DES MOINES - Up to $6.5 million in state bonding proceeds are available to support conservation efforts in Iowa areas hard hit by weather-related damage and erosion, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey announced Monday.

The state Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has set $3 million aside for repairing conservation practices that received damage from storm events, and $3.5 million for soil and water conservation districts to address water quality improvement and for flood and erosion control in targeted watersheds.

"A survey we did following the flooding last year showed more than $40 million in damages to conservation practices across the state and, unfortunately, there are still projects that need to be repaired," Northey said.

Individual farmers may apply for the $3 million set aside for repairing conservation practices that received damage from storm events. Projects damaged during the 2008 flooding, as well as other natural disasters, are eligible to apply for up to 75 percent of the repair costs.

All applications must be submitted to the local soil and water conservation district office by Dec. 31. Only repairs of conservation practices, not maintenance, are eligible.

Also, soil and water conservation districts can apply for $3.5 million in funding for watershed projects that address water quality improvement and/or flood and erosion control.

The maximum cost share rate for practices will be 75 percent from all sources. The initial project application deadline is Sept. 30.