Cultural Resources

Dallas Floodway Extension Project

Dallas Floodway Extension

Project Overview

The Dallas Floodway Extension (DFE) Project is located in Dallas, Texas, along the Trinity River beginning where the Dallas Floodway ends (at the abandoned Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe trestle) and extending downstream to the area where IH-20 and Dowdy Ferry Road intersect. It is a complex project in cooperation and partnership with multiple units of local, state and federal government. It addresses a number of regional concerns, although reducing flood risk for the citizens of Dallas remains the cornerstone of this multi-faceted effort.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has oversight responsibility for all activities within the federally authorized Dallas Floodway System. The Corps' Fort Worth District is a lead actor in some of the projects, such as the Dallas Floodway Extension Project here. In other projects within the confines of the Dallas Floodway Extension Project listed below, the Corps plays a smaller supporting role.

This Corps project is focused on three of five inter-related components: flood protection, ecosystem restoration and recreation in partnership with the City of Dallas, which is the Dallas Floodway Extension's local sponsor.

The Corps also has some role, but not a lead role, in two other major components: transportation and community/economic development.

Public safety is the No. 1 priority in the Corps' Levee Safety Program. The DFE Project, now in the construction phase, is one of two adjacent Fort Worth District projects on the Trinity River designed to reduce flood risk for the citizens of Dallas. The other project, the Dallas Floodway Project, is also now in the construction phase and in partnership with the City of Dallas, the non-federal sponsor. The Corps and the City of Dallas share the responsibility of public safety and both are committed to flood risk management. Each project has its own web section accessed from the Fort Worth District home page. The Corps also provides public access to a National Levee Database providing more information on Dallas levees.

The DFE project area experienced property damages during the May 1989 and May 1990 flood events. A re-evaluation of a previously authorized project was conducted, and a project was identified to provide standard project flood level of protection for about 2,550 structures within the project area. The project will also increase the level of protection to the existing Dallas Floodway, just upstream, providing an additional $6.7 million in average annual benefits to about 10,000 structures. Completion of the DFE will reduce water surface elevations within the existing Dallas Floodway, thereby reducing the risk to life and safety for those protected by the existing levees.

This is being accomplished by replacement of more than 200 acres of bottomland forest with new wetland and grassland habitat. This bottomland forest loss will in turn be mitigated elsewhere in the Great Trinity Forest by acquisition of large tracts totaling more than a thousand acres – some of it abandoned farmland – that will be returned to or managed as bottomland hardwood forest.

The DFE was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1965, modified by Section 351 of the Water Resources Act (WRDA) 1996 (authorizing inclusion of the Central Waste Water Treatment Plant Levee and Rochester Levee into the project), and was further modified to add ecosystem restoration and recreation as project purposes by Section 356 of WRDA 1999. The DFE was initiated in December 2001 upon signature of the Project Cooperation Agreement.

Key Dallas Floodway Expansion Project Details

  • The Chain of Wetlands has been constructed. The Chain of Wetlands is comprised of an Upper Chain (Cells A, B, and C) and a Lower Chain (Cells D, E, F, and G). The Chain of Wetlands is approximately 3.7 miles long and cells have an average width of 600 feet. The Chain of Wetlands adds overbank flowage capacity for flood waters along the west side of the Trinity River from the north end of Cadillac Heights to Loop 12 just north of Lemmon Lake. The Chain of Wetlands is designed to help speed the flow of floodwaters away from the Dallas Floodway down and through the upper reaches of the Great Trinity Forest. This lowers the flood risk for the city.
  • The Chain of Wetlands also provide an ecosystem restoration benefit. The ecosystem restoration component follows an adaptive management approach led by the Corps' Engineer Research Development Center's Lewisville Aquatic Ecosystem Research Facility. This includes 271 acres of improved habitat as follows: 123 acres of emergent wetlands, 45 acres of open water, and 102 acres of grasslands. 
  • About 1,179 acres of environmental mitigation land has been acquired within the floodplain's Great Trinity Forest. The mitigation plan includes acquisition, improvement and management of 926 acres of bottomland hardwood. It also includes acquisition of 253 acres of mixed grassland/forbland, of which 233 acres would be converted (planted and managed) to bottomland hardwood forest; the remaining 20 acres would be managed as grassland.
  • To protect the integrity of the IH-45 overpass, the Trinity River channel was moved laterally about 350 feet and centered between a 320-foot span.
  • The Dallas Floodway Extension will reduce flood elevations within the existing Dallas Floodway such that the existing Dallas Floodway levees can pass at least a 500-year flood event without overtopping. Currently, the levees provide 300-year protection to the downtown Dallas vicinity.
  • Cadillac Heights and Lamar levees will be accomplished with the funding provided for the disaster recovery in Public Law 115-123, the Bipartisan Act of 2018, signed into law February 9, 2018.
  • A new Cadillac Heights Levee is planned to protect this neighborhood (west side of river) for a distance of 2.25 miles (11,891 feet) and provide Standard Project Flood risk management. It will connect with the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant Levee.
  • Levee improvements will also increase flood protection for  the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant from a 140-year level to a 500-year level.
  • A new Lamar Levee will be constructed to provide Standard Project Flood risk management along Lamar Street (east side of river) for a distance of 3 miles (16,037 feet). It will connect to the existing Rochester Park Levee.
  • Thirty-one miles of recreational trails will be built. The recreation plan will create linkages between existing recreational areas and public open space areas and will include 18 miles of concrete trail, 8.5 miles of natural surface equestrian trails and 5 miles of natural surface nature trails. Seven access areas are planned. Some of this multi-stage program has been constructed including paved maintenance paths/trails located along the Chain of Wetlands and within the mitigation lands. 

