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  • Clear Creek Watershed

    The Clear Creek Watershed Project includes activities in the upper watershed to reduce flooding and improve water quality, as well as infrastructure projects in the city of Coralville.

    WebsiteFact Sheet
    Clear Creek running through woodlands in the Fall

Clear Creek Watershed

The Clear Creek Watershed (CCW) includes activities in the upper watershed to reduce flooding and improve water quality, as well as infrastructure projects in the city of Coralville to protect commercial and residential property from flooding.

The Clear Creek Watershed covers 66,132 acres (104 square miles), spanning parts of Iowa and Johnson counties in Southeast Iowa. Clear Creek empties into the Iowa River at Coralville. The watershed lies entirely within the Southern Iowa Drift Plain, comprised of glacial deposits broken up by many small creeks that have molded the landscape into rolling hills and valleys. Abundant rainfall and fertile soils allowed the conversion of the natural prairie and forested landscape to large-scale intensive agriculture, consisting mainly of a corn-soybean rotation. Eighty-four percent of cropland in the upper portions of the watershed is classified as highly erodible. Intensive agriculture on these soils in a moist climate, coupled with stream channelization in the headwaters and increasing urbanization in the lower portions of the watershed, contribute to flash flooding and water-quality degradation after intense spring storms.

The city of Coralville is set along Clear Creek where it joins the Iowa River, leaving it particularly vulnerable to flooding. Recent floods have had a devastating impact on the local economy, causing many businesses to relocate. Unprotected storm sewer discharge points along the creeks and river leave systems vulnerable to backwater. The city determined that it was imperative to construct flood mitigation projects, especially for the existing storm sewer system, to protect businesses and residents from future floods. The Iowa Watershed Approach will provide funding for the city to reconstruct Stormwater Pump Stations (PS) 7 and 8 to the same design level as all other Coralville flood mitigation projects. PS 7 protects about 42.8 acres of developed property, and PS 8 protects about 135.9 acres. This project will benefit every property owner and tenant within these regions.

Details

Grant Award: $4,423,346

Coralville Infrastructure: $1,834,800

Lead County: Johnson

Project Coordinator

  • John Rathbun
  • John.rathbun@ia.nacdnet.net
  • 319-337-2322 x 3

Contact John Rathbun for any questions or comments you may have about the Clear Creek Watershed project.

Project Website

Planning Consultant

East Central Iowa Council of Governments

Project Engineer

Clapsaddle-Garber & Associates

Clear Creek In the News

November 2, 2021

Astig Planning receives 2021 APA Iowa Chapter Environmental Planning Award

John Rathbun displays watershed award
April 27, 2020

Rathbun Recognized with Circle of Excellence IAWA Iowa Watershed Award

March 24, 2020

After years of planning, Clear Creek watershed improvement projects move closer to reality

MaasFamilyAward2018
September 5, 2018

Maas Farms Wins Environmental Award

June 1, 2018

Clear Creek Watershed Coalition seeks Stream Corridor and Floodplain Restoration Consultant Services

Upcoming Meetings

Resources

  • Clear Creek Watershed Management Plan
  • Clear Creek Watershed Hydrologic Assessment
  • Clear Creek Watershed Project Evaluation Report
  • Clear Creek Fact Sheet

Meeting Materials

JANUARY 20, 2021

  • Agenda
  • Presentations
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OCTOBER 21, 2020

  • Agenda
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JULY 15, 2020

  • Agenda
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APRIL 15, 2020

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JAN 15, 2020

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OCT 16, 2019

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JULY 17, 2019

  • Agenda
  • Presentations (None)
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APRIL 17, 2019

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JAN 16, 2019

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OCT 17, 2018

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JULY 18, 2018

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APR 18, 2018

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JAN 17, 2018

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OCT 18, 2017

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JUL 19, 2017

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APR 19, 2017

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JAN 18, 2017

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OCT 19, 2016

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IWA In the News

  • IWA’s Legacy from Project Lead, Larry Weber
  • Predicting Iowa’s Next Big Storm
  • Iowa’s Watershed Approach provides a model for tackling big challenges on the Mississippi River.
  • $97 million goes towards flood resilience across Iowa
  • $97 million statewide flood-reduction initiative

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