Located at the confluence of Walnut Creek and North Walnut Creek, the University Boulevard Neighborhood in Clive, Iowa, has experienced millions of dollars in damage from repeated flooding. The City of Clive sought to fortify the neighborhood against future floods while laying the foundation for a more active, vibrant community.
Using a “managed retreat” approach, the city plans to remove or relocate buildings and infrastructure from areas of highest flood risk and implement a set of cost-effective, nature-based solutions that create flood resilience while cultivating environmental, social, and economic conditions that incentivize reinvestment in the neighborhood. As part of a consulting team, Barr helped the City of Clive complete its Project Scoping Plan.
Building upon previous planning efforts, the Project Scoping Plan refines mitigation strategies and designs that meet the city’s goals. Barr conducted stream assessments, geomorphic analyses, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, and preliminary engineering to inform preliminary designs for re-meandering Walnut Creek after the removal of flood-prone structures. As designed, the re-meandering will improve the ecology of North Walnut Creek, increase floodplain connectivity, and incorporate stormwater treatment to improve the quality of creek inflows.
Barr’s assessments, modeling, and preliminary designs for flood storage and conveyance will help reduce flood risk while improving water quality, habitat diversity, and long-term watershed health. The overall mitigation design will transform vulnerable flood-prone areas into resilient community assets that support recreation while reducing flood exposure, positioning the City of Clive for future construction funding.
