Posts in category: 2025 Grant Winners

Wings2Water is awarding $1,000 to the League of Women Voters Upper Mississippi River Region ILO to support their mobile “pop art” conservation exhibit. This traveling display features four freestanding panels and a whimsical oversized aluminum can labeled “Pure Iowa Water”—a fictional brand delivering real-world lessons about nutrient pollution and healthy watersheds. By showcasing landowners who model conservation best practices, the exhibit sparks conversations about protecting water resources and promoting sustainable land use.

The League of Women Voters Upper Mississippi River Region ILO unites 58 local and four state Leagues across the Upper Mississippi watershed, from Minnesota’s headwaters to Illinois’ southern tip. Their mission focuses on reducing nutrient pollution, mitigating climate change, and safeguarding both surface and groundwater. By working across political and geographic boundaries, they bring communities together to address water quality issues that impact millions of people.

Learn more about the League of Women Voters Upper Mississippi River Region ILO here.

As part of the 2025 Wings2Water Grant Awards, we are awarding $10,000 to the Izaak Walton League’s Nitrate Watch Program. This grant will provide more than 300 nitrate test kits for volunteers who are working to monitor and protect local water quality.

All test results are submitted to the Clean Water Hub, a nationwide database that tracks water health across the United States. By equipping and engaging volunteers, the Nitrate Watch Program empowers communities to better understand their water and take action to improve it. To date, nearly 64,000 water quality readings have been reported nationwide.

Why nitrate testing matters

Nitrate is a compound made of nitrogen and oxygen. While nitrogen is essential for plant growth, too much of it—often from fertilizers, manure, and sewage—can create serious risks.
High levels of nitrate in drinking water have been linked to health problems such as certain cancers, thyroid disease, and birth defects. In waterways, nitrate pollution contributes to algae blooms, fish kills, and the creation of dead zones that devastate aquatic ecosystems.

Take the Nitrate Watch Pledge

You can play an important role in protecting water quality. When you take the Nitrate Watch Pledge, you will receive a free nitrate test kit that includes everything you need to measure nitrate levels in your drinking water or local streams.

By participating, you’ll join a growing network of volunteers dedicated to cleaner, healthier water for all.

Wings2Water is proud to award $15,000 to Linn County Conservation as part of our 2025 Grant Awards. The funding will support the construction of a pond/wetland hybrid in Morgan Creek County Park on Cedar Rapids’ southwest side. This innovative system will filter runoff from 145 acres of row-crop farmland, reducing sediment and erosion before it reaches Morgan Creek—and ultimately protecting the Cedar River, a key source of drinking water for Cedar Rapids residents.

Linn County Conservation, a department of Linn County, manages over 9,000 acres of natural areas—more than 2% of the county’s land—including 30+ parks and trails. From hiking, biking, and camping to unique facilities like the Wickiup Hill Learning Center and the county’s arboretum, their work connects people with the outdoors while preserving natural resources for future generations.

Learn more about Linn County Conservation here.