Project: Burlington, IA, Blackhawk Bottoms
Recipient: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Rock Island District
Clock Tower Building
PO Box 2004
Rock Island, IL 61204
Amount Requested: $754,000
Funds will be used to complete a feasibility study and fully fund construction of a pond that would mimic a natural cycle to allow the creation of moist soil plants. This habitat would be used to attract water birds while they migrate and a variety of species. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is the sponsor of this project which should also provide for outdoor recreation opportunities.
Project: Cedar Rapids Courthouse Square and Parking Facility
Recipient: General Services Administration
Region 6
1500 Bannister Road
Kansas City, MO 64131
Amount: $10,900,000
Unused funds from a previous General Services Administration appropriation secured for the construction of a new federal courthouse in Cedar Rapids, IA will be used to help construct a parking facility and a courthouse square adjacent to the new courthouse. According to the City of Cedar Rapids, during site design phases of the federal courthouse, the Courthouse Square concept was identified as an important design idea that would allow the project to be more directly connected with the city while also encouraging commercial options for the area. Additionally, there are limited options for parking for this influx of new vehicles in the downtown Cedar Rapids area. The facility will provide parking in close to the courthouse and ensure that the downtown area does not experience significant congestion as a result of too few parking options for employees and visitors to the new 280,000-square-foot federal courthouse which will include five courtrooms, the office of the U.S. Courts as well as 10 other federal agencies.
Project: Chariton River Watershed
Recipient: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Kansas City District
601 E 12th Street
Kansas City, MO 64106
Amount Requested: $100,000
Funds will be used to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the water resource challenges in the Chariton River Basin. Projects will be examined that will enhance economic and environmental resources with a focus on flood protection, watershed restoration, and protection of water supply. The Chariton River feeds in to the Rathbun Lake Reservoir which is used to supply water, by the Rathbun Regional Water Association, to 14 counties in South Eastern Iowa. Enhancing the Chariton River Watershed will ensure a clean and adequate supply of water while reducing long-term costs of maintenance, and increased flooding, at the Rathbun Lake Reservoir.
Project: City of Cedar Rapids Storm Sewer System Improvements
Recipient: City of Cedar Rapids
3851 River Ridge Drive NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Amount Requested: $140,000
The funding would be used for upgrading the sewer system at Bever Park which has deteriorated to the point of collapse. The aging storm sewer system is no longer able to handle the storm water flows that exist today. The existing storm sewer and culverts are deteriorating causing potholes to develop in the roadway and in parking areas that need to be repaired or patched on a monthly basis. This funding will help cut down on long term maintenance costs for the city.
Project: City of Richmond Sewer Project
Recipient: Regional Utility Service Systems (RUSS)
901 N. 8th Street
Fairfield, IA 52556
Amount Requested: $810,000
Funds will be used by RUSS to construct a sewer and sewage treatment system for the currently unsewered community of Richmond. Construction of the necessary sewer and treatment system will provide infrastructure to enhance the community’s opportunity for commercial growth while protecting public health. RUSS was formed with an emphasis on planning, financing, constructing, operating, and maintaining wastewater treatment systems in unsewered communities on behalf of its member counties. RUSS is a multi-county non-profit organization that includes the Iowa counties of Davis, Des Moines, Henry, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lee, Louisa, Mahaska, Van Buren, Wapello, and Washington.
Project: City of Walker Wastewater Treatment and Lagoon System Improvements
Recipient: City of Walker
City Hall
408 Rowley Street
Walker, IA 52352
Amount Requested: $1,443,200
Funds will be used to improve the City of Walker’s wastewater treatment facility in order to become compliant with current regulations in regard to wastewater discharge. Currently, during heavy rains, sewage backs up in to homeowner’s basements and is discharged into the environment as well. The existing system does not have the ability to handle current flow. Once completed, this project will improve the environment, raise homeowner property values, and bring stability to existing and prospective employers considering expansions in the city. The city is additionally pursuing state funding sources for the project.
Project: City of Walker Water Tower Facility
Recipient: City of Walker
City Hall
408 Rowley Street
Walker, IA 52352
Amount Requested: $730,950
Funds will be used to replace a 95 year old 50,000 gallon water tower. The current facility has been determined to be beyond its useful life and is prone to failure. It was also determined that for the city to continue to have adequate distribution capabilities along with fire protection, a new 150,000 gallon tower should be constructed. The current capacity becomes depleted frequently which increases the risk of the water mains becoming contaminated with pathogens and bacteria and decreases the ability of fire fighters to respond to an emergency. In addition to the public safety benefits of this project, it will allow the city improve commercial opportunities as a stronger municipal water supply is crucial to attracting additional investment.
Project: City of Washington Wastewater Pollution Control Project
Recipient: City of Washington
215 E. Washington Street
Washington, IA 52353
Amount Requested: $11,825,000
This project will help protect the environment and the bodies of water in the area from sewage discharge in addition to improving the economic development capabilities of the city. Funds will be used to construct a new wastewater treatment facility in addition to replacement and correction of sanitary sewer overflows that currently discharge into area waterways during high rain events. The City of Washington estimates that without federal financial assistance, sewer rates will increase two to three times their current rate to cover the costs of project, which is estimated at $21.5 million. The city is pursuing state funding opportunities as well.
