IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Flood Center has doubled the number of its flood sensors across the state.  Center engineer Dan Ceynar says the online database fed by the 100 sensors provides real-time monitoring of water levels in Iowa’s rivers and streams.  Using an internal cell modem, the sensors update the database every 15 minutes. The sensors use sonar to determine how fast water levels are rising. Ceynar says the sensors don’t compete with the U.S. Geological Survey’s 170 gauges that provide a similar service across Iowa.
 
Lori McDaniel is Iowa Department of Natural Resources supervisor of flood plain management and dam safety. McDaniel says there is a potential for a mixture of the two sensor arrays.