decorahnews.com special report: Turkey River Watershed Management Authority and other WMAs in Iowa are running out of funding

Cresco State Senator Mary Jo Wilhelm

When the Iowa legislature created Watershed Management Authorities in 2012, it funded the new programs not with state money, but by designating federal HUD-CDBG funds.  Now those federal funds have run out--and Watershed Management Authorities are left wondering how they will continue in operation.

In February Northeast Iowa RC&D Executive Director Lora Friest, whose agency is providing technical assistance, research, facilitation and planning to the Turkey River WMA Board, appeared before a joint Iowa House-Senate subcommittee to request $4 million annually in state funding be dedicated to WMAs.  Says Friest, "WMAs need a reliable funding stream that promotes cooperation amongst multiple member entities and other public private partners."

One of the legislators on that subcommittee was Cresco State Senator Mary Jo Wilhelm, who tells decorahnews.com, "This request has a lot of support and I consider it one of our priorities."

Right now, however, the state legislature has not been able to reach an agreement on school funding and Wilhelm says it is difficult to move ahead  with budgets without making a decision on school funding first.  Wilhelm says she's hopeful a decision can be made on school funding so legislators can start having discussions in regards to other budgets.  However, at this point no decision has been made in funding the Watershed Authorities.

(Thursday we'll discuss how Watershed Management Authorities have been able to help partners get funding for their projects)