720
825
755
750
760
730
815
0 71
5 71
740
0 73
72 5
0 71
725
72 5
725
72 5 725
725
725
725
5 72
725
725
WET AREA
72 5
730
72 5 76 0
770
0 73
73 0
76 5
785
77 0
76 5
725
715
710
725
730
72 5
710
715
720
77 0
0 73
730
725
72 5
730
735
730
730 730
735 72 5
B
735
0 73
5 72
725
725
725
75 0
725
725
74 5
74 0 73 5
730
725
705
5 72
730
72 5
725
73 5
0 73
725
EXISTING LEVEE 729’
0 74
5 72
725
735
5 72
730
730
735
5 73
705
5 72
730
735
730
73 5
730
72 5
725
735
730
72 5
5 72
5 72
72 5
73 0
72 5
30’
C
157’ min.
TIME CHECK NEIGHBORHOOD
725
725
82’
L AVENUE
MIDWESTERN RAILROAD
RIVER FLUX + LEVEES
5 72
5 72
STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS IN NEW GREENWAY
725
725
5 72
725
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) - FEMA: GREENWAY AQUISTION AREA
725
730
725
725
735 730
0 73
72 5
c Rai
755
730
Pacifi
725
77 5
730
ilroad
ilroad
ilroad
770
ic Ra Pacif
ic Ra Pacif
ic Ra Pacif
730
730
730
0 73
500 YR FLOOD 728.4’
740
73 0
Eligible Actities (HMGP):
735 725
73 0
730
HMGP 1904 1ST AVE WEST
• • • • • • • •
44 40
81
44
EXISTING GREEN SPACE
90
4980
730
0
600
5 76
745
0
0
RIVER ACCESS
427
0
71
0
60
20
720
400
74
77
40
5 72
730
72
50
CIRCULATION - AADT
5
750
71
0
735
0
72
20
750
FEMA/HUD ZONES
CDBG
NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCKS
0
730
720
825
200
0
730
300
760
5
755
750
750 5
71
780 765
745
0
785 790 775
0
82
4
30
0 74
800
71
29
86
815
0
73
755
5 74 5 73
835
73
725
300
730
770
820
830 825 805
800
300
730
0
725
416
785
0
5
72
90
5
5
720
80
72
730
750 740
0
73
300
71
0
0
71 5
71 0
0
720
73
5
72 5
5
5
72
5
725
72
72
71
0
71
1200
0
5 0 71
725
73 0
5 72
72
725
725
725
725
710
5
0
300
73
300
0 70 79
400
853
0 33
0 10 74
0 10 77 2704
100
200 600
400
2200
300
200
0
1640
300
1770
73
3290
0 80 63 50
5501500 0 0 5840
0 540
0 141
800
5 72
5 72
900
100
730 730
1630
1040
730
725
735 730
5
1 48
5 72
975
853
12000
230
1500
800
2609
300
1000
3831
250
00 863 0 70 79
300
300
33 0 10 74
0
2704
10 77
400
1770
20
0 80 63 50
5501500 0
80
00 584
0
00
0 141
RECREATION/PROGRAM + NATURE
LEVEE INSPIRATION
MEMORIALS
WATER INTERSECTIONS
FLOODABLE HOMES
HOUSE (1993) - RACHEL WHITEREAD
NIJMEGEN SIDE CHANNEL + ISLAND CREATION - RIVER WAAL
LUXEMBURG GARDENS - BALL COURT IN BOSQUE
KEAST PARK - SEAFORD, AUSTRALIA
STUTTGART MEMORIAL GARDEN (1992) - MICHAEL SINGER
VACLAV HAVEL’S MONUMENT - LIBOR SENEKEL
FLOATING HOMES - NETHERLANDS
MEMORIAL OF VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE - GAETA- SPRINGALL ARQUITECTOS LIMELIGHT - MEYER SILDERBERG LA
FLOODPLAIN PATHS AND HABITAT TIANJIN QIAOYUAN WETLAND PARK - TURENSCAPE
SEXSAN DESIGN - PJ8 SHOWHOUSE
G
THE MOSES BRIDGE - THE NETHERLANDS
QUAKER OATS
INDIVIDUAL LEVEE
Parlor City Storage
STRONG FISHING CULTURE
COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT WATERPLEIN - ROTTERDAM
Possible new casino
6
89
00
00 20
RIVERFRONT PARK CONNECTION
10 11
20
00
43
54
10 31 19
OLD CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN DOUBLE TRACK RAILROAD
10
570
2
1 53
0
0
39
65
0
HOUSE ON A HILL
TAYLOR NEIGHBORHOOD
54
540
50
24
0
100
100
FLOODABLE SPACES
F&M BANK
0
853
300
300
NEIGHBORHOOD ERASURE + ART
90
LAST OCCUPIED HOUSE BY RIVER
31
3290
FLOODING AND WATER LEVELS: In order to create a condition that is often wet it may be necessary to excavate some soil. Though the gage heights and contour levels do not have a direct correlation, I estimated the water level and associated contour for typical high and low seasonal variation to be between 718’ and 714’. The current land elevation is at 725’ which for most of the year will be dry, however with the new flood infrastructure it is anticipated that this area will be more likely to be wet due to the increased channalization and displacement of water.
