Extreme rain events appear to be occurring more regularly and with higher intensities. The City's stormwater conveyance system collects runoff from roofs, driveways, sidewalks, and streets and parking lots, transporting it safely to creeks and rivers. The management of this system is critical to reducing flood risks, property damage and loss of life, and for maintaining and improving water quality.

On November 1, 2016, the City Council adopted a new Stormwater Master Plan. The last Stormwater Master Plan was completed in 1998 and has become outdated in its ability to guide future decisions. The City began development of the updated master plan in June of 2015. This initial revamp reflects the collaborative effort of City and consultant staff to bring a fresh perspective and innovative thought to accomplish the following objectives.

Reflect the City's vision for the future as presented in EnvisionCR
Develop a hydraulic model that can serve as a platform to better define needs and consider cost-effective solutions
Reflect City staff efforts to maintain and preserve the existing stormwater system through asset management
Prioritize and recommend projects for the capital improvement plan

Because of the significant financial need relative to available funding, it is essential that the annual CIP focus on the highest priorities. The prioritization criteria and template used to prioritize capital improvement needs were developed at the outset of the Stormwater Master Plan and modeling efforts. Originally developed by City staff, the criteria and template were refined to reflect similar approaches used by others across the country. The prioritization template provides a qualitative assessment of each stormwater issue or project and yields an objective score and ranking for each. The prioritization criteria are listed below.

The criteria includes the following, each having a maximum score of 18:
     • Health and Safety
     •  Performance and Capacity
     •  Benefit-Cost Ratio
     • Associated / Other Considerations

5.   Identify financial needs and potential funding to close the gap between revenues and needs
6.   Consider potential policy solutions to address fundamental issues that contribute to current flooding
        problems
7.   Establish the foundation for annual updates to expand and improve upon the initial plan

The hydraulic modeling is performed at two scales.

A citywide "macro-level" model which provides an overall picture of where areas of the city experience stormwater conveyance challenges, and how widespread the issue is (measured in city blocks and/or square miles)
Detailed "basin-level" models, where each drainage basin is analyzed in detail using topographic and detailed stormwater conveyance system data to pinpoint street and property flooding severities

Future Fiscal Year work scopes are subject to change as the overall plan continues to develop. A new five-year plan will be developed after 2021.

Elements of the current adopted document are available for download below. Updates will be posted as they are developed and adopted in future years.

Skip to Document Center for Stormwater Master Plan documents

FY16 issue

(adopted)

FY17 issue (complete)

FY18 issue (complete)

FY19 issue (complete)

FY22 issue (complete)

Set up objective project prioritization
system for current and
future projects

Citywide System Model

Basin Level Studies
    • Kenwood
    • O Avenue NW

Identified long-term capital needs
and financial strategies

Policy Recommendations

Growth Area Service Plans
    • North
    • West
    • Southwest

Basin Level Studies
    • E Avenue NW

Policy Support

Review of Planned CIP Improvements

Growth Area Service Plans
    • Northwest
    • South

Basin Level Studies
    • Rockford Road
       SW
    • Czech Village

Policy Support

Asset Management Incorporation

Review of Planned CIP Improvements

Refine project
prioritization system
for current and
future projects

Basin Level Studies
• McLoud Run
• Cedar River SE

Policy Support

Asset Management
Incorporation

Review of Planned CIP Improvements

Basin Level Studies
• Dry Creek
• Indian Creek

SRF Sponsored Project Application Assistance

Policy Support

Review of Planned CIP Improvements

Green Infrastructure Framework

Elements of the current adopted documents are available for download in the Document Center below. Updates will be posted here as they are developed and adopted in future years.

Please contact Ben Worrell (b.worrell@cedar-rapids.org) with the Engineering Division of the Public Works Department for comments or questions on the document or the process.

Click Volume 1, Volume 2, or Volume 3 below for Stormwater Master Plan documents.
[End]

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Volume 1 - General Information 19 documents

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