Register Now for IStorm 2024!

IStorm 2024 – Iowa’s Premier Conference and Exhibition is returning to Ankeny on October 30 and 31st! It will bring together municipal employees, elected officials, engineers, landscape architects, floodplain managers, watershed and conservation leaders, as well as sediment and erosion control professionals.

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Welcome to the Iowa Stormwater Education Partnership

Our mission is to enable everyone to value and improve water quality by providing education and technical services. The mission is overseen by an 11-person Board, comprised of stormwater professionals from member cities and universities in Iowa. These directors, and other members, serve on several volunteer committees for directing staff on educational resources, marketing, membership, and training.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency MS-4 stormwater regulatory requirements prompted our founding in 2005. Since our founding, the goal of the Iowa Stormwater Management Partnership (ISWEP) is twofold: Support compliant and effective local stormwater management programs with unified education and outreach delivered statewide.

The majority of Municipal Storm Sewer System (MS4) cities in Iowa are members of ISWEP. We are also comprised of educational organizations, professional firms, businesses, and individuals.Membership with ISWEP includes access to our educational toolbox resources, access to a library of training materials, check out of stormwater displays and items for community events, and localized training events and discounts.

ISWEP creates and provides its members with educational tools and resources that are used locally to help inform the public about the importance of clean stormwater and how to prevent pollution and soak up more rainfall. These resources are developed for and distributed to numerous target audiences including: city staff and councils, homeowners, builders, developers, contractors, business owners, and children.

The second area of focus is training. ISWEP certification programs set a statewide standard to assist with implementation of stormwater regulations that includes the use and maintenance of appropriate pollution prevention practices. Events are held across the state every year. Additional training events address green infrastructure and urban stormwater management.

Recent and Current Projects

ISWEP partnered with SouthGate Companies and Iowa State University to conduct soil quality restoration research. The project has been completed and the results are available in the attached guide. The bottom line: after construction till or rip soils before seeding or sodding. Compost amendments can enhance the organic matter content of soils providing additional soil health benefits.

Produced by ISWEP, the Water Warriors video series is a journey across Iowa to meet with individuals protecting stormwater resources. The first class of Water Warriors includes seven professionals in Iowa that are making significant strides in water quality protection and enhancement. The short interviews were featured at the 2022 IStorm Conference. Watch the video here!

The Iowa Stormwater Education Partnership (ISWEP) is pleased to announce our 2024 award recipients. On September 10, 2024 awards were presented at the Iowa Water Conference in Coralville, Iowa.

Jeff Reiland of Abundant Design in the Des Moines area accepted the Urban Stormwater and Watershed Protection Private Organization of the Year Award. This award recognizes the leadership provided by Abundant Design for the design and installation of green infrastructure including Drake University and Easter Lake Watershed projects. Practices that were installed included bioretention cells, bioswales, and rain gardens. They are commended for their commitment to improving local water quality.

The City of Grinnell, represented by Daniel Ramos, Jan Anderson, and Greg Roth of Veenstra and Kimm accepted the Urban Stormwater and Watershed Protection Jurisdiction of the Year Award. This award recognizes the City of Grinnell for the Arbor Lake and English River-Dug Out Creek watershed projects that included permeable pavement, native landscaping, a bioswale, and stream restoration. They are commended on their partnership effort with Iowa DNR, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Grinnell School District, and RC Properties and their commitment to improving local water quality and flood management.

John Swanson of Polk County accepted the Urban Stormwater and Watershed Protection Partner of the Year Award. This award recognizes John Swanson and Polk County for the Fourmile Creek Public-Private Wetland Project. Four Mile Creek is an important watershed for Polk County and improving water quality while reducing flooding potential is a priority. Aside from the significant improvements in water quality entering Four Mile Creek resulting from the installation of a wetland, what is unique about this project is the public-private partnership between Eychaner Properties, Polk County, and the City of Ankeny. Polk County funded the design and construction of the project through a combination of grants from IDALS, the Iowa Finance Authority, and ARPA funds.

Greg Pierce of RDG Planning and Design in Des Moines accepted the Stormwater Advocacy Award for providing outstanding advocacy and technical guidance on state stormwater legislation. He is recognized for his steadfast dedication in creating and promoting effective statewide stormwater design guidance. This carries through to his passion for protecting and improving Iowa’s water resources. Greg provides great leadership in updates to the Iowa Stormwater Management Manual. We appreciate his dedication to advancing stormwater design in Iowa. His tireless leadership that was provided during the past two years during the Iowa legislative session is greatly appreciated.

ISWEP has partnered with IDALS and Polk County SWCD to implement the Rain Campaign. Like an umbrella, our built environment sheds water instead of allowing it to naturally soak into the ground leading to flooding and water quality problems. To achieve goals of better stormwater management and improved local water quality, cities across the Des Moines Metro have created funding programs for the residents to make it easier for them to be a part of these water solutions.

Every two years ISWEP conducts the Stormwater Utility Fee and Management Survey to determine current utility rates and stormwater program capacities. ISWEP completed surveying cities across Iowa in late 2022 and has published the results for member organizations. Results are available. Results discovered through the survey will help communities make informed decisions about creating a new utility or for altering existing utilities.

ISWEP has partnered with the Iowa DNR to host workshops intended for professionals dealing with industrial and commercial facilities and stormwater permitting, which involves General Permits #1 and #3. This training opportunity has been developed to help those facilities understand their permitting requirements, develop pollution prevention plans, and implement best management practices with the goal of staying in compliance.