This is a landscape scale wetland and grassland restoration project located in the prairie pothole region (PPR) of iowa

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources received a $980,000 Project Grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the National Wildlife Refuge System Enhancements program (CFDA 15.654). The award will fund a landscape-scale wetland and grassland restoration project located in the Prairie Pothole Region of Iowa. The project aims to restore or enhance 250 acres of wetland habitat and 200 acres of upland habitat by December 31, 2028. Key activities include addressing invasive species, increasing habitat resilience, and building resilient infrastructure to withstand climate-induced weather events. The Department will use a mix of in-house staff and private contractors to complete the restoration work, with all contractor selection following state procurement policies.

Conservation at this scale is critical for building climate adaptation and resiliency to ensure that current and future biodiversity remains intact. Nature based solutions are regularly used to address climate and landscape land use alteration challenges occurring in this part of the country related to water quality improvement, carbon sequestration, habitat loss and access to all for public lands recreational opportunities. Funding from the inflation reduction act (IRA) will be used to fund projects on lands owned by the iowa department of natural resources (idnr) within the PPR of iowa to combat invasive species, restore, and increase resiliency of habitats, and or build resilient infrastructure, with a focus on nature-based solutions where possible. The following are planned uses for the funding: (1) addressing the threat of invasive species (2) increasing the resiliency and capacity of habitats and infrastructure to withstand climate-induced weather events and (3) reducing the amount of damage caused by climate-induced weather events. Project goals and objectives: restore or enhance 250 acres of wetland habitat and 200 acres of upland habitat by building resilient infrastructure, removing invasive species, and reseeding wetland and uplands to native species.by december 31, 2028 the idnr will complete restoration or enhancements on 250 acres of wetland habitat and 200 acres of upland habitat.upon award, the idnr will begin to work with their biologists and managers across the PPR to implement restoration and enhancements. A significant list of projects has already been developed with several projects ready for implementation. There will be a mixture of idnr staff and private contractors to complete the field work. All contractors will be bid out following state procurement policies.