Background/Discussion
The City of Council Bluffs owns or sponsors multiple levee segments which encompass the City Federal Levee System, providing flood protection from the Missouri River, Mosquito Creek, and Indian Creek. These levee systems are currently shown on FEMA floodplain maps as being accredited and are identified as providing protection from the 100-year flood or 1% annual chance flood event.
In order to maintain the level of protection identified on the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map, it is necessary to provide documentation to FEMA that complies with the requirements of 44 CFR 65.10. If the levees are not certified, they will be de-accredited and FEMA will begin the process of updating maps. Areas previously protected by the levees will be identified as flood-prone.
In order to meet the criteria for levee certification, improvements to each of the levee systems will be necessary. The purpose of the Geotechnical MR_3 and MR_4 projects are to resolve levee seepage and stability deficiencies.
In the fall of 2019, the City submitted an application associated with the levee projects under the Economic Development Authority (EDA) Economic Adjustment Assistance disaster recovery program. The EDA program provides investment assistance to help communities and regions devise and implement long-term economic recovery strategies through a variety of non-construction and construction projects, to address economic challenges in areas where a Presidential declaration of a major disaster was issued under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. § 5121 et seq.) (Stafford Act). Council Bluffs was eligible as a result of the floods occurring during calendar year 2019.
After a rigorous application and review process, Public Works was successful is securing funding through the EDA recovery program to assist with improving the levee system.
The total estimated cost for the projects is $10,607,186 with an EDA investment of $8,485,749. The City’s share of the project will be $2,121,437.