Related Project Information

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 Programmatic Agreement(s)

Programmatic Agreement among the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, the City of Dallas, and the Texas State Historic Preservation Officer, Regarding the Dallas Floodway Extension Project (Agreement)

 

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Record of Decision

SYNOPSIS
In February 1999, the Final General Reevaluation Report and Integrated Environmental Impact Statement, which documented the results of a comprehensive reevaluation of the authorized Dallas Floodway Extension Project located in the Trinity River Basin, Texas, was filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The review period was extended an additional 30 days in response to local interest requests. This Record of Decision completes the approval process for flood damage reduction, environmental (ecosystem) restoration, and recreation measures for the Dallas Floodway Extension, Texas, as described in the referenced report. 

AUTHORITY
Authority for construction of water resource development features described in the Comprehensive Survey Report on Trinity River and Tributaries, Texas (reprinted as House Document 276/89/1), including the Dallas Floodway Extension, is contained in Section 301 of the Rivers and Harbors Act approved 27 October 1965 (Public Law 89-298). The authority is commonly known as the Trinity River and Tributaries Basinwide Study Authority. All studies conducted under this authority serve as an interim response to the basinwide authority, and do not close out the granting authority.

The Dallas Floodway Extension is one of five local flood protection projects authorized for construction in 1965 as part of the basinwide plan of improvement for the Trinity River and Tributaries, Texas. The authorized plan of improvement consisted of a combination flood control channel and floodway levees which would provide a Standard Project Flood (SPF) level of protection. The plan consisted of a 22-mile levee and floodway system with a 9.1 mile residual channel along the Trinity River, 4.1 miles of channel improvements along White Rock Creek, and 5.4 miles of channel improvements to divert Five Mile Creek.

A General Design Memorandum (GDM), which assessed the Dallas Floodway Extension in greater detail, was completed in 1981. In 1985, however, work on the project was suspended following a failed city of Dallas bond election. Final approval of the 1981 GDM was subsequently discontinued, resulting in the retention of the 1965 plan as the authorized plan.

The current General Reevaluation Study was the result of a request by the city of Dallas to reactivate the authorized Dallas Floodway Extension Project, following the severe flood event of 1989. The project was reactivated in 1990 under the provision that a general reevaluation be conducted prior to construction.


DECISION
It is my decision that the Dallas Floodway Extension Project should be implemented as soon as practicable as a means to alleviate potential flood damages, restore the natural environment, and provide recreation facilities within the Dallas, Texas, area. Authority to implement the project is partially provided by Section 301 of the Rivers and Harbors Act approved 27 October 1965 (Public Law 89-298). However, the authorization of the project must be modified for the inclusion of environmental restoration outputs as a project purpose.

FINDINGS OF THE FINAL GENERAL REEVALUATION REPORT AND INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Implementation of the Recommended Plan, as presented in the Final General Reevaluation Report and Integrated Environmental Impact Statement, dated February 1999, would provide completion of a significant portion of the Authorized Plan for the Dallas Floodway Extension. The Recommended Plan, as described in summary below, is located within the authorized site, and includes smaller scale features of the authorized flood damage reduction plan. Future work efforts to more fully fulfill the scope of the authorized plan would not be adversely affected by the Recommended Plan.

COMPARISON OF ALTERNATIVE PLANS
Subsequent to the evaluation and assessment of potential water resources management measures in the Dallas area and formulation of those measures into plan components, various comprehensive plans were investigated. Evaluation of those plans in light of specified planning objectives and public involvement produced the array of alternative plans as detailed below.

The 1965 Authorized Plan consists of a combination flood control channel and floodway levees which would provide a Standard Project Flood (SPF) level of protection (approximately 800-year or 0.00125 Annual Chance of Exceedence (ACE). The plan would include a 22-mile levee and floodway system with a 9.1 mile residual channel along the Trinity River, 4.1 miles of channel improvements along White Rock Creek, and 5.4 miles of channel improvements to divert Five Mile Creek. This plan would no longer be economically justified, with current flood control first costs of $199.2 million, annual flood control costs of $17.1 million, negative annual net flood control benefits of $4.1 million, and a benefit-to-cost ratio (BCR) of 0.76.

