Project Summary

The City of Fort Madison approached Klingner with an exciting vision: transform their aging marina into a world-class riverfront destination that would become the crown jewel of their community. This ambitious project would revitalize the waterfront and create a vibrant hub for boaters, tourists, and residents to enjoy the scenic Mississippi River.

 

The Challenge

The Fort Madison Marina presented a unique opportunity for transformation. Repeated flooding events in 1993, 2008, and 2019 deposited massive amounts of sediment, making the marina so shallow that boat usage dropped to just 50%. The aging infrastructure was deteriorating, and the surrounding areas flooded regularly. Our team was energized by the City’s desire to create something truly special—a marina that would serve as a model for riverfront development. To achieve their vision and help safeguard this asset, Klingner engineers developed a plan that maximized what was possible on the site.

 

Our Innovative Solution

Klingner’s team developed a comprehensive enhancement plan that expanded the marina’s capacity by 32% while creating a sustainable, flood-resilient facility. Our cutting-edge approach included:

Groundbreaking Resource Recovery: Our engineers developed an innovative rock weir system that transformed 65,623 cubic yards of dredged material from the marina into valuable fill for site elevation—an ingenious solution that saved the project over $5 million while demonstrating exceptional environmental stewardship.

Comprehensive Flood Protection: All infrastructure was thoughtfully elevated above the 100-year flood level, with the jetty engineered for 500-year flood events.

Strategic Jetty Enhancement: By repositioning the jetty into higher-velocity river areas, we created a brilliant system that naturally reduces sediment buildup.

Marina Expansion: The movement of the jetty allowed for an increased capacity within the marina, taking slips from between 85-100 to 172.

Advanced Hydraulic Modeling: We utilized sophisticated HEC-RAS modeling to design each of these solutions without increasing flood risks upstream or downstream.

 

The Results

The transformation has been remarkable. The marina now features:

  • Expanded capacity from 5.48 to 7.24 acres
  • Deeper, more navigable waters
  • A new hospitality center with restaurant and event facilities
  • Enhanced boat services and amenities
  • Elevated infrastructure protected from future flooding

What was once an underutilized waterfront is now a thriving community destination that attracts boaters, tourists, and locals alike. The project demonstrates how innovative engineering can turn environmental challenges into opportunities for community revitalization.

 

Project Scope

Our comprehensive services included hydraulic analysis and modeling, jetty design and stabilization, dredging operations, site elevation, architectural and structural design for the hospitality center, and coordination with federal agencies including USACE and FEMA for all necessary permits.