit applications to the Iowa DNR to become a designated lake. Farmers living within the selected lakes watersheds can apply for up to 75 percent cost share for practices that protect water quality.