Bee Branch Watershed Flood Mitigation Project Newsletter: December 2021 IssueCity of Dubuque
City Council Meeting
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December 20, 2021
Consent Items # 20.
Bee Branch Watershed Flood Mitigation Project Newsletter: December
2021 1 ssue
City Manager providing a copy of the December 2021 issue of the Bee
Branch Watershed Flood Mitigation Project Newsletter.
Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
Bee Branch Project Newsletter - December 2021
Type
Supporting Documentation
The Bee Branch Watershed
Flood Mitigation Project is a
multi -faceted approach
to address the severe
and frequent flash flooding
experienced in the Bee
Branch Watershed.
Flood disasters have
repeatedly impacted
residents and employees
of businesses within the
watershed. Between 1999
and 2011, six Presidential
Disaster Declarations were
issued with total damage
estimates of almost $70
million.
The project consists of
several infrastructure
improvements that will
reduce the volume of
stormwater, slow the rate
of stormwater through
the upper watershed,
and increase the safe
conveyance of stormwater
through the flood -prone
area.
The City has received
$162.6 million in the form
of grants, forgivable loans,
and other financial savings
to help fund the $250
million project.
Stay Connected
On Oct. 21, City staff gathered with project partners and community members to celebrate the completion
of the Bee Branch Creek Railroad Culverts which protects the area from up to a 500-year rain event.
CITY CELEBRATES 500-YEAR FLOOD PROTECTION
On Thursday, Oct. 21, the City hosted
an event to celebrate an important project
milestone for the Bee Branch Creek Railroad
Culverts Project. The six new stormwater
pipes installed in 2020 are now active and
conveying water. The improvements have
significantly increased the flood mitigation
system's capacity for stormwater. The area
is now protected from up to a 500-year rain
event.
The program included remarks by City
staff, elected officials, and project funding
partners including representatives from the
Iowa Department of Homeland Security and
Emergency Management, Iowa Department
of Natural Resources, and U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency. Al and Suzanne Blum,
who donated $400,000 to the Bee Branch
Watershed Flood Mitigation Project in 2020,
were also recognized at the event.
facebook.com/beebranchdbq
Located under the Canadian Pacific rail yard
@beebranchdbq
between Garfield Ave. and the Lower Bee
#beebranchbuzz
Branch Creek, the culverts project involved
cityofdubuque.org/beebranch
micro -tunneling six 8-foot diameter pipes
under the railroad tracks and the construction
of upstream and downstream underground
transition structures, a pumping station, and a
water level control system.
The micro -tunneling operation began in July
2020 and was finished in late October 2020.
The tunneling for each pipe began on the east
side of the railroad tracks and progressed
approximately 40 feet per day toward the
receiving pit located on the west (Garfield Ave.)
side of the project. As the micro -tunneling
machine inched its way through the soil,
20-foot-long sections of pipe were inserted
behind it. On average, it took approximately
one week to install each 200-foot-long pipe.
Each pipe required considerable prep work
including cutting the holes through the
sheet pile walls to allow the micro -tunneling
machine to pass. In addition, the contractor
was required to stop tunneling when trains
passed overhead. After the pipes were
installed, work shifted to construction of the
upstream and downstream connections.
continues on page 2
Railroad Culverts Project, contined
These connections included a large
concrete transition structure south of
Garfield Ave. where water from the Bee
Branch Creek and the 22nd St./Kaufmann
Ave. storm sewer system comes together
before entering the newly installed pipes.
Downstream, a structure was built to
transition water from the pipes into the
creek as well as a pumping station and
flow control gate system. The two gate
sections weigh 54,000 lbs. each and can
be lowered and raised to prevent the
Upper Bee Branch from flooding when the
downstream water level is high.
The Bee Branch Creek Restoration involved
replacing almost one -mile of storm sewer
with a creek and floodplain that resembles
the one that traversed the area over 100
years ago. This "daylighting" of the buried
Bee Branch Creek allows stormwater from
flash floods to safely move through the
area without flooding adjacent properties.
