A long-term threat of bigger and more frequent floods, spurred by extreme weather and riverfront development, has an Iowa city’s residents losing faith in temporary barriers
Rick Harris owns the Bootleg Hill taproom in Davenport, Iowa. By Frances Stead Sellers and Frances Stead Sellers Senior writer covering national politics Email Bio Follow Annie Gowen Annie Gowen National correspondent Email Bio Follow May 3 at 7:54 PM DAVENPORT, IOWA — The Half Nelson restaurant was well stocked and spiffy for its official opening Tuesday, an upscale addition to the locally owned businesses that anchor this riverfront city.
That strategy had been strikingly successful until this week, when the city’s system of removable barricades failed to withstand the river’s record-breaking rise, fueled by prolonged rain, snow melt and saturated ground. Sandbags in Davenport. Rick Harris, owner of the neighboring Bootleg Hill taproom, was more outspoken as his sons and employees swept water through holes drilled in the new floor.All agree that the challenges ahead are immense and universal. Davenport’s conundrum is America’s — not only along mighty waterways but on suburban creeks that burst in sudden fury through new developments.
She later tweeted that she and Davenport officials “are committed to a recovery plan that works for both the short and long term.” Floodwaters surround businesses in Davenport. Instead, the town built flood-friendly buildings and created parks and marshes in low-lying areas so seasonal floodwater would have a place to go. They set up removable aluminum flood walls around its historic ballpark to keep it dry.
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