Continuous Quality Improvement Snow Plow Accident Study Report, 1995

Identify processes to modify in order to reduce snow plow accidents. Reviewed all [Iowa] D.O.T. snow plow accidents that occurred in calendar years 1992 and 1993.

Assessment of Medicaid and SCHIP Quality Improvement Activities for the State of Iowa, September, 2008

CMS has established the medicaid Quality Improvement which serves to fulfill the objectives of they Medicaid Quality goal established through the Federal Government Performance and Results At. One of the objectives of the goal calls for the Centers foe Medicare and Medicaid Services to work in partnership with State Medicaid Directors to develop a Nation Medicaid Quality Framework that will articulate broad principles and a common vision of quality for the program.

2006 Calendar Year Annual Report of the Watershed Improvement Review Board

The Board is authorized to request water quality improvement applications from soil and water conservation districts and local watershed improvement committees and award grants to these entities. These grants are issued from the Watershed Improvement Fund. During 2006, the Fund was allocated $5 million for state fiscal year 2007 for water quality improvements from the tobacco settlement trust fund. On September 20, 2006, the Board awarded grants to sixteen applicants. Total amount allocated to these projects was $4,915,066.

2007 Calendar Year Annual Report of the Watershed Improvement Review Board

The Board, codified in Chapter 466A, is an independent, self-governing body directed to improve the quality of water in the state. The Board is authorized to request water quality improvement applications from soil and water conservation districts, local watershed improvement committees, cities, public water supply utilities, and county conservation boards and award grants to these entities. These grants are issued from the Watershed Improvement Fund. In 2007, the Fund was allocated $5 million for state fiscal year 2008 for water quality improvements from the tobacco settlement trust fund. On September 24. 2007, the Board awarded grants to ten applicants. Total amount allocated to these projects is $2.656.842. A second Request for applications is under way and will close February 22, 2008.

2008 Calendar Year Report of the Watershed Improvement Reviw Board

The Board, codified in Chapter 466A, is an independent, self-governing body directed to improve the quality of water in the state. The Board is authorized to request water quality improvement applications from soil and water conservation districts, local watershed improvement committees, cities, public water supply utilities, and county conservation boards and award grants to these entities. These grants are issued from the Watershed Improvement Fund. In 2008, the Fund was allocated $5 million for state fiscal year 2009 for water quality improvements from the general fund. On February 22, 2008, the Board awarded grants from the SFY 2008 allocation from the Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund to seven applicants. Total amount allocated to these projects is $2,115,694. A Request For Applications was issued Last spring for the SFY 2009 appropriations. On September 12, the Board awarded grants to nine applicants. Total amount allocated to these projects is $3,513,531. A second Request for Applications is underway for the SFY 2009 allocation and will close January 30, 2009.

2009 Calendar Year Annual Report of the Watershed Improvement Review Board

The Board, codified in Chapter 466A, is an independent, self-governing body directed to award grants for water quality improvement and flood prevention in the state. The Board is authorized to request applications from soil and water conservation districts, local watershed improvement committees, public water supply utilities, counties, county conservation boards and cities and award grants to these entities. These grants are issued from the Watershed Improvement Fund. Annual appropriations of $5 million plus interest earned on the Watershed Improvement Fund allowed the Board to issue two Request For Applications in 2009. On February 27, the Board awarded grants to seven applicants for a total of $2,366,861. On September 21, the Board awarded grants to thirteen applicants for a total of $5,120,832. In addition to providing environmental benefits, these implementation projects stimulate economic recovery and create jobs through the purchasing oflocal goods and services.

2010 Calendar Year Annual Report of the Watershed Improvement Review Board

The Board, codified in Chapter 466A, is an independent, self-governing body directed to award grants for water quality improvement and flood prevention in the state. The Board is authorized to request applications from soil and water conservation districts, local watershed improvement committees, public water supply utilities, counties, county conservation boards and cities and award grants to these entities. These grants are issued from the Watershed Improvement Fund. Annual appropriations plus interest earned on the Watershed Improvement Fund allowed the Board to issue three Request For Applications in 2010. On February 19, the Board awarded grants to five applicants for a total of $1,647,600. On July 23, the Board awarded grants to five applicants for a total of $796,500. Finally, on November 5, the Board awarded grants to eight applicants for a total of $1,203,500.

