A second package of bids for English River Watershed projects were signed by members of the Kalona City council at their last meeting. The total of $728,000 will be paid by the Iowa Watershed Approach and HUD funds. The State of Iowa has $100 million in its budget to use for 9 watershed projects and more than $5 million has been used locally. These projects will affect the northern and westernmost portion of the English River Watershed that lies in Iowa and Powesheik counties. Some of the plans include work on farm ponds, buffers and other natural projects to increase the environment, water quality and upstream capacity of waterways in the footprint to help with flood risks downstream. The current group of projects will continue into 2021.