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DES MOINES — Gov. Terry Branstad announced 12 new urban conservation projects Monday he and others said are examples of the kind of progress needed to develop best practices that ultimately will help improve the quality of Iowa’s water.

Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey said the demonstration projects will receive $820,840 in state funding that will go along with nearly $1.18 million in matching funds, as well as other in-kind contributions. to support water quality improvement efforts.

The projects join 45 demonstrations — including 22 urban projects — already in place.

More than 150 organizations are participating in these projects, providing $25.28 million to accompany the $16.09 million in state funding going to these projects, Northey said. More than $340 million in state and federal funds have been directed to programs with water quality benefits in Iowa last year.

“We have a lot of work to do but we have a very strong foundation that has been laid over the last several years. It’s important to take the next steps,” said Northey, who joined Branstad and Reynolds at a weekly news conference. “We’ve been building the base.”