38
90
200
50
35
1640
DOWNTOWN CEDAR RAPIDS
0 00 71
300 200
20
7200
G
1” = 200’
TIME CHECK NEIGHBORHOOD
41
2200
DECEMBER
HOMES BUILT UP STRUCTURALLY - MISSOURI
70
90
800
MAY’S ISLAND
90
31
600
NOVEMBER
Verdeck and Leonard
00
900
TAYLOR NEIGHBORHOOD
32
50
66
300
46
31
20
300
OCTOBER
Best Western
28
90
1630
SEPTEMBER
60
682
AUGUST
30’
870
0
0 660
72
725
200 500
1200
JULY
HUBBARD ICE HISTORY CENTER
00
00
22
0
0
0
JUNE
21
87
40
205
220
590
TYPICAL RESPONSE: The use of levees and floodwalls in response to large floods that were previously unprecedented is a typical trend in Cedar Rapids and other cities. After the flood of 1929 the city built a 2-3’ levee along 1st St NW which is now referred to as the Time Check Levee. In the early 60’s after the city was hit by another flood similar in size to that of 1929, they added an additional 3’ to the levee. The exact contents of the existing levee are not known. The US Army Corps of Engineers did a feasibility study before the 2008 flood looking at the Time Check levee and they determined that it did not qualify as a levee. One historian believes that the initial 1930’s levee was constructed of fill from the riverbed area and then construction debris from the 60’s urban renewal added to the structure.
80
300
HUBBARD ICE COMPLEX
0
37
30
1040
10
0
0
0
40 0
new amphitheater levee
0
157’ min.
FISHING BRIDGE
ACTIVE RECREATION
00
00
22
20
510
145
292
26
600
320
00
26
480
82’
Hubbard Industrial Park
00
39
00
G
45’
Hubbard Ice
00
60
83
0 80
4 28
00
71
LEVEE AND WATER LEVEL CONSIDERATIONS:
PRECEDENTS
DOWNTOWN CEDAR RAPIDS
DONALD JUDD -15 UNTITLED WORKS IN CONCRETE (1980 -1984)
25
31
50
660
300
90
00
0
70
79
58
00 155
MAY
RIVERFRONT PARK
Delong Development Co.
00 200
245
70
32
0
0
2910
21
2030
40
30
454
853 301
74
00
853
100
17
00
existing riverfront5700 1 parks
62
70
2
RIVERFRONT GREENWAY
396
0
0 11
46
85 4720
275
52
0
15
6
1790
0 60 68 0 1 37
0
60
740
396
50
0
30
4.7.1.3.1. Steel Roller Gates. Steel roller gates are utilized at street and railroad closures where adequate storage and level ground exists adjacent to the proposed floodwalls. Steel roller gates are basically a steel bulkhead placed on wheels that run along a track to open and close. Roller gate locations for the selected plan are shown on the attached plan plates. Each gate is physically stored in the open position on the floodside and upstream of each opening. Hydraulic forces during a flood serve to seal the gates tight once they have been closed. Photograph 2 shows a typical steel roller gate.
