This agreement provides funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) in the amount of $1,286,180 to the city of cedar rapids , IA to support their efforts with improving the water…

The Environmental Protection Agency Region 4 awarded $1.286 million to the City of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on January 1, 2026, under the Geographic Programs—Gulf of America Program (CFDA 66.475) to restore ecosystem services and demonstrate natural infrastructure benefits in the Middle Cedar Watershed through December 31, 2028.

The award funds restoration of ecosystem services in the Middle Cedar Watershed, enhancement of wetland and stream habitat through oxbow restoration and agricultural conservation practices, and demonstration of novel conservation approaches. Activities include improving downstream environmental and public health outcomes and advancing environmental awareness through farmer-to-farmer outreach.

Sub-recipients will conduct demonstration and monitoring of blind inlets, saturated grass waterways, and saturated buffers, integrate data and mapping into a decision support platform, and provide technical assistance on identifying viable oxbow restoration projects and conducting field surveys.

Anticipated deliverables include enhanced farmland and farming communities, reduction in agricultural nonpoint source pollution, habitat enhancement on individual farms, improved water quality of tile drainage water and tributary segments, and increased awareness about natural infrastructure benefits. Farmers and communities across seven counties in the Cedar Rapids area will benefit from improved water quality, restored habitat, community resilience, and environmental awareness. Place of performance is Iowa.

This agreement provides funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) in the amount of $1,286,180 to the city of cedar rapids , IA to support their efforts with improving the water quality of the gulf of america. The purpose of this award is to demonstrate the benefits of natural infrastructure for enhanced agronomic productivity and improved downstream water quality, habitat, and community outcomes. Activities:the activities to be performed include restoring ecosystem services in the middle cedar watershed, enhancing wetland and stream habitat through oxbow restoration and other agricultural practices, and demonstrating the benefits of novel conservation practices. Other activities are improving downstream environmental and public health outcomes and advancing environmental awareness efforts about the importance of natural infrastructure through farmer-to-farmer outreach activities. Subrecipient:subrecipient activities include demonstration and monitoring of blind inlets, saturated grass waterways, and saturated buffers and data and mapping integration into a decision support platform. Technical assistance will be provided on identifying viable oxbow restoration projects and conducting field surveys.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables and expected outcomes include enhanced farmland and farming communities, reduction in agricultural nonpoint source pollution, habitat enhancement on individual farms, improved water quality of tile drainage water and tributary segments, and increased awareness about the benefits of natural infrastructure. As the intended beneficiaries, the farmers and communities in the city of cedar rapids (7 counties) will benefit from improved water quality, restored habitat, community resilience, and a greater environmental awareness.