Wetlands

Wetlands are areas where water is slowed down, allowing nature to filter out nutrients from water runoff. They provide multiple ecosystem services such as downstream flood resiliency, nutrient and sediment capture, wildlife habitat, and recreational enjoyment.

Historically, Iowa was the prairie pothole of the upper Midwest, meaning it was dotted with thousands of wetlands that slowed water moving through the Mississippi watershed and provided landscape-level filtration.

However, with the advent of farming, wetlands were drained, and Iowa’s rich soils became the breadbasket of the United States. In draining our wetlands, we lost important ecosystem services that we now realize we need for improved downstream water quality.

There are state, federal, and private funding options for wetlands. If you want a wetland in Iowa, you won’t have to pay for it. Let us help you find the right wetland program for you.