Polk County is adding five new wetland habitats to its collection of more than a dozen in an effort to improve water quality and reduce flooding. Polk County Board of Supervisors, at a meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 27, unanimously approved accepting $300,000 in funding through the environmental nonprofit The Great Outdoors Foundation for five wetland habitats across the county. The county is getting a variety of funding for the $3.8 million effort, including its own $50,000 as well as support from the state of Iowa. Wetlands not only serve as a unique habitat for wildlife, but also as "nature's kidneys," naturally filtering pollutants and cleaning the water, Polk County Water Resources Supervisor John Swanson said. Wetlands also hold water and slowly release it into the environment, which reduces flooding, according to Polk County Conservation. Tap the link in our bio for more on this story. #Iowa #wetlands #waterquality