Army Engrs Couler Valley study DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
ROCK ISLAND DISTRICT. CORPS OF ENGINEERS
CLOCK TOWER BUILDING - P.O. BOX 2004
ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS 61204-2004
February 24, 2003
Planning, Programs, and
Project Management Division
Ms. Donna L. Smith
Chairperson
Dubuque County Board of Supervisors
Courthouse - 720 Central
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-7053
Dear Ms. Smith:
I am pleased to provide you with a copy of our Scope of Work for the proposed
Special Study along the Couler Valley reach of the Little Maquoketa River in Dubuque
County. We are in the process of requesting funding for this study from our Division
Headquarters in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and we will notify you when funds become
available.
If you require further assistance in this matter, please feel free to call Mr. Michael
Zukowski or Mr. Dennis Hamilton in our Project Management Branch, telephone
309/794-5890 and 309/794-5634, respectively.
Sincerely,
Gary L. Loss, P.E
Chief, Planning, Programs, and
Project Management Division
Enclosure
Copies Furnished:
Honorable Ralph Dean
Mayor of Sageville
10838 Highway 52N
Dubuque, Iowa 52001 (with enclosure)
Mr. Daniel Nicholson
Councilman-at-Large
City Hall
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864 (with enclosure)
Mr. Mark Jobgen
County Engineer
13063 Seipple Road
Dubuque, Iowa 52002 (with enclosure)
CEMVR-PM-M
12 February 2003
SCOPE OF WORK
Planning Assistance to States
Flood Study
FOR: Dubuque County, Iowa
PREPARED BY: U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District
1. Description of Study: Undertake a hydrologic and hydraulic study for the purpose of
reviewing, evaluating, and recalibrating the existing hydraulic and hydrologic model for the
Little Maquoketa River. As required, the model will be updated to reflect changes in stream
geometry that have occurred since the model was initially calibrated in 1980. Conduct a
ground survey to replicate, as nearly as possible, the cross-sectional information developed
for the previous calibration. Identify and recommend possible flood reduction measures
based on modeling results.
II. Study Area: The study area is limited to approximately 3 miles of the Little Maquoketa
River from just upstream of Highway 52 to its confluence with the Mississippi River. The
study area is located in Couler Valley, Dubuque County, Iowa.
III. Work Elements: The following activities will be completed in the course of this study
effort:
A. Ground Surve,Ang: A ground survey will be completed along the 3-mile reach of the
Little Maquoketa River included in this study. This will result in the preparation of between
7 and 10 cross sections and 3 bridge structures in ASCII format. Each cross section will extend
to the 500-year floodway, and if required, beyond, so as to define critical surface features that
may impact surface runoff.
B. Hydrology and Hydraulic Analysis: Initially, the data contained in the 1995 Flood
Insurance Study and the 1980 HEC Hydraulic Model will be evaluated to determine their
adequacy for this study effort. As required, the peak discharges for the 10-, 50-, 100- and
500-year flood events will be computed using standard engineering methodologies. The HEC-
RAS Hydraulic Model will be updated to generate water surface elevations for the 10-, 50-,
100- and 500-year flood events. The impact of stream sediment on water surface elevations will
be determined. Flow frequency values will be coordinated with the Iowa Department of Natural
Resources.
C. Flood Reduction: The results of the modeling effort will be evaluated and
recommendations for flood reduction will be made.
IV. Deliverables: A report will be prepared describing the floodplain study and summarizing
the results. Six copies of the study will be furnished. The report will include the following:
A. A discussion of the study methodology
B. A copy of the model input and output files, both hard copy and electronic.
C. Water surface profiles
D. Benchmarks and ground control data
E. Flood Reduction Alternatives and Recommendations
V. Cost Estimate: The cost to complete the study delineated above is estimated as follows:
Task Responsibility Cost ($) Duration (wk)
