In 2021, the city council approved a new "Flood Resilience Plan," which includes several, multi-million dollar projects along Davenport's entire nine miles of riverfront. The projects are being completed as funding becomes available. The plan also features operation and staffing recommendations already in place.
Clay Merritt, Assistant Public Works Director, says currently, employees at Davenport's Water Pollution Control Plant have to take boats to get to work because of the high water. And the plant is essential as it serves Davenport, Bettendorf, Panarama Park, and Riverdale. The city is waiting for the Corps of Engineers to approve construction of a berm, or dirt barrier.
"The entirety of the Water Pollution Control Plant mitigation plan will then provide not only protection for the plant and the compost facility but also provide secure access. So, once everything has been completed, we no longer have to boat people in.We'll have secure driving to the plant as well. And that's where phase two and three come into play."
A couple of intersections on River Drive are what Merritt calls "pinch points" when the Mississippi floods. One of them is at Marquette. "That intersection goes underwater a lot sooner than most, and it's because the river is actually coming up from underneath the storm sewer system. And so, this would be putting in new storm sewer systems. To try and keep transportation, we use city resources to constantly pump water out of the intersection to keep it open. With this project, we would no longer need to do that."
The other pinch point is River Driver from 3rd Street to Carey where a similar project is planned.
Davenport has already completed phase one of berm improvements along Black Hawk and Walnut creeks which help protect the Garden Addition.
The US DOT did not approve Davenport's application for "RAISE" funding for transportation projects in the flood plan. But Merritt is confident the city's re-submitted application will have a good chance.
A berm to protect Union Station is also part of the Flood Resilience Plan. Click HERE for the 336-page Flood Resilience Plan. Click HERE for a shorter presentation.
