Secretary Naig Announces Water Quality Investments to Protect Six Lakes

Secretary Naig Announces Water Quality Investments to Protect Six Lakes

State cost-share will support proven conservation practices that improve water quality and support recreation at Iowa lakes

DES MOINES, Iowa (Sept. 15, 2026) - Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced that six Iowa Soil and Water Conservation Districts will receive more than $405,000 in water quality cost-share funding through the Publicly Owned Lakes program. The funding will support conservation practices on private land to protect six public lakes across Iowa.

Jointly administered by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Publicly Owned Lakes program has been in place for several decades. It provides cost-share funding to farmers and landowners for conservation practices that help reduce nutrient loss and sediment delivery to improve water quality in Iowa's public lakes and reservoirs.

"Iowa's lakes are important natural resources that provide recreational opportunities, wildlife habitat and economic benefits to communities across our state," said Secretary Naig. "By working together with Soil and Water Conservation Districts, DNR, farmers and landowners, we're putting proven conservation practices on the landscape that protect these lakes and improve water quality. These investments are part of a program that has been around for several decades and are another example of the partnerships and locally led conservation work happening across Iowa."

"Iowans value water quality and want safe, healthy lakes in their pursuit of outdoor recreation," said Iowa Department of Natural Resources Director Kayla Lyon. "Partnerships to establish conservation practices on land that drains into our public lakes are critical to enhancing and protecting water quality."

The $405,265.76 in state cost-share will support a variety of conservation practices within the six lake watersheds. Planned projects include terraces, grade stabilization structures, water and sediment control basins, grassed waterways and cover crops. These proven practices help reduce soil erosion, slow and filter runoff, and keep nutrients and sediment from reaching Iowa's lakes and other surface waters.

Each year, a percentage of the funding that IDALS receives for soil conservation cost-share is directed toward protecting water quality in publicly owned lakes. Local Soil and Water Conservation Districts submit applications, which DNR uses to establish a priority list of watersheds above significant public lakes. Farmers and private landowners within selected watersheds are then eligible to receive additional cost-share assistance for practices that improve water quality.

These investments complement other ongoing efforts by the state and public and private partners to improve and protect water quality in Iowa's lakes, rivers and other surface waters. The following lakes were selected:

Lake Icaria
Adams County Soil and Water Conservation District
$91,350

Three Mile Lake
Adair County Soil and Water Conservation District
Union County Soil and Water Conservation District
$90,000

Twelve Mile Lake
Adair County Soil and Water Conservation District
Union County Soil and Water Conservation District
$102,750

West Lake
Clarke County Soil and Water Conservation District
$34,271.25

Badger Creek Lake
Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District
Dallas County Soil and Water Conservation District
$32,294.51

Lake Miami
Monroe County Soil and Water Conservation District
$54,600

Total state investment: $405,265.76