As the Lone Star State continually addresses its infamous flooding issues, a significant milestone was reached this month. The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has given their stamp of approval to the first-ever regional flood plans. These detailed plans will form the backbone of the state’s inaugural flood plan, due for submission to the legislature by September 2024.
With its varied rainfall patterns and diverse land coverage, Texas faces a unique set of challenges when it comes to flood management. Keeping this in mind, 15 different regions, consisting of volunteer representatives across various interest sectors, have worked on this watershed-based planning initiative.
The key idea behind each plan was creating a customized approach to fit the region’s specific flooding problems. The planning groups identified the unique flood risks — including flood hazards, exposure, and vulnerability of flooding. Additionally, they recommended a series of studies, projects, and strategies to mitigate these risks.
The comprehensive flood hazard analyses give detailed insights about the location, frequency, and magnitude of probable flooding. The good news? Texas now has some level of flood hazard information available statewide.
Interestingly, the plans indicate that over 2.4 million Texans live within a 100-year floodplain – areas with a 1% chance of flooding annually. Roughly 3.5 million Texans reside in a 500-year floodplain. In response to these figures, the 15 regional flood plans have proposed over 200 flood mitigation projects, predicted to collectively cost around $38 billion.
Once the statewide plan includes the recommended flood mitigation measures from these regional plans, financial aid from the Flood Infrastructure Fund can be procured. The regional flood plans can be accessed on the TWDB website.
This remarkable endeavor represents Texas’ relentless commitment to combating flooding and ensuring the safety and welfare of its residents. Keep tabs on Yee=Haw Development Marketing Group’s blog for more updates on real estate developments and environmental planning in Central Texas.