SPRING/SUMMER FLOODING
Santee James .
24
50 440 0
6000
4020
207
0 480
43
10
7900
4980
7200 750
682
300 725 725
725 725
725
0 73
400
600
600
300
5
77
5 73 725
725
735 730
725
416
735 725
300
1200 1230
e nu Av e H
80
90
2350
40 38 00 693 000 6
0
6200
8900
5700
CEDAR RAPIDS AND KINGSTON 1868
72
0
26
670
7900
60
30
76
644
1070
levee
8300
3 37
24
9600
301
300
13 23
4.7.1.3. Closure Structures. Fifteen individual closure structures are included in the selected plan. General location and type of closure is called out in the plan sheets attached with this report. The number and types of closure structures include seven steel roller gates, four steel swing gates and four removable floodwalls. Heights of the closure structures range from 6 to 19 feet. The closure gates serve locations identified in the City’s River Corridor Redevelopment Plan as critical traffic corridors, which include streets, railroad tracks, and trail systems.
F
NEIGHBORHOOD REDEVELOPMENT
25
89
853
15
853
300
TIME CHECK NEIGHBORHOOD
00
29
50
existing riverfront parks
F
157’ min.
Saddler Brothers LTD.
68
8
1473
300
SADLER’S POWER TRAIN - TRUCK REPAIR
new levee trail system floodplain/wetland habitat memorial/monument history/recreation/education center story recording location skate park/bmx park picnic areas boat access shelters playgrounds multipurpose fields levee crossings fishing spots ilroad
0 26
200
new dam
HUGE, NEW UTILITY LINES
MEMORIAL PARK
• • • • • • • • • • • • • •
ic Ra Pacif
32
100 Plaza/levee overlook
FLOODABLE HOMES
Sadler’s
0
5 11
1
APRIL
HIGHWAY I-380
30’
RIVERFRONT PARK
Union
ilroad
680
300
302
FLOODPLAIN/ HABITAT
ic Ra Pacif
306
8400
Cedar Valley/ Rompot
• Hubbard Ice - potential for retrofit, as it was built to hold ice and water, it also has historical significance and interesting character • Saddler’s Power Train Truck Repair appropriate for demolition • At least 5 homes, can remain • old Chicago and Northwestern RR bridge - potential for retrofit for pedestrian access and fishing • Best Western Hotel - potential to protect, but also could go • proposed Casino near I-380 would require levee modifications, which the city would consider
300
Union
400
0
300 0 77
5 76
725
730
725 730
75 0
725
5 74 0 74
73
5
730 0 73
730
300
755
0 78
77 5 780
870
71
00
660
0
0
500
600
400
770 5 76
1200 76 5
5 74
710
725
730
863
725
1230
725
5 72 725
725
725 730
00
5 725
725
725 725
725
5 72 73 0
300
725
725
72
72
5
730
72 5
735
72
5 72 0 73 735 735
5
735
73
5 73
320
0
0
4520
t
82’
Program Elements:
Structures in the Greenway
00
100
Proposed levee opening
F
45’
0
300 300
PROGRAM
00
nu e
30
0
680
0
300
STRUCTURAL + CULTURAL ELEMENTS
127
590
500
5900
00 67 0 15
Av e
50
86
27
00
0
MARCH
MONTH
1
57
0
216
FEBRUARY
0
0
70
ilroad
H
90
0
8 11
50 18
Restored River Edge
St
4
ic Ra Pacif
300
Czech Village
29
Union
3720
16 T
81
10
00
20
324
650
140
0
14100
The total amount of compacted clay fill needed for the levee is estimated to be 150,000 cubic yards. Fifty percent of the soil removed from the inspection trench is anticipated to be suitable clay fill material for use in the construction of the levee. The other 50 percent of soil removed from the inspection trench is anticipated to be unsuitable fill material. This material would be placed adjacent to or on top of the levee side slopes as extra material in order to lessen the steepness of the levee slope.
