Upper Iowa River Watershed Management Authority

DRC Sponsor: Kim Bonnet

In response to the major statewide flooding event in 2008, the Iowa State Legislature in 2010 established watershed management authorities to serve as a mechanism for cities, counties, soil and water conservation districts, and other interested parties to engage cooperatively in watershed planning and management. The Upper Iowa River Watershed Management Authority (UIRWMA) was formed after the region was awarded $5.5 million last year as part of a National Disaster Resiliency Competition grant, which allocated a total of $96.9 million to nine watershed authorities across the state over the next five years. The grant funding is primarily targeted towards the construction of impactful conservation practices on private land. The current Chairman of the UIRWMA, local businessman and farmer, and former State Representative for the Iowa 16th District (Natural Resources Committee Vice Chair) and Winneshiek County Supervisor, John Beard, will be sharing information about UIRWMA and progress on implementation of a variety of conservation projects.