Bettendorf, IA
The City of Bettendorf wanted to restore a public greenway into an ecologically balanced drainage system that would slow, capture, absorb and clean the upstream waters that flow through its boundaries.
This project involved the development of schematic design, design development, and construction drawings with specifications for an 18-acre greenway (drainage) corridor. The corridor includes:
- A new City of Bettendorf Public Park (approximately 5 of the 18 acres)
- A 1.5 acre existing detention basin
- A 3-acre existing detention basin
- A 3-acre newly constructed detention basin
The greenway project area is a drainage corridor (stream) originating in the Iowa farm fields to the north and contained multiple invasive species, secondary succession forest growth, and showed evidence of severe soil erosion with vertically cut banks of up to 15 feet in height.
To achieve restoration:
- All invasive species were eradicated, all secondary succession growth was eliminated (or thinned dependant upon its species and quality) to allow sunlight to penetrate the understory
- The banks of the existing stream were graded to a minimum slope of 3:1
- The stream was re-aligned in strategic areas
- Meanders were added to decrease flow velocity and increase water holding capacity
- Floodplains were increased
- Wetlands were re-established within the floodplain
- The entire greenway was planted with herbaceous and woody vegetation native to Scott County
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tags: drainage