University of Iowa being proactive with flood preparation

The University of Iowa is placing sandbag and HESCO barriers around several campus buildings and relocating 84 students and conference participants from one residence hall in flood preparation efforts that officials say are proactive and careful.

The Army Corps of Engineers was expected to increase the outflow of Coralville Lake to 10,000 cubic feet per second on Wednesday morning. UI officials Tuesday afternoon said they are preparing for that projection.

"We're ready for it" if outflow is raised to 15,000 cfs, said Rod Lehnertz, director of planning, design and construction. "We feel confident the things we are doing now follow the strict and careful plan we have laid out to protect the campus."

Flood barriers are being built in front of Mayflower Residence Hall, on N. Dubuque Street, and at the UI water treatment plant. The university also is starting to assemble the "invisible flood wall" at Art Building West, a mitigation feature added after the 2008 flood. That process should take about four days.

The UI is relocating 84 students and conference participants from Mayflower to another dorm this week. That building in the future will be protected by a permanent flood wall yet to be constructed.

Beckwith Boathouse, also on N. Dubuque Street, might take on water, but it was built to be "flood tolerant," and workers are disconnecting systems and moving equipment to higher levels.