The creek restoration started with
construction of the Lower Bee Branch
and 16th St. Detention Basin in 2010.
Construction of the Upper Bee Branch
began in 2015 and was completed in 2017.
The Railroad Culverts Project is the final
piece of the three -phased Bee Branch
Creek Restoration Project.
Future phases of the overall Bee Branch
Watershed Flood Mitigation Project include
a flood mitigation maintenance facility, a
gate and pump replacement project, storm
sewer improvements, additional green
alleys, and more.
For more information, see the project
schedule on page 4 or visit
www.cityofdubuque.org/beebranch.
+ate
Deron Muehring, Engineer & Project Manager,
speaking at the Railroad Culverts event.
WATCH EVENT HIGHLIGHTS!
Scan this code with your
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phone camera to watch
highlights from the Railroad
d
Culverts event or visit
https://youtu.be/yT7j-mkXUYO.
09 a
AL & SUZANNE BLUM DONATE $400,000
TO THE AMERICA'S RIVER III CAMPAGIN
Now
Left: Al and Suzanne Blum, pictured
with America's River III Honorary Co -
Chair Gary Dolphin, receive a Legacy
Donor Award for their $400,000 gift
to the Bee Branch Watershed Flood
Mitigation Project at the Railroad
Culverts event on Oct. 21, 2021.
In December 2015, the City of Dubuque purchased the Blum Co. property as
part of the Bee Branch Watershed Flood Mitigation Project. In order to maintain
the mile -long Bee Branch Creek Greenway and ensure it functions as designed,
a maintenance facility is planned at 16th and Elm streets where the Blum Co.
served for two generations.
In 2020, Al and Suzanne donated $400,000 to the America's River III campaign
in support of the Bee Branch Watershed Project. They've witnessed the
transformation of the area into a beautiful linear park and support the vision of
a vibrant community space for residents and visitors — a gateway into Dubuque.
ABOUT THE BLUM CO.
Al's father, Max Blum, came to the U.S. from Ukraine in the early 1920s
when he was 17 years old. In 1926, he started his own operation recapping tires
in a small shop located between Sycamore and Cedar streets and eventually
expanded into scrap metal, hides and furs, and ginseng.
In 1942, Blum purchased the old casket company property at 15th and Elm streets
due to its proximity to the railroad. Straddling both sides of the tracks, it was an
ideal location for loading and shipping materials.
When the Blum Co. hauled scrap metal into Chicago, they would bring a variety
of items back to Dubuque — a benefit of having a large property with plenty of
storage. As a result, they sold a diverse assortment of products and materials
including windows, aluminum siding, livestock feed and fence wire, cattle guards,
structural steel and pipe, and more. In addition, when World War II put a heavy
burden on U.S. supplies, the Blum Co. began handling paper, inner tubes, and
rags so they could be recycled.
Al started working for his dad around the age of 15. He graduated from Senior
High School and attended the University of Wisconsin before coming back to
Dubuque to be part of the family business. He started playing a more active
role in the company when his dad started going to Florida for the winters and
eventually took over the operation when his father passed away.
Married in 1965, Al's wife Suzanne worked by his side throughout the years
learning the scrap business and managing payroll. The Blum Co. pioneered
recycling in Dubuque and played a significant role in the history of the North End
operating in the neighborhood for close to 90 years.
Thank you, Al and Suzanne. Your generous gift will have a lasting legacy on our
community. To learn more about the America's River III campaign and donation
opportunities including pavers, trees, benches, bike rest stations and more, visit
www.cityofdubuque.org/ar3 or call 563.690.6068.
The entrance and exit to the new pedestrian tunnels under the Canadian Pacific railroad tracks on
the east (Lower Bee Branch) side of the project.
The tunnel ceilings and walls have been
smoothed and painted.
PEDESTRIAN TUNNELS / TRAIL UNDER THE RAILROAD TRACKS
Built around 1927, the old Bee Branch storm sewers
under the Canadian Pacific railroad tracks served the
area for nearly 100 years. They are currently being
converted into two paved pedestrian tunnels as part of
the Bee Branch trail system. The tunnels will provide a
safe crossing for trail users, eliminating the need to use
the at -grade track crossing at E. 16th St. which sees an
average of seven to nine trains daily.
