University of Iowa
PAE-24: Sustainability Policy Advocacy

The University of Iowa has supported the creation, operation and funding of the Iowa Flood Center, the only center in the United States dedicated to understanding the causes, impacts and mitigation of nature's most devastating and costly disasters - floods. The concept for the Iowa Flood Center is rooted in the monumental efforts that took place on the University of Iowa (UI) campus in June 2008 before, during, and after the Iowa and Cedar Rivers crested in Eastern Iowa. During the 2008 flood, UI researchers began collecting time-sensitive data on many aspects of the flood, including high-resolution data to document flood water elevations and contaminated sediments deposited by flood waters. The flood helped catalyze the formation of new teams of researchers from across the University’s campus to work together on flood-related initiatives. They also sought funding from a variety of sources; in the first 12 months after the flood, the National Science Foundation awarded the University of Iowa more than $500,000 for flood-related research. A central issue that emerged from this work was the realization that there was no central place in Iowa (or in the nation) for advanced research and education focused on floods. Discussion and formulation of a plan to establish an Iowa-based center for flood research and education followed. The University of Iowa was the logical home for this center, based on the institution’s experience during the flood and because it is home to IIHR—Hydroscience & Engineering, one of the preeminent hydraulics laboratories in the United States. The following legislation created the center: Legislation: The Iowa Flood Center Bill DIVISION VI IOWA FLOOD CENTER Sec. 14. NEW SECTION 466C.1 IOWA FLOOD CENTER The state board of regents shall establish and maintain in Iowa City as a part of the state University of Iowa an Iowa Flood Center. In conducting the activities of this chapter, the Center shall work cooperatively with the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the Water Resources Coordinating Council, and other state and federal agencies. The Iowa Flood Center shall have all of the following purposes: •To develop hydrologic models for physically-based flood frequency estimation and real-time forecasting of floods, including hydraulic models of flood plain inundation mapping. •To establish community-based programs to improve flood monitoring and prediction along Iowa’s major waterways and to support ongoing flood research. •To share resources and expertise of the Iowa flood center. •To assist in the development of a workforce in the state knowledgeable regarding flood research, prediction, and mitigation strategies. •To conduct the activities required by this chapter in cooperation with various state and federal agencies.