NEW! IDALS STREAMSIDE BUFFER PILOT PROJECT

new state cost-share program

Farmers and landowners in Des Moines, Middle Cedar, North Raccoon and Turkey River watersheds are invited to participate in this new state cost-share program.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) has launched a new, state-funded cost-share pilot project to support farmers and landowners in the watersheds upstream from the Des Moines and Cedar Rapids metropolitan areas.

This voluntary program aims to improve water quality by encouraging the installation of vegetative streamside buffers — natural strips of plants along streams, rivers, and creeks that filter phosphorus and nitrates from runoff before it enters nearby water sources.

IDALS is allocating $3 million from the state’s Water Quality Initiative (WQI) to fund the Streamside Buffer Initiative Pilot Project and advance the
Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy.

 

About the Streamside Buffer Initiative Pilot Project

  • This state-funded cost-share initiative is intended to be more flexible than existing federal cost-share programs to encourage even more farmers and landowners to participate.

  • Enrolled buffers must be, on average, at least 30 feet wide and can be up to 100 feet wide on one side of the stream.

  • Payments will only be made on new acres taken out of row crop production.

  • Streamside buffers must be maintained for at least 10 years. 

  • Strips of land running alongside creeks, drainage ditches, lakes, rivers and streams are eligible for this cost-share program.

  • Harvested buffers will receive a one-time payment of $250 per acre for establishment costs and $1,500 per acre for foregone income (total $1,750 per acre). Non-harvested buffers will receive a one-time payment
    of $500 per acre for establishment costs and $3,000 per acre
    for foregone income (total $3,500 per acre).

  • Farmers and landowners are encouraged to layer conservation practices
    on streamside buffers for additional soil health and water quality benefits,
    and to enrich wildlife habitats.

 

Who’s Eligible?

Farmers and landowners in the targeted watersheds who are interested in participating in the Streamside Buffer Initiative pilot project should visit their local USDA Service Center to enroll.If you farm or own land along waterways in the following priority watersheds, you're eligible to enroll in the Streamside Buffer Initiative:

  • North Raccoon Watershed

  • Boone Watershed

  • Middle Cedar Watershed

  • Turkey River watershed

  • Dubuque County

There are other state and federal cost share programs available to support farmers
and landowners in other watersheds who are interested in adopting conservation practices.

 

FAQs

For more information, please see the list of Frequently Asked Questions.