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SAYLORVILLE LAKE
Output channel
Dam
How the metro flooded in ’93
Saylorville Lake topped the emergency spillway late Tuesday. As floodwaters rise in the metro area, residents are nervously awaiting to see if improved flood-control measures will help keep waters at bay. Here is a look at where flooding occurred in 1993 and what upgrades have been made to the flood system.
Cottonwood Recreation area Des Moines River
Emergency spillway
N.W. 66th Avenue
JOHNSTON
Merle Hay Road
ANKENY
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1993 FLOODING
(APPROXIMATE)
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N.W. 54th Avenue
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Des Moines River
35
80
Merle Hay Road
Douglas Ave. Euclid Avenue
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Riverview Park Des Moines River Crocker Woods Broadlawns
Hospital
Birdland Park levee raised
North High School
2nd Avenue
6th Avenue
DES MOINES
Hickman Road
Birdland Park
DES MOINES RIVER AT 2ND AVENUE Flood stage: 23 feet Latest stage: 24.19 feet 24 hour change: +1.26 feet Wednesday’s forecast: 28.20 feet Record high stage: 31.71 feet, 1993
Franklin Avenue KEY Storm water pump stations River gauges Des Moines levees University Avenue M.L.King Jr. Parkway
Lewis Park Levee
Franklin Avenue College Avenue
Central Place levee raised 3 feet to protect area to west from a 1993-level flood. University Avenue
Pennsylvania Avenue
235
Botanical Garden levee system DES MOINES RIVER BELOW RACCOON RIVER Flood stage: 24 feet Latest stage: 30.22 feet 24 hour change: +0.12 feet Wednesday’s forecast: 32.20 feet Record high stage: 34.29 feet, 1993
235
DES MOINES AREA RIVER GAUGES DES MOINES AREA RIVER GAUGES
63rd Street WALNUT CREEK AT DES MOINES Flood stage: 13 feet Latest stage: 5.90 feet 24 hour change: -0.87 feet Wednesday’s forecast: n/a Record high stage: 18.32 feet, 1986
As of 10 p.m. Tuesday As of 5 p.m. Tuesday
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RACCOON RIVER AT FLEUR DRIVE Flood stage: 12 feet Latest stage: 19.27 feet 24 hour change: -1.02 feet Wednesday’s forecast: 19.20 feet Record high stage: 26.8 feet, 1993
nue d Ave Gran t Street s Locu
Walnut Creek Frisbie Park levee system improved
Waterworks plant raised levee Principal Park Valley Garden levee system improved Fleur Drive Raccoon River S.E. 6th Street Raccoon River Gray’s Lake Downtown levee system improved. Railroad closures in the downtown area allowed for levee breaches to be permanently closed, protecting area north of the river from 1993-level flooding.
Des Moines River
RACCOON RIVER AT 63RD STREET Flood stage: 30 feet Latest stage: 37.83 feet 24 hour change: -1.20 feet Wednesday’s forecast: 37.50 feet Record high stage: 40.77 feet, 1993
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Water Works Park
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Reach III of downtown levee system. Improvements will protect flood levels above 1993 crest.
N.E. 14th Street
69 Graphic by Katie Kunert and Jeff Bash/The Register
Martin Luther King levee improvements designed to protect area to west from a 1993-level flood.
Flood stage indicates level at which river leaves its normal banks.
S.E. 14th Street
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