Flooding Could Reroute Part Of Clive Greenbelt

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Cyclists who ride Clive’s Greenbelt Trail will have to deal with another obstacle, thanks to a long history of flooding along the route. But the final product could mean fewer closures when the water gets high.

The Project

A portion of the Greenbelt Trail will likely be relocated as part of a flood mitigation effort currently underway in Clive. The city is buying and clearing properties, generally centered along University Blvd. between 73^rd and NW 86^th streets, north of flood-prone Walnut Creek.

“It’s kind of the original neighborhood for Clive and unfortunately that neighborhood was built in the Walnut Creek flood plain,” said Doug Ollendike, Clive’s community development director.

Ollendike said the city is accustomed to flooding along the creek, but the frequency and severity of the high water is leading to more drastic action.

“After the last major flood we had in 2018, the city decided enough is enough,” Ollendike said.

He said the city has acquired about half of the properties it has targeted for voluntary buyouts. They want to remove residents and businesses from the flood zone and create an open, public space that is more suited to handle high water.

Trail On The Move

The Greenbelt Trail closely follows Walnut Creek and shuts down when floodwaters get too high. Ollendike said the city plans to relocate the trail (between 73^rd and NW 86^th ) farther north, away from the creek. He said it will be a challenge in some spots.

“In certain cases, we only have the luxury of moving it 50 feet or so,” he said.

That’s due to businesses that have so far chosen not to vacate. Ollendike said the city’s goal is to be ready if and when those business owners decide they are ready to move.

515 Brewing, a longtime stop for cyclists along the trail, is one of the businesses within the buyout zone. The owner of the building that houses the brewery told DSM Bike Notes they have no plans for their property right now. Ollendike said 515’s building is a lower priority for removal.

“They built it a little higher and have not had the same repetitive impacts from the flood events,” he said.

515 Brewing did not respond to DSM Bike Notes’ requests for comment.

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Ollendike said the city is trying to balance flood protection with maintaining the trail’s connection to the creek.

“The farther we can move it without losing the experience, that gives the creek more room to work and reduces some of the jeopardy of the infrastructure,” he said. “It’s a tricky balancing act for sure.”

Continued development and growth upstream means more storm water will find its way into Walnut Creek and create greater chances for flooding.

“We know we need to give the stream more room to work,” he said.

There is no timeline or exact path for the rerouted Greenbelt Trail.

Other Projects Impacting Greenbelt

As Clive plans the future of this section of the Greenbelt Trail, another major project is already rerouting cyclists.

The Iowa Department of Transportation’s reconstruction of the Interstate 80/35 interchange at Hickman Road has left the trail closed between Campbell Recreation Area and NW 114^th St. since October. That has led to a long detour, which the city expects to remain in place through the end of this year.

Yet another infrastructure project will create long-lasting inconveniences for Greenbelt cyclists as well, though its exact impacts are still unclear.

DSM Bike Notes first reported earlier this year about the Des Moines Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation Authority’s (WRA) sewer line project. Starting in late 2025, the agency is installing a huge underground pipe along Walnut Creek, stretching from Urbandale to Des Moines. Construction will last for years.

The WRA said sections of the Greenbelt will need to shut down, but they are still figuring out when and where those closures will occur. They expect to have details locked down later this spring or early this summer.

Ollendike said it is unlikely the flood mitigation rerouting project could be done at the same time as sewer line construction.

“That would be awesome, but I don’t believe that the timelines are going to necessarily work,” he said.

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The Future

While Clive is playing defense right now against Walnut Creek, Ollendike said the flood mitigation project will create a better experience in the future. He said the city wants to better reach neighborhoods immediately north of the trail.

“We desperately want to find ways to give them better access to the Greenbelt, so that will probably be the headline in terms of this planning effort,” Ollendike said.

Another goal is an improved connection to the Windsor Trail, which follows North Walnut Creek in Windsor Heights. The two trails currently come together near 73^rd and University, at the congested Sam’s Club and Walmart shopping area.

While the flood mitigation effort is one more project that will inconvenience Greenbelt cyclists, Ollendike said it will ultimately lead to fewer interruptions when the water runs high.

“We need to come up with a different game plan. Something other than rinse and repeat, clean up, rebuilding, and do it all over again every two or three years,” he said.

A Reason To Celebrate This Weekend

Many of you are probably familiar with the Urban Bicycle Food Ministry, which is a group of cyclists that makes and delivers food to unhoused people in the community. I met the leader of that group, Robby Collier, at the Iowa Bike Expo, and he told me UBFM is marking a big occasion — their 10th birthday! The organization is having a birthday party this Saturday at Twisted Vine Brewery from 4-8 p.m. There will be food, beer, raffle basket and silent auction with prizes. Congratulations and happy birthday, UBFM!