Skip to main content
Start of main content

Des Moines Downtown Levee Local Flood Protection

Looking for gaps in levee system data

  • 8.4mi

    Of Protection

  • 2250

    Soil Borings

  • 45

    Piezometer Install

  • Des Moines, Iowa

    Des Moines, Iowa

Proactively addressing levee deficiencies to achieve full FEMA accreditation

Sometimes it takes a little bit of digging before making a noticeable impact. That was the case in Iowa, where we helped the City of Des Moines achieve full FEMA accreditation for its levee system. The problem? Portions of the city are protected by the Des Moines Downtown Levee Local Flood Protection Project (LFPP).

The LFPP consists of a series of levees and floodwalls originally designed and constructed by the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1963 and 1972. FEMA granted these levees provisionally accredited levee status in 2009.

To achieve full accreditation, the city had to submit documentation that showed the levees met updated federal requirements. The city knew that gaps were a possibility, so we assisted with the review of available documentation to find these areas relative to accreditation requirements.

Our research helped the city proactively address some possible deficiencies by implementing various projects that reduced flood elevations and/or raised levee crest elevations.

At a Glance

Offices
Client
  • City of Des Moines

Services


Markets


  • Water
  • Water Resources Infrastructure
Meet Our Team

Bob Welsch, Senior Principal, Practice Leader

Our most basic goal as engineers is to solve problems in order to protect the public safety. That’s what we strive to do every day.

Bob Welsch

Senior Principal, Practice Leader

We’re better together

  • Become a client

    Partner with us today to change how tomorrow looks. You’re exactly what’s needed to help us make it happen in your community.

  • Design your career

    Work with passionate people who are experts in their field. Our teams love what they do and are driven by how their work makes an impact on the communities they serve.

End of main content
To top