The project area for this agreement lies in seven prairie pothole joint venture priority complexes in iowa

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded a $208,028 Cooperative Agreement to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources under the National Wildlife Refuge System Enhancements program (CFDA 15.654) to restore and enhance wetland habitats on Waterfowl Production Areas in the state's Prairie Pothole region. The project aims to restore uplands and wetlands to improve wildlife habitat, carbon sequestration, groundwater recharge, and flood resiliency within seven priority wetland complexes managed by the state and federal agencies. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will oversee planning, implementation, and long-term management of the wetland restoration projects as part of the Iowa Wetland Management District's Comprehensive Conservation Plan. This work supports the goals of the National Wildlife Refuge System to provide high-quality nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl and other waterbirds.

Within this area both the US fish wildlife service (USFWS) and the iowa department of natural resources (DNR) own and manage property with the goal of producing excellent waterfowl and migratory bird production habitat. The goal of wetland management in the wetland management district (WMD) is to provide diverse wetland complexes that provide high quality nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl and other water birds. Waterfowl production areas (WPA)S acquired in the WMD have been crop fields for many years which have resulted in the draining of all wetlands on the property. By restoring uplands and wetlands on wetland complexes within the WMD, wpas will improve habitat for wildlife, store carbon, reduce erosion, recharge ground water, and reduce flooding. These are all needed to increase resiliency and capacity of habitats and infrastructure to withstand more frequent and larger weather events due to climate change. The service and department will be responsible for oversite, plan development, review, and inspection of the restoration projects, along with the development of long range management plans for the restored wetland complexes. The wpas being repaired and or enhanced are part of the iowa wetland management districts comprehensive conservation plan and are managed according to the goals and objectives of this service approved plan.