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.

Johnson County Historic Poor Farm was presented with the Urban Stormwater and Watershed Partner of the Year Award during the 2023 Iowa Water Conference held in Altoona, Iowa on September 19-20.  The award recognizes the Historic Poor Farm’s partnership efforts that resulted in the implementation of green stormwater infrastructure at the Historic Poor Farm.  Practices that were installed or conducted included:   bioretention cells, bioswales, constructed wetlands and habitat restoration.  There were numerous project partners that included:  Johnson County SWCD, Johnson County Conservation, Impact7G, Iowa Flood Center, Joint Emergency Community Center, IIHR, NRCS, Iowa Valley Resource Conservation & Development, and Astig Planning.   The Historic Poor Farm is also commended for their comprehensive conservation efforts at the farm and their commitment to protecting and improving local soil and water resources.

City of Waukon was presented with the Urban Stormwater and Watershed Jurisdiction of the Year Award during the 2023 Iowa Water Conference held in Altoona, Iowa on September 19-20.  Mayor Arvid Hatlan received the award on behalf of the City. The award recognizes the City’s completion of the Stormwater Quality Project that will protect and improve the water quality of Indian Springs Pond and Paint Creek.  Green stormwater infrastructure that was installed included a stormwater wetland, two permeable paver parking areas, a bioretention cell, and a vegetated swale with check dams. The City is commended for their leadership and commitment to improving local pond and stream water quality.

Kurt and Jennifer Boevers of Cedar Falls, Iowa were presented with the Urban Stormwater and Watershed Development of the Year Award during the 2023 Iowa Water Conference held in Altoona, Iowa on September 19-20. The award recognizes 72-acre water quality improvement project adjacent to Dry Run Creek in the City of Hudson that was completed by the Boevers. The project included restoring a wetland, enhancing and restoring stream buffers, re-meandering a previously straightened stream and reconnecting the stream to its floodplain. The Boevers are commended on their commitment to improving local urban stream water and habitat quality. 

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.