As part of the City’s plan to mitigate flooding in the Closes Creek Watershed, the City plans to continue to upgrade storm sewer infrastructure in this drainage basin.  A stormwater drainage study was completed for this watershed in 2002, which established a prioritized list of recommended improvements.  The City has completed improvements from Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway upstream to 30^th Street as shown on the phasing map, Click here for Link.

The City held a public meeting at the Northwest Community Center on December 11, 2018 to discuss the Maquoketa Drive Storm Sewer Box Replacementproject. The City held another public meeting at Holy Trinity School on April 1, 2019 to discuss the 47th and Holcomb Storm Sewer Improvements project. 

The City is currently completing the Maquoketa Drive Storm Sewer Box Replacement project. This project provides a 12x4 concrete box culvert along Maquoketa Drive to replace the existing wooden box culvert which had structural issues and was undersized.  The City is also currently nearing completion on the 47th and Holcomb Storm Sewer Improvements project. This project provides upgrades to the storm sewer system in the area providing a new outlet to the south. The primary function and benefit of the project provides underground storage of rainfall immediately upon completion and will provide detention for the entire watershed once the entire storm sewer system is completed. The current design will provide detention for the 25-year storm and will help mitigate the 100-year storm in the future upon completion of the entire watershed project.

2019-2020                          

Phase 1A - Maquoketa Drive Storm Sewer Box Replacement:  
Completed September 2020

Phase 1B - 47th and Holcomb Storm Sewer Improvements:
Completed October 2020 

2020-2021

Phase 2A – Beaver Avenue to 34th Street Storm Sewer Improvements: 

What is the Closes Creek Phase 2A project?

• The project is part of the City’s multi-year plan to mitigate flooding in the Closes Creek Watershed. It was identified as a critical project in the City’s Closes Creek Stormwater Improvements Studies.
• The design is in process and will be looking to utilize the existing concrete culvert as a flow channel from Beaver Avenue to 34^th Street.  The hydraulic model is looking at required improvements needed for the culvert across Beaver Avenue and new storm sewer size and locations from the west side of 34^th Street to the outlet east of 34^th Street.
• Beaver Avenue and 34^th Street will be closed at times during construction in the immediate area of the proposed storm sewer crossings.
• The City will be holding a public informational meeting regarding the Phase 2A improvements on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.  Due to COVID-19 this will be an online virtual meeting conducted through the ZOOM online meeting platform.  To join this meeting us the information listed below.

Phase 2B – Northwest Drive to College Avenue Detention Basin & Storm Sewer Improvements:   

What is the Closes Creek Phase 2B project?

• The project is part of the City’s multi-year plan to mitigate flooding in the Closes Creek Watershed. It was identified as a critical project in the City’s Closes Creek Stormwater Improvements Studies.
• The project proposes to install a multi-level detention basin upstream of the intersection of 41^st Street and College Avenue between Perkins Elementary School and Leonard Place. Storm sewer will be extended north and upstream of the basin across Northwest Drive for future extension as part of the storm sewer installation from Northwest Drive to 48^th Street and Hickman Road.
• The preliminary construction limits and proposed improvements are shown in this Exhibit .

• As part of the project, the sanitary sewer through the area will be reconstructed along a different alignment to eliminate conflicts.
• Additional intakes will be installed in the low point of Northwest Drive to lessen the incidence of localized street flooding in that area.
• The storm water basins will only hold water for hours after a rain event.  These basins will be dry the majority of the time.  The grass in these basins will be a species that will not get extremely tall and will not be a manicured lawn that would be mowed each week.   
• Northwest Drive will be closed during construction in the immediate area of the proposed storm sewer crossing.
• The following video illustrate a 3D fly-through of the proposed project:
  
• The City held a public informational meeting regarding
  the Phase 2B improvements, on August 6, 2020. A recording of the meeting is available at the link here. A .pdf version of the PowerPoint presentation is also available at the link here.

• 2022 – 2023              

  Phase 3 - Closes Creek Storm Sewer from Northwest Drive to 48^th and Hickman: 
  
  The detailed design of this project has not started.  The project will include a new storm sewer from Northwest Drive to 48^th Street and Hickman Road.

  Future Plan Years

  Future phases of Closes Creek Improvements as shown on the phasing map will be programmed as funding allows.Click here for link

   

Who do I contact if I have questions? (Link)

Questions Related to Closes Creek Watershed (Construction) Improvements:

Matt Radermacher
City of Des Moines Engineering Department
515-283-4076
mkradermacher@DMGOV.ORG

Questions Related to Closes Creek Watershed (Planning and Funding) Improvements:

Patrick Beane
City of Des Moines Public Works Department
515-323-8048
pabeane@DMGOV.ORG