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OUR MISSION

Enable collaborative management of watershed challenges by serving as a platform for planning, education, research, strategic initiatives, funding, projects, and policy formation.

1.5 million acres in East Central Iowa

The Middle Cedar Watershed (MCW) covers ~1.5 million acres (~2,400 square miles) in East Central Iowa and spans 10 counties: Franklin, Hardin, Butler, Grundy, Marshall, Tama, Blackhawk, Buchanan, Benton, and Linn counties. The MCW consists of mostly agricultural lands (~73%) but also includes many small towns (e.g. Vinton, Traer, and Grundy Center) and several large metro areas  (e.g. Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, and Cedar Falls).

The Middle Cedar Watershed Management Authority (MCWMA) was formed as a result of a nearly $97 million grant awarded to the State of Iowa from the US Housing and Urban Development under the title, "Iowa Watershed Approach" (IWA). The MCWMA is filed through the State under a 28-E agreement its members consists of Cities, Counties, and Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Members of the MCWMA work collectively together to address water quality, quantity, as well as other environmental issues that cross jurisdictional boundaries. 
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Mission Statement.

The Middle Cedar Watershed Management Authority will enable collaborative management of watershed challenges by serving as a platform for planning, education, research, strategic initiatives, funding, projects, and policy formation.

Vision Statement.

Water will be valued as a shared resource to be nurtured and managed for the long-term benefit of the people living in the Middle Cedar Watershed and the ecosystem upon which they rely.

What is a watershed and why should I care?

A watershed is the area of land where all of the water that falls into it and drains off goes to a common outlet. Watershed can be as small as a footprint or large enough to encompass all the land that drains water into a river.

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Watersheds are impacted by:

  • People

  • Livestock

  • Cities

  • Towns

  • Roadways

  • Farming Practices

  • Extreme Weather Events

Watersheds support:

  • People

  • Livestock

  • Cities

  • Towns

  • Roadways

  • Farming Practices

  • Extreme Weather Events

Understanding what a watershed is helps us manage flood water, keep drinking water clean, and safeguard recreational experiences.

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