211
DOWNTOWN
253
110
12
00
1
I-380
39 0
• the current levee opening is located near the existing Time Check park where a new recreation center is being considered, this would be a good location as it is near busier roadways, there’s no need to have a vehicular opening in the neighborhood side. • pedestrian crossings of the levee need to be determined • connecting the Time Check Greenway to the other proposed greenways and existing parkspace as well as the new amphitheater levee • considerations for development along Ellis Avenue as it will likely become much busier, collecting traffic typically using 1st St NW.
3010
I-380
0
90
20
19
0
65
95
13100
200
2720
250
427
0 80
43
00
952
62
98
60 24
54
0
10
730
730
570
24
0
300
250
0
0
0
9100
5
4510
3890
165
90
0
5
73
0
1929 FLOOD - TIMECHECK NEIGHBORHOOD
60
72
730
730
30
REMAINING STRUCTURES AN ZONING IN THE PROPOSED GREENWAY
00
13
00
5400
4780
1100
800
300
31
17
Connection/Circulation Considerations:
5600
4630
725
1
3770 72
0
14
0
59
1
5
1929 FLOOD - 1ST AVENUE BRIDGE
10
48
72
730
73
120
0
740
0
48
73
00
250
8
34
230
60
158
16
730
735 745
00
5
5
730
77
40 10 11
0
59
200
72
74
730
0 73
10
0
0
0
730
0
90
20
00 20
10 31
0
241
112
5
74
0
Figure 75. Levee Section Looking Downstream
MINIMUM LEVEE REQUIREMENTS: The new Time Check levee will need to meet USACE standards and have a footprint of at least 82’ with 30’-45’ of easement on both sides. Sasaki showed an image of an extended levee that sloped gently from about 12’ to the river’s edge.
700’ JANUARY
0 65
0
5
284
44
31
54
9
25
0
10
0
0
73
0
300
75
890
34
73
100
5
0
14
425
00
0 68
0 10
396
0
0
7
00 197
725
730
775
220
40
600
0
5 73 730
72
725
73
725
730
72
5
219
174
725
725
76
295
3
200
“Gage 0” Datum: 700.47’ 44
00
205
0
26
5
0 72
725
CIRCULATION AND CONNECTIONS
5
38
90
510
39
0
590
714’ APP.
701’
50
00
00
7
480
0
00
AVERAGE SUMMER/SPRING 703’
702’
40
20
00
145
90
72
72
5
0 73
12 T
50
22 79
58
00 155
292
21
725
725
725
725
72
730
6TH Street
41
00
28
28
40
660
300
5
245
5
5
00
00
30
0
0
200
725
725
725
725
72
72
5
730
d Rd
20
66
7
703’
705’
46
90
20
50
60
30
454
853
72
2910
87
24
00 15
704’
718’ APP. The channelized concition creates a non-direct correlation between river stage and contour elevation.
707’ 706’
50
35
40
32
00
26
301
2030
AVERAGE SUMMER/SPRING 707’
80
74
10
62
70
5
1951 (17.22’)
70
90
0
70
00
2004 (18.30’)
708’
31
70
5
200 72
QUAKER OATS GRAIN ELEVATORS - 1941
1929 FLOOD
396
QUAKER OATS
32
50
17
1965 (718.51’)
709’
RIVERFRONT PARK
20
0
00
0
15
0 72 5
725 5 72
0
E
TIME CHECK NEIGHBORHOOD
VACANCIES
E
37
43
26
0
5700
73
227
5
5
1790
0
5
725
770
Edge woo
00
20
25
30
60
40
0 52
21
24
30 0 60 68 10 37
72
5
0
Severe disasters must be remembered in order to learn from them and safeguard against their recurrence (Pfister 2011). The memory of natural disasters is short lived. High water marks serve to remember the floods, but also become “expressions of institutional risk me.”
72
0
85
853
100
72
72
725
5
73
300
Riverfront Park
REMEMBRANCE
72 5
0
72
72
re e
Cities can be designed to live with periodic flooding as a way to develop resiliency to them (Liao 2012). The ability to adapt to flooding is dependent on flooding events that occur more frequently and at a scaleRight-of-way that is not catastrophic. Being able to develop resilience to large disturbances requires experiencing typical section of riverfront with extended parkland and learning from smaller 10 cedar Rapids Framework Plan disturbances, by letting some small floods in. Flooding itself becomes the agent for resilience to flooding.