2011 Calendar Year Annual Report of the Watershed Improvement Review Board

The Board, codified in Chapter 466A, is an independent, self-governing body directed to award grants for water quality improvement and flood prevention in the state. The Board is authorized to request applications from soil and water conservation districts, local watershed improvement committees, public water supply utilities, counties, county conservation boards and cities and award grants to these entities. These grants are funded by the Watershed Improvement Fund. Although no appropriation was received in FY2012, returned funds from some prior years' grants plus interest earned on the Watershed Improvement Fund allowed the Board to issue one Request For Applications in 2011. On September 9, the Board awarded grants to eight applicants for a total of $1,506,309. In addition to providing environmental benefits, these implementation projects stimulate economic recovery, empower local groups to improve water quality and create jobs through the purchase oflocal goods and services.

2012 Calendar Year Annual Report of the Watershed Improvement Review Board

The Board, codified in Chapter 466A, is an independent, self-goveming body directed to award grants for water quality improvement and flood prevention in the state. The Board is authorized to request applications from soil and water conservation districts, local watershed improvement committees, public water supply utilities, counties, county conservation boards and cities and award grants to these entities. These grants are funded by the Watershed Improvement Fund. Annual appropriations, funds from the Animal Agriculture Compliance Fund Penalties, canyover funds plus interest earned on the Watershed Improvement Fund allowed the Board to issue a Request For Applications from June 15 to July 27,2012. On August 17, the Board awarded grants to twelve applicants for a total of $946,952. In addition to providing environmental benefits, these implementation projects stimulate economic recovery and create jobs through the purchasing of local goods and services. A second Request For Applications was open from October 9 to December 14, 2012. Applications from this request will be reviewed in February 2013.

2013 Calendar Year Annual Report of the Watershed Improvement Review Board

The Watershed Improvement Board is an independent, self-governing body which awards grants for water quality improvement in the state. Eligible applicants include soil and water conservation districts, local watershed improvement committees, public water supply utilities, counties, county conservation boards and cities. These grants are funded by the Watershed Improvement Fund. Funding for these grants comes from annual appropriations and funds from the Animal Agriculture Compliance Fund Penalties. The Board awarded ten grants totalling $2,307,554 this year. In addition to providing environmental benefits, these implementation projects help stimulate economic activity and create jobs through the purchase of local goods and services. Additional grants will be awarded this spring.

2014 Calendar Year Annual Report of the Watershed Improvement Review Board

The Watershed Improvement Review Board is an independent, self-governing body which awards grants for water quality improvement in the state. Eligible applicants include soil and water conservation districts, local watershed improvement committees, public water supply utilities, counties, county conservation boards and cities. These grants are funded by the Watershed Improvement Fund. Funding for these grants comes from annual appropriations and funds from the Animal Agriculture Compliance Fund Penalties. The Board awarded six grants totalling $1,406,178 this year. In addition to providing environmental benefits, these implementation projects help stimulate economic activity and create jobs through the purchase of local goods and services. Additional grants will be awarded this spring.

Iowa Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, Helping Landowners Protect Iowa’s Natural Resources,January 2009

The Iowa Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program is a state, federal, local, and private partnership that provides incentives to landowners who voluntarily establish wetlands for water quality improvement in the tile-drained regions of Iowa. The goal of the program is to reduce nitrogen loads and movement of other agricultural chemicals from croplands to streams and rivers. In addition to improving water quality, these wetlands will provide wildlife habitat and increase recreational opportunities.

