Flood Mitigation and

Water Quality

Iowa Department of Natural

Resources
Water Pollution
in Iowa

Sediment
Water Pollution
in Iowa

Excess Nutrients
Nitrogen & Phosphorus
Water Pollution
in Iowa

Pathogens
Let the Flood Plain be a Flood Plain

Nutrient rich soils settle out in

the flood plain not in the stream

Sunlight kills pathogens

 Let the Flood Plain be a Flood Plain

Reduce sediment loads from

bank erosion
 Let the Flood Plain be a Flood Plain

Less Mess
Less Damage
Less Water Pollution
Flood Mitigation
in the
Watershed

Reduce:
•Flood Frequency
•Intensity
Flood Mitigation
in the
Watershed

•Increase Retention
•Increase Infiltration

Reduce Pollution
 Retain Water in
Watershed
Pond

Sediment settles out

Storm Water
Retention Basin
Sunlight kills pathogens
Retain Water in
Watershed Wetlands

Sediment settles out

Sunlight kills pathogens

Plants capture nutrients

 Let The Water Soak In

Terraces

Keeps sediment and

phosphorus in the field
 Let The Water Soak In
Keeps sediment and
phosphorus in the field

Cover crops

Nitrogen held in plants

Permanent grass
 Let The Water Soak In

Conservation Tillage
Stream Buffers
Keeps sediment and
phosphorus out of the stream
Nitrogen held in plants
 Let The Water Soak In

Bioswales
Rain Gardens

Water evaporated through

plants

Nitrogen held in plants

 Let The Water Soak In
Pervious Pavement

Water evaporated through

Less pollution washes off plants
pavement

Green Roofs
 Conclusion

As we work to:
Reduce flood frequency & intensity
Reduce damages from flooding
 Conclusion

Hold more rain water in the watershed

 Conclusion

Let the flood plain be a flood plain

 Conclusion

Improve water quality

Chuck Corell Allen Bonini Bill Ehm
515-281-4582 515-281-5107 515-281-4701
chuck.corell@dnr.iowa.gov allen.bonini@dnr.iowa.gov william.ehm@dnr.iowa.gov

Iowa Department of Natural Resources