Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced Wednesday (10.18) that a successful Water Quality Initiative (WQI) project in northeast Iowa is getting an almost half-million dollar boost to expand into a new phase.
Since the Turkey River Headwaters and Chihak Creek Water Quality Project in Howard and Winneshiek Counties started in 2020, over 35,000 acres of cover crops have been seeded in the project area. While effective in-field conservation practices like cover crops will continue to be emphasized, the next phase of this project will include an added focus on the installation of edge-of-field practices such as saturated buffers, bioreactors and wetlands. These proven practices help to filter the water and remove nutrients before they enter our waterways. More traditional practices such as grassed waterways and streambank stabilization will also be deployed.
In a statement, Naig said, “By adding edge-of-field practices in the next phase, we can further accelerate our water quality progress and build upon the solid conservation foundation that has been established in Northeast Iowa. We know these practices work and we would love to partner with farmers and landowners to get even more water quality practices implemented.â€
Through the WQI, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is investing almost $485,000 in the next phase of this project. Partners include the USDA, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Iowa Coldwater Conservatory, Iowa Soybean Association, Turkey River Pheasants Forever, Iowa DNR), and the Howard and Winneshiek County Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
The project agreement is in place through June 30, 2026.
