Description: What happens when you close a drainage well that’s been funneling farm runoff straight into the aquifer? This session explores the engineering and collaboration behind one of Iowa’s final agricultural drainage well closures — and how it restored wetland function, reduced nutrient pollution, and protected groundwater sources vital to public health.

Authors: Juan Arellanes (JEO Consulting)*; Nathan Blankman (JEO Consulting)

Author Bios: Juan Arellanes joined JEO in 2017 and leads engineering efforts in Iowa within their water resources department.  His focus and passion revolve around ecological restoration projects such as wetlands, stream restorations, and other similar work.

Nathan Blankman is water resources engineer at JEO, specializing in water quality projects. He has contributed to design of conservation practices including wetlands, bioreactors, and saturated buffers supporting the Iowa Water Quality Initiative and the Nutrient Reduction Strategy.