2024 - Goose Creek park
Bioretention Cell Project - Davenport

Project Partners

• CITY OF DAVENPORT

• Partners of Scott County Watersheds

• Eocene

Grant award: $99,500 - WQI  

Total project: $199,000            

Applicant/Partner Contributions: $99,500

Summary
The City of Davenport will construct a bioretention cell and a series of step pools in Goose Creek Park to capture urban runoff from an upstream intensely developed neighborhood.  These practices will slow and cool runoff, and capture nutrients with the goal of improving the quality of water before it discharges directly into Goose Creek.  Active gully erosion will also be corrected. The project will be highly visible by park users and will integrate strategic crossings to encourage pedestrians to explore the bioretention cell and step pools. Signs will be posted to share information about water quality and how this treatment train in Goose Park works.

Description
The City of Davenport was one of two recipients awarded Urban Water Quality Initiative Funding to pilot regenerative conveyance. Regenerative conveyance is an innovative approach to address gully erosion in non-perennial drainageways.  Iowa does not currently have a design standard for regenerative conveyance. The Goose Creek project offers the City of Davenport an opportunity to utilize nationwide design resources to treat an actively eroding gully in Goose Creek Park. 

Throughout Iowa’s urban areas, there is significant gully erosion occurring.  This project allows partners to develop a strategy to correct the active gully in the park; prevent sediment and nutrients from directly depositing in Goose Creek; and serve as a learning tool and model for other communities experiencing gully erosion in Iowa.    

The Center for Disease Control vulnerability Index for this area of Davenport claims there is, "Medium to High Levels of Vulnerability" according to the 2020 National Racial and Ethnic Minority Status reading. Similarly, the EPA Environmental Justice Screening Tool (EJSCREEN) shows that this area is in the 60th percentile for people of color, and 90th percentile for low income.  Additionally, life expectancy, heart disease among adults, and asthma among adults all come in over the average at the 63rd, 59th, and 61st percentile respectively. Better access to nature, recreation opportunities, and natural amenities will not only be enjoyable to the residents of the area, but it can also help improve physical and mental health. This proposed project will directly serve the local needs of the area while improving water quality for all downstream communities as well.

The drainage area for this site is 5.14 acres.  The watershed consists of multi-family residential and single/two family residential.  Davenport North High School abuts the eastern half of the southern boundary of the proposed project area.  Runoff will be first directed into a pre-treatment rain guardian unit. After stormwater is pre-treated, it will flow into a bioretention cell.  Stormwater will then overflow from the bioretention cell into a series of step pools, rifles, and cascades before flowing directly into Goose Creek.

The City of Davenport is concurrently in the process of designing a stream corridor restoration plan to address stream erosion in Goose Creek.   Treated stormwater from this 5.14-acre watershed will leave Goose Creek Park before directly entering the larger Goose Creek stream restoration project. 

Project Status
Under design (Feb. 2026)

Practices
1 Bioretention Cell and Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance System involving 7 step pools, 7 riffles, and 8 cascades. Native landscaping will be planted. A rain guardian pre-treatment unit will be used upstream of the bioretention cell.