0
725
1929 FLOOD - F AVENUE BRIDGE (NOW I-380)
New Dam
C
city park
72
5
5
2000
levee
65
71
5
157’ min.
90
Potential PLAY Location
New Bohemia
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK greenway RESILIENCE
0 480
0
5
72
730 730
730
N
1000
60
1947 (718.23’)
1993 (719.83’)
710’
30’
CDBG
0
4720 396
5
725 72
5
5 72
725
730
73
TH
500
72
5
100
Wetland Park 16 Avenue
72
10
46
73
72
5
725
72
75
Taylor
0
705
72
5
730
740
e
740
5
725
207
71
5
e Av
670
0
705
72
5
725
77
Oak Hill Jackson
3 37
2350
40 38 00 693 000 6
50 440 0
6000
4020
0
72
735
770
May’s Island Plaza
nu
TH
7900
735
730
72
t
en Av
8
725
74
725
730
City Terrace
e re
Downtown
ue
5TH Avenue
0
72 5
725 5
730
5
735
St
RD
3
Riverfront Amphitheater
0
725
730
TH
Taylor Area
e Av
1070
73
0
The exact location of the West side levee is not yet determined. However, in the meantime the City of Cedar Rapids is beginning on the redevelopment of a series of greenways along the riverfront on the West side of the Cedar River.
8
e
nu
ST
1
89
5
5
Boat Dock
Potential PLAY location
15
72
73 5
6200
8900
725
0
72
73
730
735
Plaza/Levee Overlook
76
735
730
735
Greenway
F Avenue E Avenue
5
73
TIME CHECK GREENWAY Time Check
Great Lawn / Sports Recreation
9600
725
730
72
13
644
5
73
730
72 5
730
72
My project will focus on the Time Check Greenway project area and the neighborhood connection across the proposed levee system as well as the connection to the Riverfront Greenway.
O Avenue
8300
735
7900
72
Continuous Trail System
853
23
301
300
730
730
22
31
720
720
725
72
73 0
82’
25
710
715
10
5
730
200
Restored River Edge and River Recreation
853
300
735
Ellis Park
50 1473
300
0
735
72
725
00
83
0
725
725
SASAKI CITY MASTER PLAN FRAMEWORK
88
31
78
77
45’
25
0
5
725
730
400
90
0
5
77
73
72
725
5
38
730
29
200 100
715
725
730
0 73
730
73
E
ilroad
300
302
1961 (719.66’)
711’
ic Ra Pacif
0
785
730 72
0
00
0
780
73
68
1929 (720’)
712’
0
60
750
77
74
730
60
ADDITION TO TIME CHECK LEVEE - 1960’S
When the existing levee is removed, the existing landform will be more exposed to seasonal flooding, but in order to have water more often, excavation would be required.
717’
00
4520
730
730
12
00 11
5 11
100
785
8400
0
725
725
730
80
POST-2008 BUILDING UP
725’ TYP.
718’
HMGP
680
32
719’
D
1ST TIME CHECK LEVEE - 1930’S
EXISTING LAND ELEVATION
713’
Union
100
73
725
725
725
5 72
725
0
300
300
0 73
5
730
730
300
725
725 725
72
ilroad
250
306
5
725
ic Ra Pacif
5
76 0
725
Union
5
75
730
725
ilroad
72
725 0 72
5
72
ic Ra Pacif
725
72
5 72
Union
5
725 725
ilroad
725
725
72 5
ic Ra Pacif
5
730
72
730
Union
300
72
725
725
ilroad
3720
725
ilroad
725
250
725
740
730
ic Ra Pacif
725
ic Ra Pacif
5
725
Union
Union
300
5
QUAKER OATS
714’
725
0
725
725
72
200 72
720’
715’
5 72
725
73
730
D
TIME CHECK NEIGHBORHOOD
722’
716’
3010
5
725
City’s Plan:
1
724’
721’
QUAKER OATS
2720
4510
3890
730
PROJECT FOCUS
RR BRIDGE
725
735
72
CEDAR RAPIDS 1906
D
5
730
0
TIME CHECK NEIGHBORHOOD
720
770
775 780 785
72
5
200
71
10
300
5
730
73
98
5
72
50 YR FLOOD 722.4’
725
72
320
740
71 5
725
729’ TYP. The existing levee will protect to a lower river height when due to the new flood walls along the East side of the river.
