Transcripts
Mitigation group boasts expertise from across campus
Shortly after the flood event from last year, it was clear that the University was embarking on a very long process for recovering from the flood. The president’s office felt it was important to bring together a committee or task force to help to communicate all the various aspects related to flood recovery.
The makeup of the task force is by nature very broad-ranging, from people around campus—some of those very closely impacted by the flood, others perhaps not so closely impacted but having expertise in some areas: planning or engineering or science that may be beneficial to the discussion. Most certainly everybody on the committee is quite engaged in flood mitigation work.
The flood mitigation task force is very interested in still maintaining a close connectivity with people and the river. We’re very aware of the types of mitigation and the impact it could have on sight lines on campus.
There are several options. One would be long levees and high walls along the river, which is not an option that is very appealing to many people. Another would be to have more active flood response technologies like invisible floodwalls that have the foundational elements built into the sidewalk and can be erected very quickly as flood barriers during flood times. These are concepts that the mitigation task force and consultants hired by the University are looking at very closely.
Audio File
Here is a link to the slideshow audio file.
Photo Gallery
Railroad bridge on Riverside Drive near the Art Building at flood stage. Traffic signs are barely visible above the flood waters.
Railroad bridge on Riverside Drive near the Art Building a year after the flood. Traffic signs are fully visible and the road is open to traffic.
Museum of Art at flood stage. Riverside Drive is totally covered with water. A traffic sign is barely visible above the flood waters.
Riverside Drive near the Museum of Art a year after the flood. Road is open. Car is stopped at the stop sign.
The Iowa River at flood stage. Photo taken Hillcrest Residence Hall looking north.
The Iowa River showing water flowing at a normal rate. Photo taken Hillcrest Residence Hall looking north.
Art building west at flood stage. Water is halfway up the windows on the first floor.
Art Building West from the north side a year after the flood.
Hancher Auditorium at flood stage. Water reaches halfway up the lightpoles along the path to the building.
Hancher Auditorium a year after the flood.
Danforth Chapel at flood stage. Water covers Madison Street.
Danforth Chapel a year after the flood.
Parking lot west of the Main Library at flood stage looking east. Water is halfway up the railroad viaduct between the parking lot and the library.
Main Library parking lot a year after the flood.
A team of sandbaggers works to build dike on the pedestrian mall between the Main Library and the Adler Journalism Building. Flood water covers the street.
The pedestrian mall between the Main Library and the Adler Journalism Building a year after the flood.
Links to other slideshow transcript/gallery pages:
- Loyce Arthur: The show must go on
- Isabel Barbuzza: Artists find unity in revamped facility
- Gayle Blevins: Softball squad makes spring splash
- Chris Coretsopoulos: Researchers scramble out of high-tech home
- Keri Hornbuckle: Engineering students embrace educational opportunity
- Renée Houser: Finding a place for displaced classes
- Julia Howell: Iowa City welcomes myriad musicians
- Nancy Kraft: UI Libraries lend hand to preservation efforts
- Rod Lehnertz: Living with the river remains a priority
- Ferman Milster: Power Plant surges back after shutdown