Articles Tagged: Iowa Flood Center

Given the stakes, the City of Dubuque months ago began collaborating with the IIHR-Hydroscience and Engineering to create a 1:7.5-scale model of a pump station — aimed at tackling any engineering complications or complexities before construction, not after.

During a summer that’s featured high-profile nitrate spikes in Iowa waterways and water use restrictions for thousands of central Iowans, hundreds of people gathered in Des Moines this week to listen to discussion about the findings of a comprehensive water study that was commissioned by Polk County.

After the 2008 floods, the Iowa Legislature set aside about $1.2 million a year for the University of Iowa to develop a statewide flood monitoring system. Now, the Iowa Flood Information System is considered one of the best flood warning systems in the country.

As part of sweeping cuts across a broad swath of U.S. departments and agencies, $35 million in federal grants and contracts headed to the University of Iowa’s 105-year-old IIHR-Hydroscience & Engineering center have been placed on hold.

A line of storms is expected to move through Eastern Iowa Friday. Despite that, experts say dry soil and lower water levels in the state’s rivers and streams should mitigate any flood risks and runoff.

Created after 2008 flood, center’s tools have been used 5 million times.

The University of Iowa’s world-renowned hydroscience and engineering center focused on fluids-related education, research, and public service wants to build a new $40 million hydraulic modeling facility in Coralville – an endeavor aimed at maintaining the program’s leadership and innovation in an increasingly-relevant field.

Eastern Iowa watersheds will have more tools to monitor flood and drought conditions through $1 million awarded by Congress to the Iowa Flood Center at the University of Iowa.

Cedar Rapids, part of three watershed management authorities, gives tens of thousands of dollars annually toward flood mitigation efforts.

The University of Iowa has named Larry Weber to lead IIHR-Hydroscience & Engineering, a century-old program that includes the Iowa Flood Center and water quality research.