www.iowafloodcenter.

org

In response to extreme flooding in 2008, the state

legislature established the Iowa Flood Center at the

University of Iowa to serve as a technical resource for

Iowans

A user-friendly, one-stop web platform, designed to

allow access to:

Community-based flood conditions

Forecasts

Inundation maps

Flood-related data, information, and applications

Four Distinct Projects

Agricultural Drainage Study (UI + ISU)

Iowa Watersheds Project (UI)

Watershed Management Authorities (IaDNR)

Education and Outreach (IaDNR + ISU Extension)

Background

Originated from 2008 disaster funding

Conceptualized with the Rebuild Iowa Office

Must be used to benefit the 85 Presidential

Disaster Declared counties

Addressed needs identified in the 2010 legislative

session

Overview:

To plan, implement, and evaluate watershed

projects to lessen the severity and frequency of

flooding in Iowa

Specific Project Goals:

Maximize soil water holding capacity from heavy

precipitation

Minimize severe scour erosion and sand

deposition during floods

Manage water runoff in uplands under saturated

soil moisture conditions

Reduce and mitigate structural and nonstructural

flood damages

Hydrologic model development

Identify areas in subwatersheds for project construction

Phase I: Hydrologic Assessment

Engage landowners to construct projects in

subwatersheds

Projects may include:

Active and passive distributed storage, Floodplain restoration or

easements, Buffer strip installation and enhancement, Advanced tile

drainage

Monitor impact of constructed projects and evaluate

feasibility at a larger scale

Phase II: Project Construction & Implementation

Engagement of Watershed Management

Authority and private land owners will be vital

to project success

1986 – Formation of Soap Creek Watershed Board – 28E

1988 – Study identifies 154 project locations to reduce flooding

2012 – 132 watershed projects complete

Watershed Area 250 mi2 160,000 acres

Area Controlled 5 mi2 2,889 acres

Area controlled in 1993: 2%

Watershed Area 250 mi2 160,000 acres

Area Controlled 25 mi2 15,911 acres

Area controlled in 1999: 10%

Watershed Area 250 mi2 160,000 acres

Area Controlled 38 mi2 24,460 acres

Area controlled in 2005: 15%

Watershed Area 250 mi2 160,000 acres

Area Controlled 47 mi2 30,129 acres

Area controlled in 2008: 19%

Watershed Area 250 mi2 160,000 acres

Area Controlled 60 mi2 38,100 acres

Area controlled in 2012: 24%

74%

Reduction

48%

Reduction

43%

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47%

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43%

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18%

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