Reprint from the Progress Times - August 5, 2005
©Progress Times 2005 - All Rights Reserved

County Discusses Effect Of Emily On Drainage

 

After three reports involving drainage were given at the Hidalgo County commissioners meeting Tuesday, August 2, it seemed fairly obvious the only way Godfrey Garza, Drainage District #1 manager, will get money he has wanted for some time to update the county’s outdated drainage system is to go out for bonds.

Garza’s presentation touched on the drainage impacts of Hurricane Emily and Tropical Storm Gert and the need for action.

"It was originally handling agricultural run-off. That doesn’t exist anymore. The system started in 1979 was originally designed for that. No one foresaw the amount of progress that is taking place in Hidalgo County," Garza said.

After the lengthy discussion, County Judge Ramon Garcia said, "This is a county-wide issue. You’re proposing that cities cooperate. They need the bond election so people can understand where monies are coming from."

Commissioner Oscar Garcia said, "The board should consider that we offer to buy the equipment out of our fund balance and a referendum for $100 million. Or let’s get $30 million. Let voters decide, if they don’t mind floods …"

D.D.#1 Manager Garza said from 20 to 30 percent of the county is not in the drainage district and that includes Palmview, Sullivan City and La Joya. "There could be an increase by bringing them in," he added.

Commissioner Garza said, "You need an election to see if people are willing to have flooding."

The HCDD#1 drainage system supports approximately 1,180 square miles. After much development of farming area, the county now has a valuation of $18 billion, the manager said.

His report on the Southern Watershed included the Mission Inlet, the Pharr-McAllen South Drain and the International Boundary and Water Commission.

Garza showed "before and after" pictures that depicted the dramatic difference of several drain sites after receiving heavy rainfall from Emily.

Under the Southern Watershed, the pictures were of the Perezville Drain on the crossing at Bentsen Palm Drive, at the crossing on Conway Avenue, at the crossing on Bryan at Bryan Road, the by-pass at Shary Road (on the west side), at the crossing on Shary Road, and at Jackson Road (crossing at Bryan Road).

All of the pictures showed a dramatic difference in water levels, with some of them full and practically overflowing. He said the Mission by-pass on the west side of Shary Road took care of water that went around Cimarron. "If it had not been in place, we would have had some serious issues in Cimarron," Garza said.

Continuing east on Jackson Road, he said that handles the airport and Sharyland tributary bank to bank.

"If this inlet had gotten more water, we would have had to shut down the sewer plant in McAllen," he said.

Garza said the system designed for agriculture moves water slower and was designed for a five-year event. During the last storms, the Mission area received six inches of rain, Pharr also got six and the southern section of McAllen (which includes the airport) received 4.25 inches.

"In all my years here, this is the first time I have seen this in 30 years, but, then, look at the growth," Garza said.

The Pharr-McAllen South Drain crossing at Moore Road includes the medical complex by Expressway 83. Water was over the top of the ditch and flooded adjacent property, continuing to cross the road to subdivisions.

The South Drain at U.S. 281 is a major artery going from Pharr to the International Bridge and another inch of water would have taken it out, Garza said.

The floodway channel on "I" Road (of IBWC) is where water comes in and there was no more water that could come in, he said. "The floodway system was designed to handle five to 10 years. You handled low crossings on these," he said. "We have studied everything. We know what needs to be done. Mission needs about $30 million to handle the flow."

The North Main Drain is the main channel that drains the northern section of water going out of Hidalgo County. Edinburg Lake near Highway 281 northeast of Edinburg picks up water from Mission and McAllen and outlying areas and it was from one to one and a half feet from completely going out of the system, Garza said.

On the east side of Seminary Road, the main floodway channel was flooded, he said, adding this is a two-year event on the northern side.

The main flood water channel on FM 88 picks up water from Edinburg and Pharr and it was about three feet from topping.

"The Panchita control structure handles all the water and prevents us from overflowing the system downstream," he said, adding the water level was higher. "We were lucky. The storm surge went up six feet, but we didn’t have to shut any gates."

And the main floodwater channel south of Mansfield where water drains into the Laguna Madre has a weir structure that was completely covered.

"We looked at upgrades we wanted to do. We would like to go ahead. It takes 10 hours for the water to get from one end to the other," Garza said.

