Location
Cedar River, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Description
In June 2008, the City of Cedar Rapids (City), Iowa, was devastated by a flood of record proportions. More than 1,300 city blocks of the City were flooded. The floodwaters covered 10 square miles and caused an estimated $2.4 billion in damages.
On April 5, 2006, Congress authorized a feasibility study. The Feasibility Cost Share Agreement was signed on May 30, 2008. The damaged property inventory for this Feasibility Study counted 7,846 properties damaged by the flood. This included 6,865 residential properties, 754 commercial/industrial properties and 227 public properties. The damaged public properties included the City Water Pollution Control Facility, police station, potable water wells, wastewater collection system, City Hall, Linn County Correctional Center, and Linn County Courthouse, along with many other critical infrastructure elements.
The Feasibility Report presented several alternatives as Flood Risk Management strategies of which one was recommended as the National Economic Development (NED) Plan - Alternative 4-C. Alternative 4-C provides protection along the east bank of the Cedar River. It includes earthen levees, floodwalls, and closure structures for a total length of 3.15 miles. This alternative has a benefit to cost ratio (BCR) of 1.2. The City of Cedar Rapids endorsed the implementation of Alternative 4-C as part of a comprehensive FRM plan for protecting both riverbanks.
The Chief's Report was signed January 27, 2011, and was transmitted to OMB and Congress.
A Design Agreement (DA) was executed December 21, 2010, beginning pre-construction engineering and design (PED).
The project was authorized for construction in the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) of 2014.
The project was appropriated funding for construction in the Bi-Partisan Budget Act of 2018 (PL 115-123), also known as Long-term Disaster Recovery Supplemental Funding.
The Water Resources Development Act of 2022 included language authorizing a modified feasibility report to evaluate federal interest in all areas covered by City’s Master Plan.
Background
The City and the Corps executed a Design Agreement Amendment to allow the provision of accelerated non-Federal funding to further the PED phase. The City sent the Corps their entire proportionate share of estimated PED costs ($3.1M cash). The City and Corps executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining work that City may design and construct as Work-In-Kind which is permitted in the DA.
Status
Project was authorized for construction in the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) of 2014. The project received construction funding on August 1st, 2018. This funding is to be used to complete design and construct the entirety of the east side flood protection system.
From 2018 to present, the team advanced design on all elements of the flood risk management system. The first federal construction contract was awarded October 2019 and completed November 2020. Several construction contracts are in active construction status. To-date, 18 of 26 construction contracts have been awarded and 14 were completed by the end of FY24. Design of the overall project is 99% complete and 60% of the construction has been awarded.
Additional Information
Summarized Project Costs
|
Estimated Federal Cost
|
$ 199,154,150
|
|
Estimated Non-Federal Cost
|
$ 107,236,850
|
|
Estimated Total Project Cost
|
$ 306,391,000
|
|
Allocations Prior to FY 2024
|
$ 95,352,380
|
|
FY 2024 Allocation
|
$ 4,300,000
|
|
FY 2025 President’s Budget
|
N/A
|
|
FY 2025 Total Capability
|
$79,041,0001
|
1Capability will be fully funded with on-hand funds.
Major Work Item Current Fiscal Year
FY 2024: Completed construction of two flood risk management project features. Completed design of remaining flood risk management project features in coordination with the local sponsor and multiple landowners and stakeholders. Advanced construction on channel widening, earthen levee, concrete floodwall, pump station, and road closure projects. Progressed in execution of real estate transactions throughout the east side flood protection footprint. This includes land acquisitions as well as utility relocations and other actions to clear real estate interests.
Major Work Item Next Fiscal Year
FY 2025: Multiple active construction projects will be completed. Advance execution of real estate transactions throughout the remainder of east side flood protection footprint, including land acquisitions, utility relocations, and other actions to clear real estate interests. Three federal construction projects are scheduled for award.