Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig has announced several 2026 urban water quality projects across the state, including one at Dordt University in Sioux Center.
Dordt is receiving $430,000 from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship for the university’s planned prairie stormwater pond project.
According to state and university officials, the project is designed to improve stormwater management on campus while also helping reduce nutrient runoff and improve water quality.
The wet detention pond will be constructed in a natural drainage area on campus. Officials say it will help reduce peak water flows and minimize downstream erosion and flooding while also supporting anticipated growth at Dordt.
University leaders say the project is intended to serve more than just an infrastructure purpose. The prairie pond is expected to support biodiversity, create hands-on educational opportunities for students across multiple disciplines, and provide an attractive recreational area for both campus and community use.
To qualify for funding through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s urban water quality initiative, projects must include strong local partnerships along with education and outreach efforts that encourage broader adoption of conservation practices.
Sioux Center is one of four Iowa communities included in this first round of 2026 urban water quality projects announced by the state.
In a press release, Naig says improving water quality in Iowa requires continued investment in both urban and agricultural conservation efforts, along with ongoing work on water treatment infrastructure.
Details regarding when construction on the Dordt Prairie stormwater pond project will begin have not yet been announced.
