The Mississippi River crested in the city on April 29th at 7.3 feet over flood stage, and it's expected to have dropped five feet by Monday.
Public Works Director John Klostermann says it was the third highest crest ever in Dubuque.
"We're pretty lucky in Dubuque because our flood control system covers a majority of the area so anything protected by the levee system which is just about 6 miles long stayed dry. We had perfect flood fighting weather - we had very limited rainfall - so that always helps."
Only a couple of riverfront parks were covered with water.
After the record flood in 1965, nearly nine feet over flood stage, Klostermann says city leaders said "never again."
"We were able to partner with the federal government, and Senator John Culver led that charge. We were able to get funding with the Corps of Engineers and it's been really paying for itself every year."
The city's flood control system was completed in 1973. And the main improvements since then have been adding backup generators for the pumping stations.