Can Ames Stop a Flood?

Iowa might be in a drought right now, but it's only a matter of time before water rushing down Squaw Creek and Skunk River backs up at their fork, turning University Boulevard and Duff Avenue to rivers.

That's what happened in the flood of 2010, one of the city's three largest floods on record. All have occurred in the last 20 years, according to City reports.

City staff have come up with a number of solutions to reduce risk to property and runoff during severe storms of the future and will conduct the final community input meetings 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Holiday Inn, 2609 University Blvd.

The study isn't focused on the cause of the recent major floods, but the City of Ames has come up with a number of proposed solutions. Alternatives include diverting the water around Ames and downstream, building reservoirs for heavy rains, as well as building levees along the Skunk River and Squaw Creek.

The costs of building reservoirs range from $145 to $198 million and diversion techniques could cost as much as a $1 billion. Levees along the Skunk River and Squaw Creek would cost as much as $7 million each, according to the city's presentation.

People who cannot make the meeting can see the study online and offer comments on the City of Ames website.

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