Soil Quality Restoration (SQR) - Your Best Lawn Program

Iowa City homeowners looking to make their lawns greener, healthier, and more environmentally friendly can have 50% of soil quality restoration costs reimbursed, up to $2,000, by taking part in the Your Best Lawn program.

Your Best Lawn is a partnership between the City of Iowa City, the cities of Coralville and North Liberty, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

The program helps residents enjoy greener lawns using fewer chemicals by providing funding for soil restoration projects on residential lawns. Improved soil quality leads to less ponding, greener lawns, and cleaner streams. Learn more on our SQR program page! 

Best Management Practices Quality Program

The Best Management Practice (BMP) Program has been developed to provide financial assistance for property owners to install BMPs pertaining to stormwater quality. The program is intended to help cover the costs of materials such as plantings, dirt, rock, pavement, and contractor labor used to install such practices. The goals of the program are to improve the quality of stormwater runoff and reduce the amount of pollutants entering the City’s storm sewer system and Iowa City’s waterways.

Projects may range from rain gardens and bio-retention cells to soil quality restoration and pervious pavement. The program has a limited amount of funds and the reimbursement amount will be based on the available funding at that time.

BMP Funding Application

Concrete Washout

Concrete is one of the most common and most harmful contaminants from construction sites. It is illegal for concrete contaminated wash-out water to enter directly into any waterway or storm drain. Instead, concrete washout areas should be set-up at any and all construction sites, where the washout will be contained. The reason this is so important is because the washout waste is very corrosive. The pH can often be over 12, which is the same as common liquid drain cleaners. If this substance enters into our waterways, it is extremely harmful.

Erosion and Sediment Control

Erosion control is preventing the detachment of soil particles and reducing the amount of runoff. This is achieved by several different practices including:

• Compost Blankets
• Grading Strategies
• Mulching
• Rolled Erosion Control Products
• Establishing Vegetation

Sediment control is trapping already detached soil particles that are moving in the erosion process. This is best achieved by slowing the flow, and allowing sediment to settle out. This is achieved by several different practices including:

• Compost Filter Berms
• Compost Socks
• Filter Strips
• Georidge™
• Inlet Protection Devices
• Rock Check Dams
• Sediment Control Basins
• Silt Fences

Around the House

Correctly dispose of chemicals
Do not dump. Incorrect disposal of hazardous chemicals is extremely harmful to people, pets and the environment. To dispose of household hazardous waste, such as drain cleaner, pool chemicals, aerosol products, paint thinner, and many others contact the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center at 319-356-5185 to schedule an appointment for disposal. To dispose of used motor oil, no appointment is necessary, and the disposal site is also located at the landfill. More Information.

Use only phosphorus-free (P-Free) fertilizers on the lawn
If you fertilize the lawn, be sure to use only phosphorus-free (P-Free) fertilizer. If a spill occurs, clean it up using a broom, rather than a hose, because the water will make its way into stormwater drains. Excess phosphorus in our waterways creates algae blooms and oxygen depletion in our lakes and ponds.

Check vehicles for leaks, and fix them
If you notice your car is leaking fluid, be sure to fix the problem immediately. Instead of using water to wash away the spill, use a substance such as kitty litter to absorb the spill, and prevent it from polluting our waterways. To dispose of hazardous chemicals such as anti-freeze contact the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center at 319-356-5185 to schedule an appointment, free of charge. More Information at the hazardous materials webpage. No appointment is necessary for disposal of used motor oil. The disposal site is also located at the landfill.

Washing the car
Dirty water contains soaps and detergents; gas and oil; residues from exhaust; and heavy metals. Instead of washing the car in the driveway or street, which allows these pollutants to enter the water system, take it to a car wash. Car washes are required to send the water to a treatment plant before it enters the waterways. As an alternative, wash your vehicle on the lawn. The soil will filter out many of these pollutants and slow the entry process into the storm drains.

On the Street

Keep storm drains clear of litter and debris
To allow water to efficiently flow through the storm drains, be sure that the drain is clear of litter and other debris. To find out how you can receive free yard waste disposal, check out our Adopt-A-Drain program.

Pick up after your pet
Pet waste is a major contaminant of our waterways. Be sure to always pick up after your pet.

Sweep up sand and ice melt
Rather than letting the rain, or a hose wash away the excess sand and ice melt from the winter months, sweep it up with a broom to help eliminate the contamination of our storm drains.

Keep grass clippings in your yard
It is against City Code to blow grass clippings from the mower into the street. Aim your lawnmower discharge back towards your lawn. This will keep the grass from clogging storm drains and provide natural fertilizer to your lawn.