2023 coralville - green infrastructure
equality project
Project Partners
City of Coralville
Grant award: $45,000 - WQI
Total project: $70,000
Applicant/Partner Contributions: $45,000
Summary
The City of Coralville targeted an “Opportunity Zone” to implement soil quality restoration that will improve the infiltration of water into lawns. This project reduced runoff and expanded the use of water quality practices to additional areas of the city.
Description
The goal of this project was to add soil quality restoration to the Coralville Opportunity Zone to address the lack of stormwater practices in this area. An opportunity zone is an economically distressed area defined by census tracts, nominated by state governors, and certified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The City of Coralville’s Opportunity Zone lies between Interstate 80 and Highway 6.
Since 2009, the City of Coralville has actively promoted green infrastructure practices through the City’s Stormwater Cost Share Program. This commitment was further demonstrated in 2014 with the adoption of the City’s Post-Construction Stormwater Ordinance. This ordinance accelerated the implementation of green infrastructure within new developments. In 2016, the City expanded this initiative through a Post-Construction Stormwater Redevelopment Policy, requiring the adoption of green infrastructure practices within redevelopment projects. By adopting this policy, the City had a second chance to manage stormwater in a more sustainable and responsible way. In spring 2022, the city began evaluating its stormwater management program and the spatial distribution of green infrastructure practices throughout the community. GIS mapping revealed significant gaps in green infrastructure, particularly in areas that are historically home to low-income and minoritized populations. Notably, a 2021 Flood Resiliency Action Plan conducted by the University of Iowa and Astig Planning identified these same areas as experiencing elevated levels of localized flash flooding compared to other parts of the city. To better understand barriers of stormwater practice adoption, the city met with local contractors in fall 2022 and identified two challenges: cost and limited access to education and outreach of green infrastructure practices. Soil Quality restoration was selected to address the opportunity zone because it is the most comprehensive and economical green infrastructure practice.
Project Status
Completed
Practices
70 Soil Quality Restoration projects were completed. Between fall 2023 and spring 2025, the City of Coralville provided cost share for 57 soil quality restoration projects at residential properties, as well as at one condominium association comprising 13 townhouses and shared open spaces. The total project acreage was 13.04 acres, comprised of mostly small lots platted before the 1970’s. All installations were located within the designated Opportunity Zone.
