Polk County Commits Funds to Keep Iowa Water Quality Monitoring Program Afloat

Polk County leader hopeful for partnership with Linn, Johnson County for water quality funding

Polk County has pledged $200K to Iowa's water quality monitoring system after state budget cuts, but long-term funding remains uncertain as other counties consider support.

Polk County investing to keep water quality monitoring in operation

DES MOINES, Iowa -- After a historic summer of lawn-watering bans and high nitrate levels, central Iowa officials are taking steps to continue research for keeping water safe. Polk County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $200,000 investment to help keep 60 Iowa water quality monitors in operation. Those are all across the state in rivers and streams. The funding will kick in June 2026 when previous funding is set to run out from the I…

Polk County ‘leading’ effort to fund statewide water quality monitoring system

Polk County supervisors voted Tuesday to invest $200,000 to keep water quality monitors functioning across the state — a move officials said they hope other counties will mirror. The funding will help a University of Iowa-headed monitoring system that was…

Polk County commits funds to keep Iowa water quality monitoring program afloat

The funding comes as federal and state budget reductions threaten to pause the statewide research, which could disrupt monitoring Iowa's rivers.

Polk County to invest in water quality monitoring

Polk County announced it has committed $200,000 to continue water quality monitoring across Iowa. According to a news release, federal and state budget reductions in recent years have brought the future of monitoring and data collection into question. This funding, drawn partly from leftover project funds from the Central Iowa Source Water Research Assessment, which…