The City of Kalona is submitting a grant application on behalf of the English River Watershed Management Authority. According to City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh, they’re applying for a $350,000 water quality initiative grant through the Iowa Department of Ag and Land Stewardship. He explains the funds will be used to educate farmers on conservation practices and provide cost sharing to help them implement those practices on their land. Saturated buffers, cover crops and bioreactors are among the practices that would be promoted.

The English River Watershed Management Authority, which is operated out of the Kalona Community Center, was created in 2013 to study the watershed and find ways to reduce soil loss, stabilize river banks, improve water quality, and reduce the impact of flooding events.