Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance Project Received Grant from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

04/23/24
IDALS Water Quality Improvement Project / A component of a larger Goose Creek Environmental Restoration

Today, Secretary Naig of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship visited Davenport's Goose Creek to announce 14 projects that will receive urban water quality improvement funding, including Goose Creek. Funding will modify the existing path of overland runoff by adding two bioretention cells and a series of steps pools. The modification known as regenerative conveyance, is a new and innovative approach for slowing urban runoff and its impacts on our water systems.

The project is just one component of a larger Goose Creek Park Environmental Restoration project planned for the area. Today's announcement funds 50% of the regenerative conveyance project, with the grant the City each paying $99,500 equally.

As seen today, it is evident the current overland path of stormwater runoff is the source of a high volume of urban runoff contributing urban pollutants, nutrients and sediments into Goose Creek. Significant streambank erosion has occurred as a result of runoff and a large gully has formed where urban runoff discharges into Goose Creek.

This project will modify the existing path of overland conveyance by adding two bioretention cells and a series of steps pools. Considered regenerative conveyance, the bioretention cell and step pool combination are the preferred design for this area based on their ability to capture and slow urban runoff and provide an aesthetic value to the park. With proper design, vegetative species selection, and monitoring, these cells will capture and treat hydrocarbons, phosphorus, and suspended soils, among other contaminants. This will greatly reduce the amount of pollutants entering Goose Creek and directly improve overall water quality within the watershed. Healthy watersheds provide critical services such as clean water, outdoor recreation, fishing and support higher quality of life for area residents.

Other project components designed for the area, as part of the Environmental Restoration Project, include a natural playscape feature in the playground, a limestone trail, educational signage, streambank stabilization, floodplain benching, in-stream habitat and play features, removal of overgrown vegetation, tree replanting and native prairie installation.

The cost for the entire environmental restoration project is estimated at approximately $1.56 million. Several grants totaling approximately $750 thousand are being sought to leverage the available City funding of approx. $880 thousand to complete the project. Pending successful grant awards, the city is hopeful all funding sources will be in place by the summer of 2024.

Before work on the full project begins, the city plans to hold neighborhood meetings to discuss plans and receive input from the neighbors and community. Public input sessions could begin as early June.

Additionally, several community partners have committed to supporting the project area maintenance and monitoring. Some of those activities include signage design, water quality sampling, planting and vegetation maintenance. The Partners of Scott County Watersheds, and Davenport North High School's Environmental Club are among the partners who will be regularly involved.

Find a visual overview of the project, and a conceptual view of the regenerative conveyance project awarded today at this link.