ISAC

Anatomy of Iowa Floods: Preparing for the Future

Community symposiums to help people better understand recent flooding in Iowa and how we can better plan and prepare for future flooding will take place in five communities this summer. The events titled “Anatomy of Iowa Floods: Preparing for the Future,” will take place from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm in the following locations:

· Burlington: Wednesday, June 16, at the City Council Chambers

· Cedar Rapids: Monday, June 21, at Kirkwood Comm. College Training & Outreach Services Bldg.

· Waverly: Wednesday, June 30, at the Waverly-Shell Rock High School Auditorium

· Mason City: Wednesday, July 14, at the North Iowa Community College Muse Norris Center

· Ames: Monday, July 19, at the Ames City Council Chambers 

Topics to be covered include climate change trends in Iowa precipitation; trends in water run-off; work of the Iowa Flood Center; floodplain management strategies; water quality; the Cedar Falls Floodplain Initiative; rural-urban watershed coalition building; and a review of state public policy issues. The presentations will be followed by a question and answer session.

Following each forum, refreshments will be served and free copies of the book, “A Watershed Year: Anatomy of the Iowa Floods of 2008,” will be available to attendees.

The book was edited by ecologist Cornelia “Connie” Mutel, a historian and archivist at the University of Iowa College of Engineering. Mutel solicited essays by physical and environmental scientists, hydrologists, economists, public policy experts, engineers and community managers that describe the floods, discuss what can be learned for the future.  

The symposiums are being hosted by the University of Iowa’s Center for Global & Regional Environmental Research, Rebuild Iowa Office, UNI Center for Energy and Environmental Education, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa State University Extension, Iowa League of Cities, and the Iowa State Association of Counties.

For more information about the symposiums, contact Joe Bolkcom at joe-bolkcom@uiowa.edu or 319.353.2681.