Iowa Flood Center study: Menard's store in the floodplain would increase water levels during a flood by just 1.5 inches

The Iowa Flood Center at the University of Iowa has spent time over the last two weeks studying the Upper Iowa River Watershed and the impact a new Menard's store in Freeport might have on flooding.

Wednesday night University of Iowa Executive Association Dean of the College of Engineering Larry Weber presented the results of the study, with news that both supporters and opponents of the proposed Menard's could latch onto.

Weber said there's been an increase in the number of floods and an increase in the number of heavy rains in Iowa over recent years, telling the Decorah audience, "many of you have experienced that."  Also a greater portion of rainfall has gone to stream flow, in part because development has led to more runoff.

But Weber then said that the study of the impact a Menard's store would have on Upper Iowa River flooding would be relatively small--increasing flood waters by 1.5 inches in the Freeport area.

He also noted, however, that the minor impact of a particular project might not be a reason to allow that project.  "For any one of these projects, the impact is small, but what are we going to be looking at in 50 years if this trend continues?" he asked the audience. 

Weber ended his presentation by declaring, "We're doing something wrong."  He noted that Iowa has had nearly 1,000 flood disasters declared by FEMA since 1988--a period of 30 years.  "We're seeing that type of event happen too often," he concluded.