Flood protection for Sun Valley Neighborhood moves ahead

CEDAR RAPIDS — Flood protection is taking another step ahead in the Sun Valley Neighborhood along Indian Creek, but it will be another year before a berm is in place there.

The City Council on Tuesday approved plans to spend an estimated $370,000 to extend a storm sewer on Sunland Court SE, Sunland Drive SE and Cottage Grove Parkway SE in preparation later this year for the construction of a flood-protection berm between the creek and the neighborhood later this year.

According to city engineers, the berm along Cottage Grove Parkway SE will stand one foot above the 500-year flood mark, which would protect the neighborhood against a flood the size of the 2002 record flash-flood in the neighborhood.

A final phase of work will extend a berm north from Indian Creek to protect the neighborhood in event that flood water comes at it from the Cottage Grove Avenue SE area.

In September 2013, a first phase of storm sewer work in the neighborhood was completed.

Last year, the City Council approved the use of leftover revenue from the city's local-option sales tax for flood recovery to pay for the Sun Valley Neighborhood protection.