Grants available for water awareness

DES MOINES—Conservation and natural resource groups interested in building awareness of Iowa’s creeks and watersheds can now apply for grants to put up signage identifying these features.

The Iowa DNR’s Water Quality Improvement program will accept applications for its County Creek Sign Grant Program through April 1.

Grants will provide between $5,000 and $10,000 per county to install creek and watershed signs within priority watersheds. A watershed is an area of land that drains to a specific body of water.

New for the 2024 grant cycle is the opportunity to add signs along trails. Signs can also be placed along county roads and city streets.

The general purpose of the grant is to enhance awareness of creeks and watersheds in Iowa, especially where watershed projects are underway to improve water quality.

Eligible applicants include: Iowa County Conservation Boards, Watershed Management Authorities, Resource Conservation and Development agencies, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and counties (including county engineering departments).

The grant will be funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Section 319 funds awarded by Iowa DNR. Application materials are available on DNR’s watershed improvement webpage.

For more information, email watershed.improvement@dnr.iowa.gov or contact Steve Hopkins, Nonpoint Source Coordinator, at 515-505-0140.