A Watershed Year Anatomy of the Iowa Floods
of 2008
Lessons Learned – Preparing for the Future
Tuesday, March 9,
2010
6:30-8:00
pm
Iowa State Historical
Building
Des Moines,
Iowa
In June 2008, the rivers of eastern Iowa rose
above their banks to create floods of epic proportions; their amazing
size—flowing in places at a rate nearly double that of the previous record
flood—and the rapidity of their rise ruined farmlands and displaced thousands of
residents and hundreds of businesses.
A new book, A Watershed
Year: Anatomy of the Iowa Floods of 2008, brings together perspectives
from physical and environmental scientists, hydrologists, economists, public
policy experts, engineers and community managers on what happened, what we can
learn from this devastating experience and how we can better prepare for
flooding in the future.
The book which will be released in March 2010, is
a compilation of twenty-five chapters written mostly by Iowans with perspectives
on flood prediction, effects, response and recovery and future preparedness. The
book was made possible through the support of the Iowa Flood Center at IIHR
Hydroscience & Engineering and UI Center for Global and Regional
Environmental Research (CGRER).
In anticipation of the release of the
book, CGRER is organizing a program to highlight the book’s publication and to
focus attention on the challenges ahead as we better prepare for the floods of
the future.
Welcome – Jerry Schnoor,
co-director, UI Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research and
Chairman, Iowa Climate Change Advisory Council
About the book - Connie Mutel –
editor, A Watershed Year Anatomy
of the Iowa Floods of 2008
Trends
in Iowa precipitation - Gene Takle, Director, Climate Change Initiative,
Professor of Atmospheric Science, Professor of Agricultural Meteorology,
Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University
Trends in Iowa water run-off – Richard
Cruse, Professor of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Director, Iowa Water
Center
How is Iowa preparing for more Iowa
floods?
Iowa Flood Center – Witold
Krajewski, Director, Iowa Flood Center, University of
Iowa
Cedar Falls Floodplain Initiative -
Kamyar Enshayan, Cedar Falls City Council
Rebuild Iowa Office state policy
recommendations – Lieutenant General Ron Dardis, Executive
Director, Rebuild Iowa Office
Panel discussion with audience Q and
A
Refreshments and book
signing
Special thanks
to the event co-sponsors!
Conservation Districts of
Iowa
Iowa Association of Water
Agencies
Iowa Chapter of the Sierra
Club
Iowa Department of Economic
Development
Iowa Department of Natural
Resources
Iowa Municipal Utility
Association
Iowa Native Plant
Society
Iowa Natural Heritage
Foundation
Iowa Office of Energy
Independence
Iowa Rivers
Revival
Iowa State University
Extension
Iowa Storm Water Education
Program
Iowa Conservation of Education
Coalition
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land
Stewardship
Iowa Environmental
Council
Iowa Flood
Center
Iowa Insurance
Division
Iowa Water
Center
Iowa Whitewater
Coalition
Rebuild Iowa
Office
Trees Forever
UNI Center for Energy and Environmental Education
Joe Bolkcom
Outreach and Community Education
Director
Center for Global and Regional Environmental
Research
The University of Iowa
426 IATL
Iowa City, IA 52242
319-353-2681