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Find similar grantsLand & Water Conservation Fund (2026 LWCF) is sponsored by U.S. Department of the Interior via Iowa DNR. Provides matching grants to Iowa cities and counties for development and acquisition of outdoor recreation areas.
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Land & Water Conservation Fund | Department of Natural Resources Official State of Iowa Website Department of Natural Resources Programs & Services sub-navigation Beginning Farming & Habitat Leases Business Regulatory Assistance Conservation Law Enforcement Help Us Stop Hunger (HUSH) Natural Resources License Plates Resource Enhancement & Protection (REAP) Section 401 Water Quality Certification Vehicle Registration & Bonding Wildlife Diversity Program Wildlife Landowner Assistance Places to Go sub-navigation Lakes, Ponds, and Reservoirs Wildlife Management Areas Things to Do sub-navigation Iowa’s Accessible Outdoors Paddling & River Recreation Create a Backyard Habitat Environmental Protection sub-navigation Animal Feeding Operations Environmental Field Offices Household Hazardous Materials Spills & Emergency Planning Environmental Field Offices Mission, Vision & Leadership Nondiscrimination, Accessibility & Language Access Solicitations & Contract Conditions Land & Water Conservation Fund Guidelines & Application Documents City & County LWCF Requests & Approvals The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Program is a federally funded grant program that provides 50% cost share for outdoor recreation area development and land acquisition.
Iowa's cities and counties are eligible to participate. The LWCF program provides an excellent opportunity to develop a wide range of outdoor recreational projects that are in high demand. Popular projects in recent years have included skate parks, playgrounds, new and renovated swimming pools, campgrounds and multipurpose trails.
Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Grant Cycle The 2026 LWCF grant application will be available on SlideRoom beginning December 1, 2025. The 2026 LWCF grant application is due at 11:59pm on March 6, 2026. Questions should be directed to Jessica Flatt at jessica.
flatt@dnr. iowa. gov or 515-975-8569 .
The LWCF grant application is available on the DNR SlideRoom portal . Please see the LWCF State Guidelines and Open Project Selection Process document below for program details. With the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Federal financial assistance programs for infrastructure must comply with domestic content procurement preference requirements established in the “ Build America, Buy America Act” at Section 70911 et seq.
(“Buy America”). Buy America’s domestic content procurement preference applies to all of the iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials used for infrastructure projects under an award. The application and approval process for this program is lengthy.
Applicants should plan for 12-24 months from time of application before grant agreements are executed and construction can begin. If you have any questions, please contact Jessica Flatt at 515-975-8569. Guidelines & Application Documents LWCF State Guidelines for Local Participation & Open Project Selection Process and Project Scoring Criteria (608.
32 KB) . pdf LWCF Budget Sheet (1. 05 MB) .
pdf LWCF Risk Assessment Questionnaire (1. 07 MB) . pdf Archeological Review Process (126.
72 KB) . pdf Resolution on Acquisition or Development for Outdoor Recreation (1. 06 MB) .
pdf Building Effective Maps (197. 5 KB) . pdf Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) Applicants are required to show a relationship between their project and the SCORP priorities.
State Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Plan The 2023-2028 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (19. 07 MB) . pdf titled Outdoor Recreation in Iowa, is now available and produced in an interactive StoryMap format.
State Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Plan Administrative Rules for LWCF IAC 571. 27 (221. 62 KB) .
pdf LWCF State Assistance Program Manual This map includes the locations of LWCF funded projects within the State of Iowa. Click on the blue dots to view the project number, project sponsor (city/county/state), park or project name, description and the funding received. Federal LWCF grants are competitive grants awarded to cities and counties across the state for acquisition and active outdoor recreational development projects.
Map of Past LWCF Funded Projects City & County LWCF Requests & Approvals The following are cities and counties that have submitted grants for LWCF for past years. 2023 LWCF Grants (188. 99 KB) .
pdf Secondary Navigation Menu Land & Water Conservation Fund Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Department of Natural Resources Iowa DNR Customer Service © 2026 State of Iowa - Read our accessibility, data, and privacy policies .
Scoring criteria used to review proposals for this grant.
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Iowa cities and counties for outdoor recreation projects including skate parks, playgrounds, pools, campgrounds, trails, and land acquisition. Projects must align with the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates 50% cost-share grants Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is March 6, 2026. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
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