Flood berm to protect Cedar Rapids neighborhood on the way

CEDAR RAPIDS - Some 12 years after being hit by a damaging flash flood, the Sun Valley Neighborhood is getting a 'flood-risk reduction” berm along Cottage Grove Parkway SE to protect it from Indian Creek.

The City Council on Tuesday approved plans for the berm project, expected to cost $800,000.

Doug Wilson, the city's capital improvement project manager, reminded the City Council that the berm was the latest phase of the Sun Valley flood-risk reduction project.

Earlier this year, the council agreed to spend about $370,000 to extend a storm sewer on Sunland Court SE, Sunland Drive SE and Cottage Grove Parkway SE in preparation for construction of the berm.

In 2015, a final phase of work will extend an additional berm north from Indian Creek to protect the neighborhood in the event that flood water comes at it from the Cottage Grove Avenue SE area.

Wilson said the project will protect the neighborhood - hit hard by a flash flood in 2002 - from a 500-year flood when the project is complete.

The city is using remaining revenue from its local-option sales tax for flood recovery to pay for the project.