Waterloo gets $10 million to fight floods

Nov 30, 2009 — Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier

Tim Jamison

Nov. 30, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- WATERLOO -- City leaders are pumped up over more than $10 million they received to prevent future flooding.

Disaster recovery funds from the federal Community Development Block Grant program, awarded through the Iowa Department of Economic Development, will help the city buy pumps and build storm water lift stations in areas of Waterloo that suffered heavy damage during record flooding in June 2008.

"I want to thank the governor and everyone who reviewed our (grant) applications," said Mayor Tim Hurley. "We got every penny that we asked for."

One $6.31 million grant will help build residential lift stations in the Cedar Bend, Hollywood and Fletcher Avenue residential neighborhoods. Another $3.94 million grant will match an expected $7 million Economic Development Administration grant to build lift stations at Westfield Avenue, Blowers Creek, Vinton Street, Virden Creek and Dry Run Creek.

If the Cedar River swells up again, the new lift stations "will greatly avert the damage we saw in 2008," Hurley said.

Waterloo's system of flood levees and gates kept the Cedar River and Black Hawk Creek from spilling out into most parts of the city. But when those gates were shut, existing pumps and lift stations were unable to keep pace with creeks and streams backing up behind the closed flood gates.

Some of the most significant flood damage occurred in the former Rath area neighborhood, when Blowers Creek backed up into homes and businesses. Two giant temporary pumps were hauled in to help push that water over the levee, but only after much of the damage was done.

Associate City Engineer Jamie Knutson said it will take time for engineers to design the new permanent pumps and lift stations, with additional months required for construction.

"It's going to be about two years before they're operational," Knutson said. "We might get some of the smaller ones done before then, but it will be the fall of 2011 probably before they're ready."

The lift station project is one of many steps the city has been taking since the record floods to prevent or mitigate future damage.

Read more of this story in today's Courier.

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