ICMA Award for Bee Branch Creek Watershed Flood Mitigation ProjectCopyrighted
November 6, 2017
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 5.
ITEM TITLE: International City/County Management Association (I CMA)
Community Sustainability Award for Bee Branch Watershed
Flood Mitigation Project
SUMMARY: City Manager transmitting information from the International
City/County Management Association (PM Magazine)
awarding the City its Community Sustainability Award for the
Bee Branch Watershed Flood Mitigation Project.
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Community Sustainability Award for Bee Branch Staff Memo
Watershed Flood Mitigation Project
COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY AWARD
This award recognizes innovative local government programs or processes that creatively balance a community's so
environmental, and cultural needs.
Populations of 50,000 and greater
Bee Branch Watershed Flood Mitigation Project 1 Dubuque, Iowa
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
.11
Challenge: To find a solution for fre-
quent flash flooding in the Bee Branch
Watershed that also supports the
watershed's overall health, water qual-
ity, neighborhood preservation, and
community development.
Backstory: More than half of Dubuque's residents either
live or work in the Bee Branch Watershed, an area of
historic neighborhoods that have a mix of affordable
housing, small businesses, and schools. A 2009 FEMA
study found that 1,373 homes and businesses, including
70 businesses that employ more than 1,400 people and
account for $500 million in annual sales, are prone to
storm water flooding.
The Bee Branch Creek had been buried in a storm
sewer in the early 1900s. As Dubuque grew, major
rainstorms regularly overwhelmed the sewer's capac-
ity. Between 1999 and 2011, the area was declared a
federal disaster area six times and logged an estimated
$69.8 million in damages. As a result, while commercial
property values rose 39 percent citywide between 2004
and 2009, they fell six percent in the watershed.
Solution: The Bee Branch Watershed Flood Mitigation
Project (BBWFMP), a green infrastructure investment to
mitigate flooding, improve water quality, stimulate devel-
opment, and enhance quality of life.
Program Implementation: The project catalyzes commu-
nity economic, social, and environmental capital to cre-
ate resilient neighborhoods, foster economic opportuni-
ties, and balance resources. The BBWFMP created an
open waterway and floodplain designed to carry storm
water through Dubuque's north end without flooding
adjacent properties. It also serves as a linear parkway
connecting Dubuque's historic riverfront and urban core.
The parkway features a hike/bike trail, rain gardens/bio-
swales, pervious pavement, an amphitheater, and more
than 1,000 trees and other plantings.
Business, health, environmental, and economic orga-
nizations, and neighborhood associations supported the
project because of its contribution to economic growth,
the livability and vitality of the downtown and neighbor-
hoods, and enhanced biodiversity.
Costs: $219 million. Because of its innovative approach,
Dubuque was able to secure more than $160 million
grant dollars from state and federal agencies.
RESULTS
BBWFMP will prevent an estimated $582 million in
damages over its 100 -year design life.
WHY IT WORKS
• The BBWFMP is a significant shift for cities. Traditional
flood mitigation involves buyouts and demolitions,
sewers, and levees. Instead, Dubuque citizens and
their partners embraced a sustainable approach.
• This project was one of the first of its kind to
remove funding "silos" and "braid" funding streams
and permitting processes.
• It embraced citizen engagement through neighbor-
hood meetings, public hearings, and infrastructure
input sessions.
2017 ICMA AWARDS 17
OCTOBER 2017 1 icma.org/pm
PUBLIC MANAGEMENT 1
RIGHT, WRONG, OR JUST BLURRY
22 POLICING TRENDS
27 FIGHTING SUBSTANCE
ABUSE DISORDERS
32 TARGET -DATE FUNDS
INSIDE: 2017 ICMA AWARDS
TO A COMMUNITY'S STRENGTHS
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