723’
• Potential construction of structural flood management (levee) including levee slope, safety zone, relocation of streets, utilities, and infrastructure • Not all properties in this area will be affected.
75
73
760
5 74
810
100 YR FLOOD 724.4’
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) - HUD: CONSTRUCTION/STUDY AREA
25
5
10
720
77
0
TOPOGRAPHY
38
740
72
property aquisition, demo, relocation structure elevation dry floodproofing historic structures minor localized flood reduction projects structural/non-structural retrofitting of existing buildings safe room construction infrastructure retrofit soil stabilization
EXISTING LEVEE
725’
HUBBARD ICE
ilroad
75 5
730
730
726’
0 72
730
0 73
ic Ra Pacif
775
725
728’ 727’
QUAKER OATS 5 72
730
Union
780
5 72
0 73
2008 (731.12’)
729’
5 72
72 5
0 73
735 745
731.12’
731’ 730’
5 72
730
74 0
725
0 73
76 5
2008 FLOOD 731.12’
5 74
78 0
5 73
lroad
Union
Union
Union
• HMGP is voluntary and there is no obligation to sell your home. • Any land purchased with HMGP funds must be restricted to open space, recreational, and wetlands management uses in perpetuity. 725
0 75
5 77
Union
72 5
PROPOSED LEVEE 734’ (+3’ freeboard)
732’
C
7
5 73 730
725
740 730
CEDAR RAPIDS AERIAL 1945
830
USACE
Cedar River Rapids, Iowa TYPCAL LEVEE Flood Cedar Risk Management Project Feasibility Study Report with Integrated Environmental Assessment
CONTOUR ELEVATION HEIGHT 733’
0 72
5 72
725
730
725
725
725
72 5
72 5
770
73
HISTORICAL FLOODING
FLOOD STAGE GAGE HEIGHT
5 72
0 73
725
DEMOLISHED HOUSE BY RIVER
725
POST-FLOOD (CURRENT) BUILDINGS
725
725
PRE-FLOOD BUILDINGS
735
CITY-OWNED PROPERTY
730
Three RFP’s are out for the Time Check Greenway, the Riverfront Greenway, and the Czech Village Greenway. The exact boundaries of each are not determined, however construction is planned to be completed between 2015 - 2020.
EXISTING LEVEE 729’
EXISTING LEVEE 729’
725
5 72
72 5
731.12’
45’
5 72
730 730
730
LAND USE - EXEMPT STATUS
731.12’
725
5 72
2008
NEW FLOOD PROTECTION
725 725
5 72
5 73
72 5
725 5 72
730
The project scope includes creating a master plan for the Cedar River’s western edge from the Time Check neighborhood’s northern edge at Penn Avenue to the newly constructed amphitheater levee. The master plan will show the location of the proposed levee, connections to existing green space and to the surrounding neighborhood as well as existing buildings to remain and greenway boundaries. Site design will focus greenway memorial within the erased portion of the Time Check Neighborhood between the proposed levee and the river.
C
72 5
0 72
725
5 72
5 72
5 71
725
730
730
The project scope includes creating a master plan for the Cedar River’s western edge from the Time Check neighborhood’s northern edge at Penn Avenue to the newly constructed amphitheater levee. The master plan will show the location of the proposed levee, connections to existing green space and to the surrounding neighborhood as well as existing buildings to remain and greenway boundaries. This master plan will be a more detailed modification to the larger city master plan prepared by Sasaki. Site design will focus greenway memorial within the erased portion of the Time Check Neighborhood between the proposed levee and the river.
