The Iowa Systems Approach to Conservation Drainage

Project Summary

The Iowa Systems Approach to Conservation Drainage (ISACD) improves both farm profitability and sustainability on some of the most intensively drained farmland in Iowa. 

The ISACD uses in-field practices like cover crops and no-till in tandem with edge-of-field practices like saturated buffers and bioreactors to improve water quality, reduce flood risk and greenhouse gas emissions, and protect source water. The benefits from the practices in this project don’t stop there. We’re also improving farmers’ bottom lines through drought resilience, reduced erosion, and improved soil health.

The majority of the project funding helps with covering the costs of installing practices, with some of the funding going towards education and outreach.

The ISACD 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.