LOWER BEE BRANCH CREEK TRAIL PROJECT
The City is expanding the trail along the Lower Bee
Branch Creek and detention basin. The trail will be
constructed in two phases. Phase 1, scheduled for
construction in the spring of 2022, will extend south from
the existing trail across the Sycamore St. bridge, then
southeast under U.S. HWY 61/151 along the shoreline
of the 16th St. Detention Basin, then south to 12th St.
adjacent to the Alliant Energy solar array, then east
towards Kerper Blvd.
Phase 2, scheduled for construction in 2023, will begin
where Phase 1 ends along 12th St. Phase 2 will circle the
16th St. Detention Basin along its southern shoreline
parallel to 12th St. and along its eastern shoreline
parallel to Kerper Blvd. The 0.38-mile trail project will be
built in compliance with ADA standards as a 10-foot-wide
paved trail for pedestrians and bicyclists.
The Bee Branch Creek Trail project is part of the Dubuque
Metropolitan Area Study (DMATS) 2045 Long Range
Transportation Plan and supports the transportation and
mobility recommendations in the City's Imagine Dubuque
Comprehensive Plan.
The tunnels have started to take shape with the ceilings
and walls smoothed and painted. Remaining work
includes paving the floors to create a smooth ridable
surface, installing lighting and cameras, and finishing
the paved trail on the Garfield Ave. side of the project.
The City was awarded a $175,000 Land and Water
Conservation Fund Grant for the project. The tunnels are
expected to open in Spring 2022.
The Lower Bee Branch Creek trail will be extended from the Sycamore St.
bridge around the 16th St. Detention Basin and along Kerper Blvd.
CITY RECEIVES EXCELLENCE
FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT SCHEDULE
I
ON THE WATERFRONT AWARD
Carter Road Detention Basin
Completed in 2003
The City of Dubuque recently received a 2021 Excellence
West 32nd Street Detention Basin
Completed in 2009
on the Waterfront Honor Award from The Waterfront
Lower Bee Branch Creek Restoration
Completed in 2011
Center for the Bee Branch Creek Restoration Project.
Dubuque was one of eight award winners from across the
Historic Millwork District Complete Streets
Completed in 2012
world including projects in Canada, The United Kingdom,
Upper Bee Branch Creek Restoration
Completed in 2017
China, India, and U.S. cities including Juneau, Seattle,
and Lewis County, Washington. An interdisciplinary jury
22nd St./Kaufmann Ave. Storm Sewer
Completed in 2020
of professional planners, designers, city officials, and
Capacity Improvements
community, business, and development representatives
Bee Branch Healthy Homes
determined the awards using criteria such as sensitivity
Resiliency Program
Completed in 2021
of the design to water, quality and harmony of design,
civic contribution, environmental values, overall cultural
17th St./W. Locust St. Storm Sewer
Completed in 2021
richness of the community, and degree of difficulty.
Capacity Improvements
Bee Branch Creek Railroad Culverts
Complete in 2022
In 1987 the Waterfront Center began the "Excellence on
the Waterfront Awards Program;' initiated with grants from
Flood Mitigation Gate & Pump
Estimated completion
the National Endowment for the Arts Design Arts Program
Station Replacement
year is 2023
and the National Marine Manufacturers Association, to
Flood Mitigation Maintenance Facility
Estimated completion
recognize top-quality planning, design, and development
year is 2028
work from around the world.
North End Storm Sewer Capacity
Estimated completion
Improvements
year is 2028
SCAN &WATCH �•€! '°
Estimated completion
Scan this code with your phone camera to a -,
Water Plant Flood Protection
year is 2030
watch a video about the creek restoration'_
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Estimated completion
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projector visit https://youtu.be/IK13iH6_xgs.
Green Alley Reconstruction
year is 2038
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