Flood mitigation task force to serve as University community's voice in planning changes

	Portions of roads on the University of Iowa campus are covered with floodwater in this photo from June. Photo by Tom Jorgensen.

The Iowa River has expressed its opinion on what the University of Iowa campus should look like.

Now, the University gets its chance.

A 14-member flood mitigation task force has been appointed to serve as the University community’s voice in planning changes to reduce the risk from future flooding.

The task force of faculty and staff members will meet through the fall with numerous faculty, staff, and student constituencies to hear their thoughts and concerns about possible actions that might be taken.

In March, the task force will report its findings and conclusions to University of Iowa president Sally Mason, as well as share them with consultants from Ayres Associates and Sasaki Associates, two firms that are advising the University on flood mitigation planning.

Larry Weber, professor of civil and environmental engineering, and Gregg Oden, professor of psychology and computer science, will chair the task force. As director of IIHR-Hydroscience and Engineering, Weber is well versed on the mechanics and power of water. And as the chair of the Campus Planning Committee for the past five years, Oden is well versed in the functioning and aesthetics of the University’s physical space.

“This is the biggest campus planning issue we’ve had in some time,” Oden said.

Oden and Weber spoke with fyi about the task force’s goals, options for faculty/staff communication, and how the University will interact with the river in the future.

What are the task force’s goals?

Among the task force’s goals will be to consider means to reduce the risk of damage from future flooding in buildings flooded this summer while taking account of the needs of student services operations and research, instructional, and artistic programs that were affected by the flood.

What options are on the table?

All options for future flood protection and mitigation will be considered, including structural changes to buildings, changes in occupancy, environmental and landscaping changes, and the role of insurance.

Where does the Iowa River fit in the University’s future?

We hope we aren’t too reactive to the flood. We still want to interact with the river on campus, but not from behind a 20-foot-high wall. The Iowa River is one of the University’s major assets and we hope to continue to engage with it. We want the University to look even more toward the river, not turn its back on it.

How does the task force figure into the decision-making process?

Part of our role is to serve as a conduit for the University community, to gather their thoughts and communicate them to the consultants. The consultants will then use those comments as one of their guides as they develop flood mitigation proposals. The University administration and the Board of Regents will make all final decisions. Our role is advisory.

In addition, the task force will advise the University’s administration on particular flood recovery and mitigation issues that might arise before the completion of the final plan, and contribute whatever additional input is appropriate regarding the rebuilding of the campus.

How will you go about gathering information? How can individuals or groups on campus communicate with the task force?

We expect there will be numerous channels, but the specifics won’t be set until the task force has started meeting. We also plan to hold at least one public forum and probably more, but again, the task force will make that determination.

By Tom Snee

Flood mitigation task force

Wallace Loh, executive vice president and provost, and Doug True, senior vice president and treasurer, appointed the task force. Members are:

• Gregg Oden, professor, psychology and computer science; chair, Campus Planning Committee (co-chair)
• Larry Weber, professor, civil and environmental engineering; director, IIHR-Hydroscience and Engineering (co-chair)
• Cheryl Reardon Hoogerwerf, assistant to the vice president for research
• Joe Kearney, associate dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Lucie Laurian, assistant professor, urban and regional planning
• Lola Lopes, emeritus professor, Tippie College of Business
• George Malanson, professor, geography
• Gene Parkin, professor, civil and environmental engineering
• John Beldon Scott, professor, art and art history
• Mike Valde, environmental compliance manager

Ex officio members are:

• Barbara Eckstein, associate provost, Office of the Provost
• Don Guckert, associate vice president, Facilities Management
• George Hollins, University Business Manager
• Donna Pearcy, director, Office of Risk Management