Project: City of Wellman City-Wide Reverse Osmosis Water Quality Improvement Project
Recipient: City of Wellman
PO Box 129
316 8th Avenue
Wellman, IA 52356
Amount Requested: $500,000
Funds will be used for the upgrade of the existing water treatment facilities by adding a “Reverse Osmosis” system to improve water quality. This upgraded system is critical for the city as the community’s water currently violates drinking water standards and regulations to the degree that consumption may present a health risk to residents, particularly children, as with the presence of nitrites that may induce “Blue Baby Syndrome.” The city is pursuing state funding assistance as well and estimates that without any assistance, user rates will triple to cover the cost of the project for this community of less than 10,000. Along with the obvious public health necessity of this project, it will also help improve economic opportunities for the community.
Project: Combined Sewer Separation (CSO) Program
Recipient: City of Ottumwa
105 E. Third Street
Ottumwa, IA 52501
Amount Requested: $5,000,000
This funding will increase economic development opportunities, and ensure residents are not burdened by high utility costs. The funding would be used for continued sewer separation projects in the City of Ottumwa. Without federal aid and with the current projected cost, sewer rates will increase from $28 a month to $132 a month. The estimate of the city-wide plan is $159 million. To continue progress without relying on federal assistance, the city has enacted a 45% sewer fee increase over a three period with the first increase in FY07. Without federal assistance and with the current projected cost, sewer rates will increase from $28 a month to $132. In addition, the project will provide improved water quality and benefits the Des Moines River. Currently, the sewer system becomes overloaded with as little as a quarter inch of rain which results in sewer overflow into the Des Moines River. The current system also causes raw sewage to back-up in residents’ basements.
Project: Combined Sanitary/Storm Sewer Separation Project
Recipient: City of Keokuk
415 Blondeau Street
Keokuk, IA 52632
Amount Requested: $5,000,000
Funds will be used to separate the combined sanitary and storm sewers within the city so that all of the city’s sanitary sewers are routed through the sewage treatment plant and not discharged directly to the Mississippi River during high water or intense rainfalls. The city is taking steps to fund portions of the project with a monthly Sewer Fee increase schedule over the next two years which will place sanitary sewer rates over 1.5% of the median income of its residents. The city intends to spread the project phases over a span of 17 to 20 years with a total project cost of $77,000,000. Completion of this project will enhance the economic development capabilities of the city while at the same time enhancing environmental performance.
Project: Coralville Lake Reservoir Operation and Maintenance
Recipient: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Rock Island District
Clock Tower Building
PO Box 2004
Rock Island, IL 61204
Amount Requested: $6,069,000
Funds will be used for the operation and maintenance of the Coralville Lake Reservoir located in Coralville, IA. Coralville Lake regulates runoff from 3,084 square miles of land upstream providing flood protection to 1,703 square miles of Iowa River Valley below the reservoir. The US Army Corps of Engineers manages Coralville Lake as a multiple use project with primary purpose and benefits being flood control. Secondary benefits include significant recreation opportunities, sailing, boating, swimming, fishing and wildlife management, forest management, water quality improvement, and camping among others.
Project: Multi-Scale Erosion and Nutrient Transport and Prediction Initiative
Recipient: University of Iowa
105 Jessup Hall
Iowa City, IA 52242
Amount Requested: $1,600,000
Funds will be used to build a monitoring and modeling program along with predictive tools to create a new strategy for near real-time modeling to reduce and identify erosion in to the Mississippi River. Iowa has some of the richest soils and agricultural production in the world and is under increasing pressure to maximize agricultural yield to meet world food and energy demands while at the same time improving environmental performance. A collaborative approach as proposed by this project will help reduce and identify erosion and water degradation.
Project: Rathbun Lake Operation and Maintenance
Recipient: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Kansas City District
601 E 12th Street
Kansas City, MO 64106
Amount Requested: $2,500,000
Funds will be used for the operation and maintenance of the Rathbun Lake Reservoir located in Centerville, IA. Rathbun Lake is an 11,000-acre lake, spanning 55 square miles of land and water, which is a prime tourist attraction and offers over 700 campsites, fishing, hunting, boating, sailing, and a destination resort which is operated and maintained by the State of Iowa. In addition, Rathbun Lake provides flood protection for 149,300 acres of land along the Chariton River downstream from the 10,120 feet long dam. In addition, Rathbun Regional Water Association uses water from the reservoir to provide water services to 14 counties in South Eastern Iowa.
Project: Rathbun Regional Water Association (RRWA) Elevated Water Storage Tank
Recipient: Rathbun Regional Water Association
16166 Hwy J29
Centerville, IA 52544
Amount Requested: $932,500
Funds will be used to construct an elevated water storage tank with one million gallon capacity to upgrade the water service capacity of the Rathbun Regional Water Association (RRWA). RRWA provides water to 14 counties in South Eastern Iowa in addition to a number of counties in northern Missouri. The existing distribution system does not allow the RRWA to supply the quantity of water necessary to meet residential, business, and agricultural demand. The RRWA is currently in the process of constructing a second water treatment plant to meet the increasing demand. Completion of this project will ensure the adequate storage capacity for RRWA to continue serving the needs of these 14 Iowa counties.
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