Repairs to Begin on Des Moines, Iowa, Flood Levee

Repairs are expected to start soon on a levee protecting a Des Moines , Iowas, neighborhood inundated by the Des Moines River in the past 17 years.

The levee in the Birdland neighborhood is a source of concern because of failures in 1993 and 2008.

Trailers arrived this week, and construction equipment is expected to be on site by June 15.

A Minnesota company, Ceres Environmental Services of Minneapolis, has been awarded a $7.2 million contract by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the project, which is to be completed by September 2011.

Work will be done in segments, beginning upstream. Officials say clay and other materials will be ready to create barriers and protections if the river comes up quickly during the construction.

Information from: The Des Moines Register