With an upgrade, they could allow communities to discharge water into it and could buy four or five hours of time so they could have linear release of water ahead of time. Part of their agreement with Willacy County is to monitor how much flow is going through a ditch before it is closed down. "We need to know how much water is coming down in each watershed," he said.

On the Mission Inlet, which is 40 years old, there are 32 structures that control it from getting out to the general public, and some of them need repairing. "We estimate $700,000 of repairs on these structures," Garza said. "That’s an item the county needs to go out for bids on and use whatever fund balance we have to protect the communities."

As an example, Garza cited the possibility of Las Tiendas being affected. "McAllen has agreed to participate in what needs to be done to bring it up to par. They cannot afford to have problems in their main commercial areas."

In the I Road area, he said Commissioner Hector Palacios was there when it topped over and at another section where the ditch jumped its banks and residents needed to be evacuated.

County Judge Ramon Garcia said, succinctly, "We have a drainage problem."

Garza said they wanted to concentrate on a section of about four miles in the Raymondville Drain in the hope it would alleviate flooding. "We have become an urban area. We have a letter of intent on an authorized project. It’s a congressional project but funds have not been made available. This channel around Edinburg Lake will assist in development of all the western part and the City of Mission can start putting more water into our system because it’s a place for water to go. It’s a 20-year project," he said.

Garza said they have about $10 billion of assets in the Mission Inlet. "If it’s not addressed, you have to shut down all roads going south from McAllen to the Trade Zone, to the Pharr and McAllen bridges. There’s no high water bridges. And we would have to shut down the airport. You want figures? If you want total dollars, it’s probably over $300 million," he said.

Garza said they did not have the ability to buy the land, but a one-cent addition to the tax rate would generate money.

Commissioner Garza said they have been talking about drainage problems for seven years. "We need to buy equipment and do it in-house," he said.

H.C.D.D. #1 Manager Garza said he would like money from the general fund. "We need to start doing something - buying equipment, land - I don’t want to be reactive."

Commissioner Garza quipped, "I think we have all come to the conclusion that the taxpayer is not ready to spend $200 million, but once it’s under water …"

The drainage district manager said they are going to present a plan showing how much land is in danger. "It seems to me to make sense for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to pay upfront."

He said there is $4 million in his fund balance in the drainage district.

Mark Lupher with TEDSI Infrastructure Group said more than 60 percent of the flood maps nationwide are over 10 years old. "FEMA is now under the Department of Homeland Security. They are taking every county in the U.S. and updating them. We are part of District 6 and our budget is $1.46 million," he said.

Lupher said different activities demand FEMA standards - 17 in total. "This outreach program is what we’re starting now that disseminates information to cities. FEMA lists nine objectives of the Flood Map Modernization Program, among which are: convert paper maps to digital format, update effective flood data for areas with inaccurate flood hazard information, and develop new flood data for non-studied areas.

Under Phase 1, the Mapping Activity statement No. 1 was $300,000, with the county leveraging $219,970, completing on March 31. "Part was some money you spent on the Raymondville Drain. We got a letter of acceptance from FEMA," he said.

"Under the second map activity, which you approved, we have $550,000 from FEMA. These activities are the ones we will perform," he said. The packet on his presentation showed the county leverage at $325,500. They plan a lot of detailed studies and will be mapping 54 channels, showing flood plains and flood zones. The second phase should be finished by October, Lupher said.

"What we would like to see is when people build a house that we have elevation and coordinates they can go to the map and learn exactly," he said.

His third objective is to secure additional funding. "We have asked for an another $1 million from them," he said.

Commissioner Garza said the maps are 20 years old and a lot of development has happened. "We’re trying to combine all these projects so we’ll have as much information for the general public as possible. People will then know if they have to get flood insurance," he said.

County Risk Manager Oscar Montoya said the county did an outstanding job in getting ready for Emily and that they even had Black Hawk helicopters lined up if needed. "Precincts, law enforcement, the Sheriff’s Office, and the cities did a good job of preparing the people," he said, adding the Health Department had all kinds of new technical items to be able to keep everyone informed and prepared.

Montoya especially thanked all the volunteers who did not have to participate but did. Various departments involved included the Tax Assessor, the Sheriff’s Department, the Auditor’s Office, the Health Department, and Buildings and Grounds. They received 490 calls over downed power lines, a ditch breaking in a colonia, or people stranded in their cars.

"After the hurricane in Florida, the state has come a long way in trying to do things ahead of time," he concluded.