EXISTING LEVEE 729’
5 72
730
71 0
SCOPE AND SITE BOUNDARY
PROPOSED LEVEE 737’
PROPOSED LEVEE 737’
0 73
730
725
500 yr
PROPOSED LEVEE 737’
73 0 0 73
PROPOSED LEVEE 737’
5 72
735
72 5
725
0 73
72 5
0 73
730
72 5
730
0 73
725
100 yr
730
725
719.83’
2008 FLOOD (731.12’)
MIDWESTERN RAILROAD
730
25 in/yr 27 in/yr 29 in/yr 31 in/yr 33 in/yr 35 in/yr 37 in/yr
100 YEAR FLOOD (724.4’)
730
735
2008 FLOOD
TIME CHECK NEIGHBORHOOD
SUMMER/SPRING TYP. LEVEL (707’)
73 5
72 5
725
730
SCOPE AND SITE BOUNDARY
1993 FLOOD
B
157’ min.
WINTER/FALL TYP. LEVEL (703’)
750
725
725
725
ilroad
ilroad
ilroad
ilroad
ilroad
ilroad
Precipitation in Iowa occurs mostly as rain, occurring largly during thunderstorms from April to September. Large scale flooding occurs as a result of rapid snowmelt or extended periods of thunderstorms.
5 72
ic Ra Pacif
ic Ra Pacif
ic Ra Pacif
ic Ra Pacif
ic Ra Pacif
ic Ra Pacif
open water wetlands forest grassland alfalfa/hay corn soybeans developed
LAST HOUSE BY RIVER
30’
Union
Union
Union
Union
Union
Union
Over 90% of the land cover in Iowa is dedicated to row crops, mostly corn and soy.
82’
725 735
73 0
Cedar Rapids sits at the bottom of the Middle Cedar Watershed and receives water from the entire upstream area. Upstream development patterns can affect flooding in the city.
45’
725
725
720
730
PROJECT BACKGROUND
B
78 0
77 5
725
0 73
730
TIME CHECK GREENWAY: LIVING IN THE FLOODPLAIN
0 77
5 73
730
The Flood of 2008 was unprecedented in Cedar Rapids, IA, reaching heights well beyond the 500-yr floodplain and affecting seven states across the Midwest. After having withstood the 1993 Midwest floods which set the previous benchmark at nearly 20’, the city of Cedar Rapids was considered unfloodable. However in 2008 waters reached over 31’ and covered nearly 14% of the city; it has often been termed Iowa’s Katrina. These unprecedented floods are expected to become more frequent and equally unpredictable with climate change, causing cities to change their policies and perceptions of what is normal regarding flooding. In Cedar Rapids new Federal Insurance Rate Maps have delineated a larger portion of the city into the 100-yr floodplain and the city is currently working to implement their approved Flood Management System which would protect the city to the 2008 flood levels. The system combines strategies of incorporating permanent and removable flood walls as well as widening the river bed and allowing the Cedar River to flow into a portion of its floodplain. The city’s master plan framework delineates a large portion on the west side of the river’s edge to create amenity and public space and to restore floodplain functionality to increase flood resilience. This effort requires buying out property along the river, mostly in the Time Check neighborhood. This area has been designated by FEMA to remain as open space in perpetuity and will become the new greenway. The buyout process is now complete, with the city having purchased 1,300 properties and having demolished over 1,700 buildings. In the Time Check neighborhood nearly 200 homes have been purchased but five families remain living in a neighborhood that has seen destruction from flooding, and the persistent removal of homes. The space is currently in a transitional state with few houses poking through a street grid reminiscent of what used to be a neighborhood but is increasingly already looking like parkland and will eventually be a wet area.
PROPOSED AND EXISTING LEVEES
780
725
730
0 77
74 5
730
730
ANNUAL PRECIPITATION
750
725
0 74
PROPOSED FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE
730
EXISTING FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE - 2008
725
EXISTING FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE
76 5
725
725
72 5
785
725
SANITARY SEWERS
1” = 50’
A
5 75
725
0 72
0 73
5 72
730
725
725
STORM SEWERS
PENN AVENUE
5 72
730
725
725
725
5 72
FLOOD LEVELS
MIDWESTERN RAILROAD
725
725
725
725
72 5
725
725
WATERSHED CHARACTERISTICS
TIME CHECK NEIGHBORHOOD
5 72
725 72 5
5 72
POST-FLOOD RECONSTRUCTION
A
157’ min.
