FORT WORTH, Texas -- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District announced today that it has completed the Lower Guadalupe Flood Risk Management Feasibility Study and is recommending that no federal action be taken.
The study, which included significant local investment began in 2011, where the Corps developed models and provided them to the local agencies. These models helped inform flood risk efforts until the 2015 floods. The ensuing Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 fully funded the remainder of the study, which evaluated multiple Flood Risk Management alternative plans. That evaluation determined that the costs of each plan greatly exceeded the benefits it provided, resulting in a determination of no federal action.
“Our commitment to public safety remains our main priority and we will continue to support local flood risk management efforts in the area,” said Fort Worth District commander, Kenneth N. Reed.
Although residual flood risk remains, the decision for no federal action does not put the public at greater risk as federal, state and local measures such as the Natural Resource Conservation Service dams and USACE Canyon Lake Dam are still fully functional and actively reduce the flood risk in the area.
“Information provided by the study allowed the local sponsors to make timely life-saving decisions and seek out alternate funding to expedite projects that include the addition of river gauges, and flood warning systems throughout the study area,” said Andrew Johnston, the study’s project manager.
The Fort Worth District spent roughly $3.7M combined federal and non-federal dollars since the study began in 2011. The study has investigated potential flood risk management problems throughout the Lower Guadalupe River basin. In addition, the program funds provided multiple tools, including updated floodplain maps, and hydraulic, and hydrologic models, that have allowed communities to address flood risk locally.
The Lower Guadalupe Flood Risk Management Study was funded under the Hurricane Damage Reconstruction and Risk Reduction Program. In 2018, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Southwestern Division established the $5.2 billion Hurricane Damage Reconstruction and Risk Reduction Program, funded by the 2018 Bipartisan Budget Act, to reduce the risk of flooding impacts from severe storms.
The program comprises 40 projects across three states (Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas) and will provide critical, enhanced flood risk reduction measures to the region. All work in the program is expected to be complete by 2027.
For more information on this project or the SWD 2018 Storm Reconstruction and Risk Reduction Program, contact the Southwestern Division Public Affairs Office at 214-487-7025.