Author(s): Nicholas W. Thomas; Larry J. Weber
Linked Author(s): Larry J. Weber
Keywords: Flood mitigation; Hydrologic modeling; Distributed flood control
Abstract: Repetitive flood events over the past few decades in the Midwest have begun to alter the regions approach to flood mitigation and prevention. The preference for reducing urban flooding is transitioning from large structural projects with a localized influence, to distributed watershed based flood mitigation projects. The state of Iowa has identified the need for a further understanding of distributed watershed projects and their influence on the quantity and quality of water in Iowa’s watersheds. Specifically, the Iowa Flood Center (IFC) was allocated $8. 8 million by the state of Iowa through the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to plan, implement, and evaluate watershed projects. The HUD watershed project’s goal is to alter Iowa’s stream network enabling it to better alleviate flood risk. Additional, the project will improve soil water holding capacity, manage runoff in upland areas, reduce erosion and deposition during flood events, and to reduce and mitigate overall flood damages. The IFC looks assess the current drainage infrastructure in chosen basin scale watersheds by modeling stream flows from historically and statistically significant rainfall events. Smaller catchments within the watersheds are identified for constructed project locations, where specific flood prevention strategies are chosen based on a further hydrologic understanding of catchment specific characteristics. Construction projects are to take place at the small scale catchments with the intent to impact the flow and transport through the larger watershed. Approximately $5. 1 million of the original HUD allocations is allotted for construction of distributed flood control activities. Project locations and specific flood control strategies are identified by a nested hydrologic modeling approach, and located primarily on private lands. The watershed projects will be monitored throughout the project and evaluated at project completion to show their impact and effectiveness within the watershed as well as implications on a larger scale.
Year: 2013