116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Cedar Rapids Council approves latest revision to city’s flood control plan
The total cost of flood control is $1.1 billion to $1.3 billion
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CEDAR RAPIDS — A tenth revision of the 2015 Cedar Rapids Flood Control System master plan was approved Tuesday by the city council. The plan’s intent is to mitigate flooding so an event like the catastrophic 2008 Cedar River flood doesn’t happen again.
The city's plan lays out protections for the east and west sides fronting the river. Much of the work done or in progress has been on the east side. About $800 million in flood protection work has been fully funded so far, coming from various sources. It's estimated the entire project could cost between $1.1 billion to $1.3 billion, said Rob Davis, city flood control system manager.
That leaves a $300 million to $500 million funding gap, Davis noted, pointing out the cost of the flood control system is "the largest project in city history."
Despite that cost, Davis said it is "still a very good investment" to prevent a future event like the 2008 flood, which caused $5.4 billion in damages in 2008 dollars. It could be much more now due to inflation, Davis said.
The city's flood control system when complete "could prevent from having to rebuild the city a second time," Davis told The Gazette.
City officials hope funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continues to help cover the spending gap. Such funding so far has provided 65 percent from the Corps with the city providing a 35 percent match.
The city's plan is updated periodically as planning, design, and construction progresses, and to allow for refinements. The last update was approved in December 2022.
The latest update includes these changes:
- Adding Vinton Drainage Way Improvements on the NW Side
- Adding a detention basin in Czech Village on the north side of Bowling Street SW
- Updating financing with current cost opinions and funding
- Revising pump station sizing policy to allow for alternate and more efficient ways to remove properties from the flood plain
- Updating description of the Festival Grounds development with the Eighth Avenue SW pump station to be more generic and allow for partnership with private development
- Renaming of the Cedar River Flood Control System Master Plan to be simply the Cedar River Flood Control System Plan
The council was told it's very important to update the plan now as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will initiate later in 2025 a new feasibility study for flood control on both sides of the Cedar River, in accordance with the improvements in the city's plan.
The new feasibility study evaluating the current desired improvement may lead to future federal flood control funded projects, Davis told the council.
Council members said they’re pleased with Davis' work and leadership. The work done, said council member Ann Poe, "is so important to the vitality of the community. I'm so grateful for all you've done."
In another action that may aid the flood plan, the council adopted plans for a retention basin at E Avenue NW, west of 28th Street NW. The basin is in the Vinton Drainage Way area. The estimated cost for the project is $2.44 million. Bids will be taken and reviewed at a later council meeting.
Council documents state the project will help reduce downstream flooding. This project will expand an existing stormwater detention basin to increase storage volumes during rainstorms.
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