09008-005 Hewitt Creek Final Report

The primary goal of the Hewitt Creek watershed council is to have Hewitt-Hickory Creek removed from the Iowa impaired waters (303d) list. Hewitt Creek watershed, a livestock dense 23,005 acre sub-watershed of the Maquoketa River Basin, is 91.2% agricultural and 7.5% woodland. Since 2005, sixty-seven percent of 84 watershed farm operations participated in an organized watershed improvement effort using a performance­ based watershed management approach, reducing annual sediment delivery to the stream by 4,000 tons. Watershed residents realize that water quality improvement efforts require a long-term commitment in order to meet their watershed improvement goals and seek funding for an additional five years to continue their successful watershed improvement project. Cooperators will be provided incentives for improved environmental performance, along with incentives and technical support to address feedlot runoff issues and sub-surface nitrate-nitrogen loss. The Phosphorus Index, Soil Conditioning Index and cornstalk nitrate test will be used by producers as measures of performance to refine nutrient and soil loss management and to determine effective alternatives to reduce nutrient and sediment delivery. Twenty-five livestock operations will improve feedlot runoff control systems and five sub-surface bioreactors will be installed to reduce nitrate delivery from priority tile-drained fields. The Hewitt Creek council will seek additional cost-share funding for high-cost feedlot runoff control structures, sediment control basins and stream bank stabilization projects.

1009-004 Lost Island Lake Watershed Final Report

The Lost Island Lake watershed is located in the prairie pothole region, a region dotted with glacial wetlands and shallow lakes. At 1,180 acres, Lost Island Lake is the state's fifth largest natural lake and its watershed is comprised of nearly 1,000 acres of wetland habitat, including Iowa 's largest natural wetland – Barringer Slough. Unfortunately, Lost Island and its associated wetlands are not functioning to their fullest ecological and water quality potential. In 2002 and 2004, Lost Island Lake was categorized as '·impaired'" on Iowa's Impaired Waters List. Frequent algal blooms and suspended solids drastically increase turbidity levels resulting in its impairment. To investigate these concerns, a two-year study and resulting Water Quality Improvement Plan were completed. The water quality study identified an overabundance of non-native common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in the lake and its surrounding wetlands as a primary cause of impairment. The goal of the Lost Island Lake Watershed Enhancement Project is to restore ecological health to Lost Island Lake and its intricate watershed resulting in improved water quality and a diverse native plant and wildlife community. The purpose of this grant is to obtain funding for the construction of two combination fish barriers and water control structures placed at key locations in the watershed within the Blue Wing Marsh complex. Construction of the fish barriers and water control structures would aid restoration efforts by preventing spawning common carp from entering wetlands in the watershed and establishing the ability to manage water levels in large wetland areas. Water level management is crucial in wetland health and exotic fish control. These two structures are part of a larger construction project that involves a total of four combination fish barriers and water control structures and one additional fish barrier. The entire Lost Island Lake Watershed Enhancement Project is a multi-year project, but the construction phase for the fish barriers and water control structures will be completed before December 31, 2011.

06014-007 Lower Coldwater-Palmer Creek Watershed Final Report

Lower Coldwater and Palmer Creeks in Butler and Floyd counties are subwatersheds of the Cedar River, which provides drinking water to Cedar Rapids, IA. The increasing concentration of nitrate+nitrate in the river is of concern to the Cedar Rapids water utility, and IDNR snapshot monitoring shows Coldwater and Palmer to be significant potential sources (above the 90th percentile for subwatersheds monitored). Both creeks are also on the Iowa Section 303(d) list of impaired waters (aquatic life). Citizens of these predominantly agricultural watersheds organized the Coldwater-Palmer Watershed Improvement Association to deal proactively with nonpoint source pollutants from crop and livestock operations through a performance-based environmental management program. The locally-adapted program implemented by the Coldwater-Palmer watershed council rewards participants for environmental accomplishments - soil quality improvement and nutrient source reduction as measured by accepted, scientifically-based tests and models. Most of the locally­appropriate BMPs used to improve performance are undertaken voluntarily at participants' initiative. WIRB funds will be combined with funding from the Iowa Com Growers Association and significant in-kind support from the Cedar River Watershed Monitoring Coalition, Iowa State University Extension and other partners. The project will result in sustainable reduction in nutrient loading achieved with voluntary participation of a majority of watershed farm operators.