NewBo flood wall nears completion one year after historic river crest in Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS — Around the New Bohemia District on Sunday, windows of local restaurants and bars, such as Parlor City, were filled with customers enjoying the fall day with Bloody Mary's, appetizers and football.

A block away, on Monday, construction crews were back at work mounding dirt against vertical steel pilings to form a berm that will be hard for the adjacent Cedar River to top.

The contrasting scenes offer a stark reminder of the strengths and weaknesses of one of Cedar Rapids' most popular areas that is also among the lowest lying and closest to the river.

A year ago, the Cedar River threatened NewBo and many areas in Eastern Iowa bringing normal life to a screeching halt. Wednesday marks the one-year anniversary of the historic crest of 21.95 feet — the second highest in the city's history.

In Cedar Rapids, riverside areas faced curfews and towering sand-filled barriers bisected streets as a line of defense. The intricate system of walls, sandbags, pumps and manpower mounted by a coalition of public workers, private contractors and citizen volunteers drew national attention as the city escaped with minimal damage.

While some viewed the 2008 flood, which wreaked catastrophic damage and loss, as an anomaly, the 2016 flood was a reminder that the river is an ongoing threat that can and will strike again, officials said.

'The 2008 flood was so massive and in such biblical proportions people felt there was no way it could happen again,' Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett said. 'Maybe some thought the need for flood protection was not as critical as elected leaders were making it out to be. 2016 was a wake-up call. It's not a matter of if it floods again, but when it floods again.'

Flood Protection

Things are back to normal now.

The five to six miles of sand-filled HESCO barriers erected in 2016 are in storage, and the city is more prepared one year later, some say.

'Now that we see what barriers can do, there will be a lot less people freaking out when we see higher water,' said Jon Jelinek, 61, who lives in NewBo and owns 10 properties there, including Parlor City, 1125 Third St. SE. He also is restoring the old Ideal Theater, which in 2016 was located on the wrong side of the sand barrier walls.

The biggest change has been infrastructure. Within weeks of the floodwaters receding last fall, work began on flood protection on the old Sinclair meatpacking plant site just south of downtown. That's the first major piece of a permanent flood control system in Cedar Rapids.

In all, five flood protection projects worth collectively $19.2 million have been under construction this year and should be finished by the end of spring 2018.

On the east side of the river, the shape of a 13-foot-tall berm is formed between the Alliant Energy substation near Cargill to 16th Avenue SE, and a recreational trail was poured on top last week. Crews still are forming the berm between 16th and the African American Museum of Iowa.

'The paved trail signifies that the level is at its ultimate height,' said Rob Davis, the Cedar Rapids flood protection manager. 'For all intents and purposes the Sinclair site is in the final stages of completion.'

Meanwhile, a pump station is under construction on the dry side at the Sinclair site and another one in a parking lot near Second Street SE and Eighth Avenue SE. The pump stations — one with a 48-inch pipe and the other with a 96-inch pipe — drain from NewBo into the Cedar River.

When the river threatens, a gate will close to prevent backflow flooding underground sewers, which was the most pressing problem in 2016, Davis said.

Also, thanks to the new berm, the area from 12th Avenue SE south to the river would stay dry with the installation of sand barrier walls over the 16th Avenue Bridge if the river reached 20 feet, Davis said. This would include properties, such as the Ideal Theater, left out in 2016.

If the river rose higher, sandbags could be placed on top of the paved trail, he said.

Also underway are asbestos removal at the Sinclair site and construction of a water detention basin. Later, a concrete pad to store snow in the winter will be added.

On the west side of the river, a Rathje Construction crew is about three weeks away from completing a utility relocation project, which is a precursor to a levee.

Additional projects are on the horizon. On Tuesday, the Cedar Rapids City Council approved the first piece of a levee for Czech Village. The $2.2 million project will see construction of a berm from Bowling Street SW — formerly 21st Street SW — to the landfill. That should be finished in 2019.

'Absolutely we are more prepared,' Davis said, comparing to 2016. 'With working on the lowest lying areas first, we can eliminate triple high HESCO areas. There's less work to do. And we don't have to jump in as early.'

Closing the books

A year later, the financial book has yet to be closed on the 2016 flood.

Thus far, the city has spent $8.1 million on the 2016 flood. City officials have estimated the total cost will rise to $10 million.

The city has received $309,000 in federal flood insurance, and 'excess insurance is being reviewed with insurance groups,' Maria Johnson, city spokeswoman, said in an email.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency — or FEMA — and the state have paid $1.02 million to date, she added.

The city has completed 36 federal project worksheets, of which 20 have been obligated for a total of $2.9 million.

A project worksheet itemizes and justifies each cost in a project for which an applicant is seeking reimbursement. Obligation means FEMA has approved the project but hasn't necessarily released the money.

'The value of the project worksheets not obligated right now is $4.9 million and includes cost of work that is not completed at this time,' Johnson said.

l Comments: (319) 339-3177; brian.morelli@thegazette.com

Flood Protection Timeline

Here is a look at the plan for flood protection in Cedar Rapids:

0-5 years

• NewBo/Sinclair — From Eighth Avenue Bridge to new Alliant Substation

• Czech Village — From 12th Avenue Bridge to former landfill site 1 5-10 years

• North Industrial — From north tie-in point to Interstate 380

• Kingston Village — From I-380 to Eighth Avenue Bridge

10+ years

• Downtown — From I-380 to Eighth Avenue Bridge

• Time Check — From Ellis Lane (north tie-in point) to I-380

• Cargill South — From new Alliant Substation to south tie-in point

• Ingredion — From Eighth Avenue Bridge to 12th Avenue Bridge

Undefined

• Edgewood Road Bridge Approach — Will be built in conjunction with other highway and bridge repairs.

Flood protection budget

The total budget estimate for flood protection in Cedar Rapids has reached $700 to $725 million due to inclusion of an Eighth Avenue Bridge replacement and upgrades to pump stations. Here is a budget breakdown:

• $78 million — Federal Army Corps funding (approved, but not yet appropriated).

• $267 million — State Growth Reinvestment Initiative funding, which allows Cedar Rapids to recoup growth in sales tax proceeds.

• $110 million — City match.

• $11.5 million — Federal Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Grant.

• $233.5 million to 258.5 million — Funding gap.