Site Reconnaissance ED-HH 2,800.00 1
Ground Surveys ED-S 10,400.00 4
Hydrologic Analysis ED-I-IH 2,000.00 I 4
HEC-RAS Analysis ED-HH 10,000.00 I 8
Sediment Analysis ED-HH 3,000.00 I 2
Report Preparation ED-HH 3,800.00 I 4
Study Coordination ED-HH 6,000.00
Study Management PM-M 2.000.00
TOTAL 40,000.00
VI. Schedule: See attached schedule.
Includes: Study Coordination, Technical Review and Quality Control
Little Maquoketa River - Dubuque County, Iowa
Proposed Schedule
Feb-03
TASK I WEEK
4 I 2 I 3 I 4 I 5 I 6 I 7 I 8 I 9 1401 ~ I 421 431 ~41 451 461 471 4~1 491 201 24
1. Site Reconnaissance
2. Ground Survey
3. Hydrologic Analysis
4. HEC-RAS Analysis
5. Sediment Analysis
6. Draft Report
7. Rev & Finalize Rept.
QLY TO
ATTENTION OF
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
ROCK ISLAND DISTRICT. CORPS OF ENGINEERS
CLOCK TOWER BUILDING .P.O. BOX 2004
ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS 61204-2004
October 31, 2002
Planning, Programs, and
Project Management Division
Ms. Donna L. Smith
Chairperson
Dubuque County Board of Supervisors
Courthouse
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-7053
Dear Ms. Smith:
This letter is a follow up to the site visit and meeting on October 7, 2002, with Messrs. Dennis
Hamilton and Mark Schroeder of my staff to discuss flooding problems in the Couler Valley area,
as requested by your letter of July 1, 2002. Enclosed is a memorandum summarizing this meeting.
Although our study of Couler Valley flooding in 1987 indicated that no alternatives were
economically justified, we concur that flooding problems appear to have increased and that addi-
tional study is warranted. The Rock Island District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps)
will request funds on your behalf under the authority of Section 205 of the 1948 Flood Control Act
or Section 206 of the 1960 Flood Control Act, to initiate a study of flooding in the Little Maquoketa
River and the Couler Valley near Sageville, Iowa.
We will contact you when funding becomes available. Information about our studyprocesses
is included in the Flood Damage Reduction "Toot Kit" that was provided to you at the meeting.
We look forward to working with you on this project. If you should have any questions, please
call Mr. Dennis Hamilton at 309/794-5634.
Sincerely,
Enclosure
ORIGINAL SIGNED BY
Gary L. Loss, P.E.
Chief, Planning, Programs, and
Project Management Division
Copies Furnished:
Honorable Jim Nussle
Representative in Congress
Attention: Ms. Anne Rave
712 West Main Street
Manchester, Iowa 52057 (with enclosure)
Honorable Charles E. Grassley
United States Senator
206 Federal Building
I01 - Ist Street SE.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401-1227 (with enclosure)
Mr. Gary Latham
19329 Mud Lake Road
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-9715 (with enclosure)
Mayor Ralph Dean
City of Sageville
10838 Highway 52 N
Dubuque, Iowa 52001 (with enclosure)
CEMVR-PM-M
23 October 2002
MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD
SUBJECT: Meeting to Discuss Couler Valley Flooding, Dubuque County, Iowa
1. At the request of Dubuque County, the subject meeting was held at Eichman's Restaurant
in Sageville on 7 October 2002 to discuss recent flood damage to properties in the Couler Valley
area. The following attended the meeting:
· Donna Smith Dubuque County Board of Supervisors
· Mark Jobgen, Dubuque County Engineer
· Dan Nicholson Dubuque City Council
· Numerous local residents See attached sign-in sheet
· Dennis Hamilton Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District
· Mark Schroeder Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District
2. SUMMARY: Local residents described the flooding problems and how they have increased
in recent years. They attributed the increased flooding to development in the floodplain, changes
in the watershed, sediment and debris buildup in the Little Maquoketa River, and the bridge at
Herber Road. Residents agreed that flooding from the Couler Ditch has not been a problem; the
flood damages result from high stages in the Little Maquoketa River.
We discussed the 1987 Reconnaissance Study prepared by the Rock Island District to address
flooding in the Couler Valley. This report found no alternative was economically justified.
Some of the properties subject to damage in 1987 are now protected from floods and the
potential flood damage reduction benefits would be reduced. It may be possible that current
flood profiles are higher than projected in the 1987 report; however, the amount of change may
not be substantial enough to justify a Federal project. The 1987 report relied on the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood insurance study for Little Maquoketa River
flood profiles. The report did not address methods of reducing flood stages in the Little
Maquoketa River.
Mr. Jobgen pointed out that the Little Maquoketa River floodplain has experienced a large
amount of sediment buildup in recent years but did not believe the Herber bridge has a
substantial impact on flood stages. Flooding in the Little Maquoketa River is further exacer-
bated by high stages on the Mississippi River, about 3 miles downstream.
