The Cedar River Source Water Partnership
Protecting source water in the Cedar Valley through public private partnerships and upstream/downstream collaboration.
Project Leadership
City of Cedar Rapids
Funding
$19 million
Summary
The Cedar River Source Water Partnership (CRSWP) is a powerful, urban-rural project seeking to improve drinking water quality, reduce flood risk downstream, and improve wildlife habitat through simple practices that farmers can implement on their operations.
The City of Cedar Rapids leads this $20 million USDA-NRCS-funded project with support from 13 dedicated public and private sector partners. Funding pays for water quality practices, education and outreach, and technical assistance within Eastern Iowa’s Cedar River watershed.
As a key CRSWP partner, IAWA is providing $175,000 toward a high-value Conservation Agronomist position within the Linn Coop team, as well as communications support.
The CRSWP is funded through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). RCPP projects drive innovation in conservation efforts by bringing public and private entities and dollars together to target priority watersheds and landscapes.
Project Location
Conservation Practices Implemented
Check out the in-field and edge-of-field practices in this project.
IN FIELD PRACTICES
COVER CROPS
Keep living roots in the ground all year round.
NO TILL
Minimize disturbance of the soil and prevent erosion.
Prairie
Install prairie strips on unprofitable acres to protect soil.
IN FIELD PRACTICES
bioreactors & saturated buffers
Install a filter at the edge of the field.
DRAINAGE WATER MANAGEMENT
Control the water table to hold back water and nutrients when you want them.
wetlands & oxbows
Construct nature’s natural filters to trap sediment and power-boost nitrogen removal.
FSH Partners
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