Stopping the Water

We're in the middle of a great debate over how best to keep the Cedar River from rushing into Cedar Rapids again. But what about keeping urban runoff from Cedar Rapids from rushing into the river?

City leaders make a compelling case that flood protection is vital. But I think there's also a strong argument that the city should couple its drive for protection with an effort to lessen the city's own impact on flooding.

Rich Patterson, who directs the Indian Creek Nature Center, is making that case.

“I have mixed feelings about the long-term effectiveness of flood walls and levees and things,” Patterson said. “They do not address watershed issues. As it gets wetter here, and as the watershed continues to deteriorate, how high do you make those levees?

“I see the council having worked very hard on this flood protection system when not much has been done to reduce runoff right here on the land they control,” he said.

Patterson wants no-runoff development. Zero. The end of storm sewers as we know them.

 New construction would be required to put measures in place that stop runoff on site. No more big storm sewer pipes carrying it away to become someone else's problem.

Permeable/pervious pavement replaces all-asphalt parking lots. “Bioswales” - strips of plants, sand and gravel - help grab runoff. Storm sewer fees could be tied to runoff rates. These are just a few ideas.

The city does have rules restricting runoff from new development and encouraging the use of some of the measures Patterson describes. But zero-runoff would up the ante considerably. Patterson argues that the city's 50-square-block medical district, situated uphill from downtown and the Cedar River, is a prime spot to take a stand against urban runoff.

Make no mistake, there are costs involved. Patterson said a permeable walkway installed at Indian Creek cost 20 percent more than standard concrete. The idea of basing stormwater fees on runoff has already rankled businesses plenty in Marion. Incentives might work better. It's possible that not having to build storm sewers could free up some dollars.

Patterson argues that cheaper practices have hidden costs. Money saved by one business might be lost by another business or homeowner downhill or downstream. In the end, someone pays.

We need to take this stuff seriously. Watershed management isn't just something we should lobby state lawmakers to tackle. It needs to start here.

Some city leaders are already on the case. Council members I've talked to sound supportive of exploring new policies. More can be done.

It would send an important signal that Cedar Rapids understands that flood prevention is more than walls and levees.