- About Our Projects
- Midwest Agriculture Water Quality Partnership
- Iowa Systems Approach to Conservation Drainage
- Farmers for Soil Health
- Conservation Agronomists Network
- Born Here, Brewed Here
- Wetland Reserve Easements
- Batch and Build
- The Cedar River Source Water Partnership
- North Raccoon Soil and Water Outcomes
- Conservation Infrastructure
- Horizon II
Wetland Reserve Easements
Wetlands provide important benefits like wildlife and pollinator habitat, flood risk reduction, and improved water quality.
The Wetland Reserve Easement program (WRE) helps identify and fund the restoration of wetlands in Iowa. Funded through the USDA-NRCS, these wetland restorations are helping meet the goals of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy. Wetlands treat field runoff and reduce excess nutrients in water, which benefits downstream communities. On average, wetlands remove 52 percent of nitrogen and 85 percent of phosphorus from water. IAWA has a nearly $7M agreement with NRCS to restore wetlands through the WRE program. We work in partnership with Resource Environmental Solutions, LLC to streamline this effort and ensure quality and efficiency. WRE is part of the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP).