116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Cedar Rapids: ‘We are ready’ as Cedar River rises again
CEDAR RAPIDS - A rapidly rising Cedar River in Cedar Rapids reached major flood stage Monday evening and is predicted to rise farther Tuesday, prompting the city to erect sand barriers and close streets in some of the lowest lying areas, and to take other precautions.
The river was at the major flood stage of 16 feet Monday evening, according to the National Weather Service. It is expected to crest at 17.5 feet after 5 p.m. Tuesday.
'We are ready,” the city posted Monday on Instagram. 'Crews conducted survey work this morning and have been setting up final protection measures today.”
This is the second time this month the Cedar has spilled out of its banks. The river threatened to reach major flood stage earlier this month, but wound up cresting just below that level at 15.55 feet on Sept. 10.
Temporary measures like these are costly.
The city has spent $300,000 fighting flooding so far this month, as of last week, according to the city. Top costs have been related to setting up berms or temporary sand barriers, and renting extra pumps and plugs, according to the city.
At 16.5 feet, water affects the lowest sections of Ellis Boulevard NW near the Ellis Pool and affects the entrance road to the nearby Ellis Boat Harbor, according to the weather service.
Cedar Rapids officials said they expected to be protected to the 18-foot level before Tuesday - unless the forecast changes - and to maintain that protection level through the crest.
'This close it is unlikely to change very much,” said Public Works Director Jen Winter. 'The closer it gets, the higher level of confidence the National Weather Service has in its prediction. They have a high level of confidence it won't go above 18 feet.”
As the crest passes gauges upstream, it helps confirm downstream crest predictions, she said. Winter said the city would be able to respond quickly to increase protections if necessary.
The impact primarily is underground until the river reaches 20 feet, at which point more aboveground measures are needed, she said.
Among the action taken Monday were setting up a row of sand barriers near the river, including behind the Cedar Rapids Police Department, and plugging drains and manholes and stationing pumps in the Time Check Neighborhood.
The underground storm sewer system has been closed off to prevent river water from backing up in the system and flooding streets and businesses. Permanent pump stations located at the Sinclair site and NewBo can pump rain water back into the river.
The weather service river level prediction includes the forecast for the next 24 hours. Cedar Rapids faces a good chance of rain Tuesday. .
Showers and thunderstorms are predicted mainly after 1 p.m. with an 80 percent chance of precipitation and between an quarter and half inch of rainfall.
Boat ramps on the Cedar are closed and will remain so until the river is below 13 feet.
Updates, including a list of road and facility closures, will be posted on the city's website at cedar-rapids.org.
l Comments: (319) 398-8310; brian.morelli@thegazette.com
City crews work Monday to install temporary sand barriers along the Cedar River near Seventh Avenue SW. The city also closed off streets in low-lying areas near the river and got pumps in place. The river is expected to crest at 17.5 feet, about 1.5 feet higher than it was Monday evening. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette)
City crews fill temporary barriers along Seventh Avenue SW with sand Monday as part of preparations for protecting the city from flooding of up to 18 feet. The National Weather Service prediction is shy of that, forecasting the Cedar River in Cedar Rapids will crest at 17.5 feet. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette)
Trucks dump sand Monday as city crews install temporary sand barriers in some areas of Seventh Avenue SW. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette)
Downtown Cedar Rapids is seen Monday across a rising Cedar River. By Monday evening, the river had exceeded the crest of the last flood on Sept. 10, and was expected to rise another foot and a half. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette)
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