Cedar Rapids Flood Control System

FLOOD CONTROL SYSTEM IN V E S TI NG

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NewBo Pump Station at Parking Lot 44 Located between 8th and 12th Avenues; protects community from rain inundation.

Pumping capacity is 12,000 gallons per minute, and expandable to 24,000 gallons per minute.

Levee Half a mile long, ranges between 13 - 23 ft. tall on average; designed for 2008 Flood volume. Includes a 12 ft. wide concrete bike/ pedestrian trail.

Detention Basin 4.4 acres used to store excess rain water until it can be pumped back into the river. Also includes paved lot for excess snow storage during winter snow removal efforts.

Pump Station at Sinclair Used when underground flood gates are closed and rain water needs to be pumped back into the river. Capacity of 2,500 gallons per minute.

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Masaryk Park Historic Monuments The Masaryk Park Monuments are a collection of markers and memorial benches that recall individuals significant to the history and development of the New Bohemia District. They were removed during construction of the levee, and will be relocated to a new site in the district in 2019.

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Czech Village Levee Utility relocations were completed in 2017. The levee will stretch half a mile from the Linn County Solid Waste Agency to 16th Avenue upon its completion in 2020. Approximately 16 - 20 ft. tall on average; will incorporate walking/bike trail.

Designed to protect to 2008 volume; until it ties into the full system, it will provide protection up to a 19.5 feet river surge.

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8th Avenue Bridge Replacing and elevating the 80+ year-old bridge, ensuring access to both the east and west sides of the river during emergency flood events, which typically require the closure of all downtown bridges. Tentatively scheduled for 2023.

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McGrath Amphitheatre & Levee Recreation blended with protection. Designed to take on water, the amphitheater also provides a signature outdoor concert and event venue.

LEVEE PERMANENT WALL

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REMOVEABLE WALL GATES USACE ALIGNMENT NORTH END INDUSTRIAL ALIGNMENT DETENTION AREA AREA PROTECTED BY STORM SEWER IMPROVEMENTS

Housing Regrowth and ROOTs Program With such a significant loss in housing after the flood, City officials established a program aimed at replenishing homes and neighborhoods. The ROOTs program (Rebuilding Ownership Opportunities Together) provided a 25% down payment incentive to qualified buyers who purchased a new home in the City’s core districts, including the neighborhoods hit hardest by the flood. ROOTs was established in 2009 and closed in 2017, after construction of nearly 900 new homes a safe distance from the flood plain.

Housing Acquisition Program After the 2008 flood, the City immediately began implementing an ambitious program to address damaged neighborhoods and secure federal funding for a home buy-out program. These efforts helped hundreds of families facing significant financial loss. The program was open to anyone who owned flood-impacted residential or commercial property. At its completion, the program acquired and safely demolished 1,356 flood-damaged properties, representing a $128 million investment.

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City Wells With assistance from FEMA, Cedar Rapids raised the height of 43 vertical wells and power and communications equipment at 3 horizontal collector wells to a level higher than the 2008 flood. Two additional horizontal collector wells have been constructed above the height of the 2008 flood.

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Time Check / NW Neighborhood Memorial Situated along O Avenue NW and Ellis Blvd, the Northwest Gateway and Memorial Plaza includes greenway space, benches, and a memorial wall.

The plaza also features a distinctive gateway, and the privately funded sculpture “West Side Rising.”

Permanent, future flood control for the Time Check Neighborhood will be a combination of levees and gates, integrated with greenways and recreational fields.

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Quaker Oats Floodwall Beginning summer 2018, first major permanent flood protection for the downtown, in addition to protection for one of the nations’ leading agricultural producers. 2,100 linear feet of floodwall; includes pump station upgrades, water main relocation, and railroad closure gate.

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CRST Floodwall New development downtown such as the CRST Center was designed with a floodwall. These intentional design choices are being considered whenever possible as segments of the Flood Control System continue to come online.

FUNDING PERMANENT PROTECTION Funding for permanent flood protection is critical in order to keep residents and property out of harm’s way, protect economic investments, reduce financial strain of building temporary protection, and ensure local businesses do not suffer loss of production and revenue during future flood fights.

Total project cost estimate = $550 million ($750 million if built over 20 years) Funding is a combination of federal, state, city, and private dollars.

SECURED $117 million Federal US Army Corps of Engineers $267 million State of Iowa Flood Mitigation Board $14.25 million federal grants secured as of spring 2018 CITY FINANCIAL PLAN APPROVED 9-11-18 $264 million local funding plan

BUILDING PERMANENT PROTECTION The Flood Control System will be designed to convey the same water volume as the Flood of 2008, reducing flood risk through the heart of Cedar Rapids. The system will include a combination of floodwalls, levees, gates, and removable walls on both the west and east sides of the river. Community amenities such as trails and greenway space will be a key component of the system.

I N FO R M AT I O N O N FLOOD PR OJ E CT S CAN BE FOUND ONL INE :

www.cityofcr.com/floodcontrol