Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Watershed Basics

Learn about what a watershed is and how it works, what the problems are and how we can work to fix them and what you and your neighbors can do to help our lakes and streams.

Iowa water trails are specific corridors and routes for recreational use on various bodies of water throughout the state. There are resources in place to allow outdoor enthusiasts to plan their trip as far as access points, length of trail, and difficulty level.

Iowa’s Wildlife Action Plan

Iowa's Wildlife Action Plan is a multiphase, several year long project designed to protect and continue nature conservation. This includes a specific portion relevant to aquatic habitat and species, and how we can preserve the water they thrive in.

Iowa Lake Restoration Program

This program focuses on improving the aquatic communities, recreational benefits, and water quality throughout various Iowa Lakes.

Forms and Guidance

Your online resource for programs, forms, guidance and rules on private water supply wells in Iowa. Your local county environmental health office can help you arrange water testing or you can request a water sample test kit from a certified drinking water laboratory of your choice. The water is then sampled and sent to the laboratory for analysis.

Watershed Improvement Funding Sources

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has compiled funding resources for watershed improvement across the state.

Private Well Program

Iowa's Grants-to-Counties (GTC) Water Well Program provides free water testing to private well owners. The Iowa DNR recommends that all private well owners have their water tested at least annually. To get your private well tested, please contact your local county health department.

Private Well Tracking

The Water Supply Section of the Environmental Protection Division of the Department of Natural Resources oversees the regulation of the construction and renovation of private wells and the plugging of abandoned wells by Certified Water Well Contractors in the State of Iowa.

Private Well Testing

If you drink water out of a private water supply, you should test your water source at least once each year and anytime the well is serviced or the water changes in look, smell or taste. Iowa DNR's private well testing helps ensure the safety and quality of your private water supply.

Water Quality Standards

The state's water quality standards help ensure that all Iowans have surface waters that are fishable and swimmable to the fullest extent practicable and water resources that are put to their best beneficial uses.

Public Drinking Water Annual Compliance Report

The mission of Iowa DNR's Public Drinking Water Program is to protect and enhance the public health, safety and quality of life for all persons by ensuring the public drinking water is safe to drink.

Organization:

Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Jerah Sheets

Section Supervisor

Resources by this Organization