Bee Branch Watershed Flood Mitigation Project

06/20/2024

The Bee Branch Creek Railroad Culverts and Pedestrian Tunnel Project recently received the 2024 Iowa Special Projects Grand Place and the 2024 Wisconsin Best of State Engineering Excellence Awards from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC).

These awards acknowledge the successful completion of the project which vastly improved stormwater conveyance and pedestrian/bike safety by utilizing creative design tactics and strategies to address several complex engineering challenges presented by this unique project.

The project included the installation of six, 8-foot diameter stormwater culverts, each 200 feet long, under the CPKC railyard using tunneling methods which increased the flood mitigation system’s capacity to protect the area from a 75-year rain event to a 500-year rain event.

The project also included the conversion of the 1920s box culverts that ran underneath the railroad tracks into a paved pedestrian tunnel which also serves as additional high-capacity flood conveyance when needed.

For details about the Iowa Special Project Grand Place Award, visit https://www.cec-iowa.org/special-projects-category. For details about the Wisconsin Best of State Award, visit https://www.acecwi.org/news/bee-branch-creek-railroad-culvert-and-pedestrian-tunnel-project.

Learn more about the project at www.cityofdubuque.org/beebranchrailroadculverts.

04/10/2024

The City recently received $8 million in funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Grant Program for the Bee Branch Stormwater Pumping Station Project at the 16th Street Detention Basin. The project includes the construction of new flood gates, replacing two existing flood pumps with four new pumps, replacing and updating electrical service, and installation of a backup generator.

The City expects to initiate the public bidding process for the project this year with construction to be complete in spring 2027.

Bee Branch Stormwater Pumping Station Project Receives $8 Million in Federal Funding

The recently passed federal government funding package includes $8 million to support the City of Dubuque’s ongoing flood mitigation efforts.

The $8 million will go toward the $28 million Bee Branch Stormwater Pumping Station Project at the 16th Street Detention Basin. The project represents another phase in the Bee Branch Watershed Flood Mitigation Project and includes construction of new flood gates, replacing two existing flood pumps with four new pumps, replacing and updating electrical service, and installation of a back-up generator.

The funds are available through the FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) grant program and were requested as Community Project Funding by Congresswoman Ashley Hinson. The PDM program makes federal funds available to state, local, tribal and territorial governments to plan for and implement sustainable cost-effective measures designed to reduce the risk to individuals and property from future natural hazards, while also reducing reliance on federal funding from future disasters. The PDM grant program was authorized under Section 203 of the Stafford Act.

“This is critical funding for a critical project. Our floodwall protects Dubuque from Mississippi River flooding, but we must be able to pump stormwater over the floodwall when the flood gates are closed due to high river levels,” said Dubuque Mayor Brad Cavanagh. “We are grateful to U.S. Representative Hinson for her support of this project and FEMA for administering this program.”

“While Dubuque has been a model for flood mitigation efforts – especially through the recently completed Bee Branch Creek Restoration and Culverts Projects – more must be done to protect the community from future disasters. I was proud to secure $8 million for flood mitigation gates and pumps to build on the progress we’ve already made, improve resiliency, and ensure Dubuque is prepared if severe weather strikes – this will save lives and livelihoods,” said Congresswoman Hinson. “I was proud to partner with the city and local stakeholders on this project, and I will continue to bring home investments in flood mitigation.”

The new flood gates will be constructed on the basin side of the levee (on the west side of Kerper Boulevard) which allows for the pumps to operate more efficiently and allows the existing facility to maintain flood protection during construction of the new facility.

The new facility will have four 90,000 gallon-per-minute pumps to allow for redundancy in the event of a pump failure. This project, along with the restored Bee Branch Creek and completed Railroad Culverts Project, will provide a system that can accommodate the flooding that occurred in the watershed between 1999 and 2011 -- flooding that resulted in six presidential disaster declarations and impacted more than 1,300 homes and businesses. It also provides for additional resiliency options as rainstorms increase in both depth and intensity.

The City expects to initiate the public bidding process for the project this year with construction to be complete in spring 2027.

