ICON Water Trails has received $1 million from the federal government to help fund a project that will turn the low-head dam on the Raccoon River at Fleur Drive into a hub for water recreation.

The funding was announced during a news conference Friday morning at Gray’s Lake, near the site where the work will take place.

It is in addition to earlier funding announced for the project. In 2022, ICON was awarded $15 million from the state’s Water Infrastructure Fund to mitigate the dam on Fleur Drive and remove hazards that will allow residents to enjoy river run experiences and create a recreational destination. Planned improvements include beginner-friendly whitewater activities that allow children and adults to learn surfing and kayaking at their own comfort levels.

The funding announced Friday comes from the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 that was signed into law in March.

“ICON’s Fleur Drive access point will not only transform the existing dam and recreational experience, but will also contribute to a healthy, thriving drinking water source for more than a half a million Central Iowa residents,” Stephanie Oppel, executive director of ICON Water Trails, said in a prepared statement released after the news conference.

The Fleur Drive project is one of three ICON Water Trail projects being developed downtown. The others are at Scott Avenue and Center Street. Overall, ICON Water Trails will connect more than 80 sites along 150 miles of waterways in Central Iowa.

The $125 million initiative is a regional collaboration among a dozen local government partners working with the private sector. It is being funded through a combination of a capital campaign and public money.

U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, a Republican representing Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District, was on hand for the announcement, saying the project will contribute to economic development in the region.

“This is exactly the kind of investment the federal government should make – one that does the most good for the most people,” he said in a prepared statement.

Related stories:
ICON Water Trails receives $15M from Water Infrastructure Fund for Raccoon River improvements
ICON launches Scott Avenue segment of Water Trails project