We discussed the process for conducting a Section 205 feasibility study for the Little Maquoketa
River and I provided copies of our Flood Damage Reduction "Tool Kit." I explained that the
first step would be an initial assessment to determine if there is a Federal interest in a detailed
feasibility study. Due to the high frequency of flooding and the apparent worsening of flooding,
there is a high degree of local support for a Section 205 study.
CEMVR-PM-M
SUBJECT: Meeting to Discuss Couler Valley Flooding, Dubuque County, Iowa
Following the meeting, we toured areas along the Little Maquoketa River to view the
sedimentation and debris restrictions. We found evidence of large mounts of sediment
that could have a substantial impact on flood stages.
Dennis W. Hamilton, P.E.
Project Manager
CF:
Dist File (PM-M)
PM (Schroeder)
PM-M (Hamilton)
ED-DM (Less)
EM
ORIGINAL SIGNED BY
Project Manager
ATTENTION OF
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
ROCK ISLAND DISTRICT. CORPS OF ENGINEERS
CLOCK TOWER BUILDING - P.O. BOX 2004
ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS 61204-2004
March 11, 2003
Planning, Programs, and
Project Management Division
Ms. Ellen Hall
17461 Sageville Road
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-9428
Dear Ms. Hall:
I have received your letter of February 12, 2003, and I wish to thank you for taking the
time to write me explaining your concerns about flooding from the Little Maquoketa River.
As you know the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has a long history of providing
cost-effective flood protection measures to our customers, the citizens of the United States.
It is the input from individuals like you that allows us to address the needs of our customers.
Your letter raises a number of issues, both directly and indirectly related to the Corps'
proposed study of the Little Maquoketa River, and I am addressing them as follows:
a. I have enclosed copies of the Corps' most recent correspondence with the Board of
Supervisors relating to the Little Maquoketa River Flood Study. The first is our October 31,
2002, letter which provides basic information on our process, summarizes the findings of our
1987 study, and transmits the report of our October 7, 2002, meeting with concerned citizens
(Enclosure 1). The second letter, dated February 24, 2003, provided the County and other
officials with a copy of our proposed plan of study for the Little Maquoketa River (Enclosure
2).
b. Preparing to defend one's home from the ravages ora flood is not a pleasant chore.
I have enclosed the following reports that may help you in this effort:
- Flood Proofing - Techniques. Prom'ams. and References, dated September 1997
(Enclosure 3)
- Repairing Your Flooded Home (Enclosure 4)
- Flood Proofing - How to Evaluate Your Options, dated July 1993 (Enclosure 5)
As another resource, I suggest you call Mr. Thomas Berger at the Dubuque County Emergency
Management Office, telephone 563/589-4i 70, to find out what programs, if any, they may
have that could be of assistance to you.
c. Prior studies of the Little Maquoketa River have been unable to justify a Federal
project to provide flood protection. The new study is intended to reevaluate the situation to
find out what has changed in the past 20 years and how much it has changed. The recent
flooding you have experienced may be caused by a combination of factors, including bridges,
land development, and deposits of sediment in the river and floodplain. One part of the study
will evaluate the river valley to determine if sediment deposits have increased flood stages and
what measures would help to reduce the flooding. The bridges will also be looked at to see
what role they play in the flooding.
d. The new study provides the County and the City with information to develop a long-
term flood control program for the valley. The Corps provides these services to our customers
at no local cost, as the study is fully funded with Federal tax dollars.
I hope that I have answered your questions regarding our upcoming study, but if you
need additional information, please call the Study Manager, Mr. Michael P. Zukowski,
Project Management Branch, telephone 309/794-5890.
Sincerely,
Dennis W. Hamilton, P.E.
Project Manager
Enclosures
Copies Furnished:
Ms. Donna L. Smith
Chairperson
Dubuque County Board of Supervisors
Courthouse - 720 Central
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-7053 (with Enclosures 1 and 2)
V/Mr. Daniel Nicholson
Councilman-at-Large
City Hall
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864 (with Enclosures 1 and 2)
Copies Furnished (Continued):
Mr. Thomas Berger
Dubuque County Emergency Management Office
Courthouse - 720 Central
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-7053 (with Enclosures 1 and 2)
Mr. Mark Jobgen
County Engineer
13063 Seipple Road
Dubuque, Iowa 52002 (with Enclosures 1 and 2)