11/16/2023

Clean streams start with us! In honor of National Stormwater Day, here are simple ways to prevent stormwater pollution around your home:

• Plant native plants and trees.
• Properly dispose of chemicals and hazardous waste.
• Use pesticides and fertilizers sparingly.
• Keep storm drains clear of debris like leaves and litter.
• Always pick up and throw away pet waste.

Another great activity is volunteering at or organizing a stream, roadside, or neighborhood cleanup! Learn more at www.cityofdubuque.org/stormwater.

Established by the National Municipal Stormwater Alliance (NMSA), National Stormwater Day celebrates and highlights efforts to increase the awareness of stormwater and ways to prevent and address urban runoff pollution.

11/01/2023

Last Saturday the City of Dubuque Government and Dubuque Trees Forever partnered to plant four trees along the new segment of the Lower Bee Branch Creek Trail. Thank you to the volunteers who joined us on that cool, crisp morning to help and thank you to the tree planting experts who guided us and shared their knowledge! We are grateful for your partnership!

Offering a unique experience, this new trail connection runs along the pond’s shoreline providing access to the water and recreational opportunities such as fishing and bird watching. As you make your way along the trail you may see trumpeter swans, great blue heron, bald eagles, North American egrets, and other wildlife. Be sure to check it out!

10/28/2023

It’s time to bundle up and plant some trees at the new Lower Bee Branch Trail. If you’re joining us this morning, here is a map of our meeting and planting location! See you at 10 a.m.

07/26/2023

This evening, Wednesday, July 26, work will begin on micro-tunneling a new sanitary sewer through the railroad property near the Bee Branch Creek Greenway on Garfield Ave. Crews will work non-stop 24 hours a day until the tunneling is finished. The estimated completion date is Sunday, Aug. 6.

During the tunneling, lights at the project site will be on throughout the night and some noise is expected. The contractor has obtained a noise variance permit for the work and is responsible to keep noise at the lowest possible level. For questions, please contact the Engineering Department at 563-589-4270.

Project Background:
A temporary siphon was installed as part of the Upper Bee Branch Creek Restoration Project to force wastewater flow under the restored creek, allowing the wastewater to flow west along Garfield Ave., then south down Elm St., and to the Cedar Street Lift Station. Siphons require significant maintenance challenges and can lead to the accumulation of solids within the line upstream. The installation of the sewer through the railroad property will allow for the elimination of the siphon, providing a more hydraulically efficient system that will not be prone to the accumulation of solids or require frequent, intensive maintenance.

06/05/2023

The new Lower Bee Branch Trail will provide an additional trail connection, access to water, and recreational opportunities such as walking, biking, bird watching, fishing, and more!

05/31/2023

I spy with my little eye… something with stripes!

05/19/2023

Due to the Bee Branch Railroad Sanitary Sewer Crossing Project, Garfield Ave. will be closed between the Bee Branch Creek Greenway and Johnson St. from Monday, May 22, until Wednesday, June 7. During this time, traffic will be detoured to Rhomberg Ave.

Please note, access to businesses will be maintained during the closure. A map of current closures and detours is available at www.cityofdubuque.org/detours.

If you have questions regarding the closure/detour, please contact the City of Dubuque Engineering Department at 563.589.4270. Please note: closure dates/times are estimates and are subject to change without notification based on weather and contractor schedules.

04/26/2023

Phase 1 of the Lower Bee Branch Creek Trail Project 🚲🚶‍♂️ started this week! Phase 1 includes the construction of a 10-foot wide paved trail that extends south from Sycamore St. under the U.S. HWY 61/151 overpass along the shoreline of the 16th St. Detention Basin to 12th St. and east approximately 600 ft. toward Kerper Blvd. The contractor will have 50 working days to complete the project.

Phase 2 of the trail will circle the 16th St. Detention Basin along its southern shoreline parallel to 12th St. and along its eastern shoreline parallel to Kerper Blvd. The construction schedule for Phase 2 has not yet been determined.

11/29/2022