About the grants
DNR Watershed Implementation Grants give funding and assistance to local groups to put a Watershed Management Plan into action. These plans identify problems in a watershed, develop solutions to improve water quality and create strategies to put the plan into action. Applicants must have a completed Watershed Management Plan to apply for a DNR Watershed Implementation Grant. If you don't yet have a plan, consider applying for a DNR Watershed Planning Grant for assistance creating a plan.

Note: Soil and Water Conservation Districts applying for WPF or WSPF funds from IDALS-DSC in addition to a DNR Watershed Implementation Grant, should use the above application form and note that you also intend to apply for WPF or WSPF. There is no need to fill out separate applications. 

Get started
The first step in applying for a DNR watershed grant is to contact your Basin Coordinator, who can talk with you about your group's vision for water quality and talk about the resources available to you, as well as answer your questions about the grant application process. Contact information for basin coordinators, watershed grant staff

For those looking for additional planning assistance, the DNR also offers Watershed Planning Grants to help groups evaluate potential projects and develop watershed plans before applying for an Implementation Grant.

Selecting grant recipients
The DNR is looking to fund watershed efforts that will:

• Target improvement of impaired waters
  - List of impaired waters eligible for grants (by name)
  - List of impaired waters eligible for grants (by major river basin)
• Target priority areas
• Measure the amount of pollution reduced in the watershed
• Reduce the amount of pollutants reaching waters
• Implement watershed management plans
• Implement conservation practices based on water monitoring and/or a watershed assessment

Grant process timeline - DNR Watershed Implementation Grants

These grants are made possible by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, through funding provided in Section 319 of the federal Clean Water Act. Because of this, Watershed Implementation Grants have also been known in the past as "Section 319 Grants." The DNR uses the EPA grant funds to support its watershed improvement program and to fund grants for watershed improvement projects throughout the state. The DNR often partners with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service on these projects.

DNR Contact
Steve Hopkins
DNR Watershed Improvement Program Grants Coordinator
515-281-6402
Stephen.Hopkins@dnr.iowa.gov