Waverly Cedar River Dam

Waverly Cedar River Dam. Protecting and Preserving Waverly's Heritage. , For over 150 years, the Waverly Dam has been integral to the city. Over the years the value of the Cedar River to industrial and economic development has led to extended development on the adjacent floodplain. , The risk of flooding in Waverly increased significantly with the 1915 construction of the new concrete dam and elevated spillway. Memorable flooding occurred in 1917, 1933, 1945, 1948, 1961, 1965 (twice), and 1993 (twice). A 100-year flood hit in 1999 and a 500-year flood struck in 2008. , A flood protection study provided by Stanley Consultants in 2000 recommended an inflatable dam to protect the city from future flooding. Unfortunately, funding was not secured until the catastrophic 500-year flood of 2008 brought unimaginable destruction to the town of 10,000. , Waverly's new inflatable dam is fully-automatic with a gated spillway that maintains a set water level elevation and automatically adjusts to flow rates. Hinged crest gates that control discharge and pool level run the length of the former uncontrolled spillway. , The project incorporates a novel approach to managing development in floodplains. Rather than alter the floodplain with levees to contain the river, the river was altered to fit the floodplain. The inflatable dam project lowers the flood profile of the river, thus reducing the extent of the floodplain and removing the floodplain from properties (rather than vice versa). , With the new dam, Waverly is now successfully protecting 450 homes and businesses from a 100-year flood, preserving hydroelectric generation at the oldest operating facility in Iowa, and enhancing recreational opportunities by maintaining the upstream pool elevation. , (Background photo courtesy of the Waverly Historic Photo Collection at the Waverly Public Library.)