PROPOSED LEVEE
PROPOSED FLOODWALL 3’ - 20’ typ. protection to 734’
730
725
725
BOAT HOUSE COMMUNITY RE-ESTABLISHED POST-FLOOD
30’
EXISTING LANDFORM contour elevation 725’ typ.
15’ 15’
725
735
730
72 5
73 0 735
ad
725
730
735
5 72
82’
82’
720’
725
Railro
725
725 725
5 72
725
ic Pacif
725
725
72 5
45’
30’
712’
731’ TYP.
73 0
72 5
Union
730
15’
A
725
0 73
HARRISON CREEK
BOAT HOUSES CAUGHT AT RR BRIDGE
LAND COVER
72 5
710
72 5
735 730
725
707’
720
725
725
MIDDLE CEDAR WATERSHED
725
715
730
725
72 5
Evaluation of buildings to remain in the floodplain and how they could be resilient. Phasing: (1) streets/utilities removal, (2) greenway development, (3) new/old levee. Restoration of floodplain habitat and function, inclusion of wetlands. Education and interpretation regarding flooding and history. Consideration of connecting to the neighborhood across proposed levee. Daylighting creek from Harrison and consolidating sewers. Create fishing locations and more river access, especially across RR bridge. Incorporate skate park into levee system or flood mitigation. Memorialize the lost neighborhood and preserve historic structures. Create opportunities for reflection and contemplation. Accentuate and reveal natural river processes by marking flood datums, watermarks.
EXISTING LEVEE contour elevation 729’
12’
0 71
725
725
10’
EXISTING LEVEE
MIDWESTERN RAILROADS
72 5
765
745
785 790 775
0 71
5 71
725
0 73 5 72
DESIGN OBJECTIVES: • • • • • • • • • • •
• consolidation of storm/sanitary pipes to decrease punctures through levee • closure gates and pump stations for infrastructure near levee • potential to daylight creek from Harrison School • all structures in the “wet” area must be flood resilient, the city has requested that they be portable. • Even fences are not permitted as they would obstruct debris. • The construction of flood walls and levees along the river will increase the depth of water typically experienced. The existing Time Check levee would no longer protect to 20’ of river stage (100 yr flood) • The city plans to remove the exististing levee when the new levee is built.
5 72
5 72
725
5 72
0 73
Hyrdologic Considertions: 720
82 5 805
0 71
780 72 5
740
CEDAR RAPIDS 1875
0 74
835
5 74 5 73
800
RIVER + NEIGHBORHOOD
71 5
730
TIME CHECK GREENWAY WET CONDITIONS SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION ANALYSIS
750
73 0
5 72
The people who want to remain could be an asset if they were interested in being an experimental community that lived on the river. Old historical buildings like Hubbard Ice, the RR and remnants of the existing neighborhood including houses, foundations and street grids could be used to recall the old neighborhood.
0 73
755
71 5
725
• Time Check traces its beginnings to the early 1870’s. • Early residents worked across the river at rail yards just north of downtown, and later worked at Quaker Oats. • The name “Time Check” evolved from the worker relationship with the railroad companies who were often short on payroll and would provide workers with post-dated checks, known in local parlance as time checks. • The stable workforce of the community attracted additional industry to the heart of the city. • The levee in the neighborhood was built in the 1930’s and later added to in the 1960’s in response to the floods of 1929 and 1961. • In 2008, the Time Check neighborhood was the first to be evacuated and the hardest hit by the flood.
0 73
725
730
770
820
830 5 82
Time Check History:
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA TIME CHECK GREENWAY
HYDROLOGY AND PROPOSED LEVEE CREATING NEW WET AREA
770
TIME CHECK NEIGHBORHOOD
EXISTING ASSETS
775 780 785
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA
830
SITE ANALYSIS SUMMARY
RESILIENCE + REMEMBRANCE in
730
FLOODABLE
72 0 725
1” = 200’