The National Economic Development (NED) Plan consists of clearing the vegetation along an upper and a lower overbank swale. The upper overbank swale would be about 1,200 feet wide and would extend from the confluence of Cedar Creek, at the upstream end, to the river crossing of IH-45 for a length of about 7,800 feet, or 1.5 miles. The lower overbank swale would be about 1,200 feet wide extending from Hwy. 310, beginning at least 100' from the edge of the east bank, downstream to about 2,000 feet below Loop 12, for a total length of 17,300 feet, or 3.3 miles. Fragmentation of habitat would be unavoidable and would require extensive mitigation. Acquisition and management of approximately 3,200 acres of land would be required to offset the adverse environmental impacts associated with the project's implementation. This plan would have estimated flood damage reduction first costs, including mitigation of $50.0 million, annual flood control costs of $5.5 million, annual net flood control benefits of $8.1 million, and a BCR of 2.46.

The Combination Non-structural / Structural Plan consists of a chain of wetlands, a Standard Project Flood (SPF) levee protecting the Lamar neighborhood, and a 10-year buyout of the Cadillac Heights area (seven structures). The buyout of seven structures would leave 158 structures within the 100-year floodplain in Cadillac Heights. This plan would have estimated flood control costs of $67.0 million, annual flood control first costs of $7.6 million, annual net flood control benefits of $5.3 million, and a BCR of 1.70.

The Recommended Plan is a multi-objective project consisting of a swale for reducing flood damages, with an incorporated chain of wetlands for environmental restoration purposes, SPF levees protecting the Lamar and Cadillac Heights neighborhoods, environmental mitigation, and recreation facilities compatible with a larger, regional recreation master plan. Also included in this plan would be a proposed realignment of the existing river channel at the IH-45 bridge to prevent catastrophic failure of this designated national defense route, and to reduce significant annual maintenance costs due to debris accumulations at the bridge. This plan is also the Locally Preferred Plan (LPP). This plan will provide an approximate 800-year or 0.00125 ACE level of protection to the areas adjacent to and upstream of the project area. This plan would have an estimated first cost of $127.4 million, annual costs of $9.3 million, annual benefits of $19.1 million, and a BCR of 2.06. 

PLAN SELECTION CONSIDERATIONS
Plan selection considerations involved a comparison of the cost effectiveness, environmental - social - economic balance, broad social acceptability, and adverse environmental impacts of the final plans. Plans formulated were evaluated based on their contribution to the National Economic Development account, and they are consistent with protection and restoration of the Nation's environment. In addition to these National objectives, additional planning objectives evolved from meetings with area residents, from contact with the local sponsor, State and Federal agencies, and from observations made in the area. Specific needs, desires, and goals of the community were identified. The plan selection considerations for the Dallas Floodway Extension project were as follows:

  • Reduce flood damages, provide better health and safety measures, reduce emergency services, reduce potential for loss of life due to high velocity flows, reduce isolations caused by flood waters, reduce overtopping of bridges and roads along the Trinity River, and reduce the loss of jobs and/or wages caused by flooding from the Trinity River within the city of Dallas.
  • Preserve and protect existing environmental and aesthetically pleasing areas and maintain, as much as possible, the existing vegetation and wildlife habitat along the Trinity. The channel portion of the Trinity River is possibly the largest remaining natural channel within Dallas.
  • Preserve and/or protect historically and culturally significant areas.

In summary, a comparison of the alternatives reveals the 1965 Authorized Plan, which did not include mitigation, is no longer the best plan nor is it cost effective or environmentally or socially acceptable; the NED Plan would not provide the maximum protection to the project area and require significant mitigation, with approximately 3,200 acres of land being required to offset the adverse environmental impacts; the Combination Non-structural / Structural Plan would leave 158 structures within the 100-year floodplain in Cadillac Heights and would require 1,027 acres of mitigation; and the Recommended Plan which provides the maximum protection to the project area, while requiring 1,179 acres of mitigation, best satisfies cost-effectiveness, social, and environmental acceptability criteria and is the locally preferred plan. 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS IN THE FINAL GENERAL REEVALUATION REPORT AND INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Compliance with applicable environmental review and consultation requirements has been accomplished through coordination of the Final General Reevaluation Report and Integrated Environmental Impact Statement. In addition to satisfying the Fish and Wildlife Service Coordination Act, full compliance has been accomplished with the Clean Water Act - including the preparation of a Section 404(b)(1) analysis, Clean Air Act, Comprehensive Environmental Resource Compensation and Liability Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Endangered Species Act National Historic Preservation Act, Floodplain Management (Executive Order 11988), Section 9 (33USC 401) and Section 10 (33USC 403) of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, and Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low Income Populations (Executive Order 12898). An exception to obtaining the State Water Quality Certificate is being sought under Section 404(r), of the Clean Water Act. This section requires the report to be made available to Congress prior to any discharge. 

A signed Programmatic Agreement with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, Texas Historic Preservation Office, and other interested parties has been developed to address cultural resources with due diligence.

All practicable means to avoid or minimize environmental impacts have been adopted and were incorporated in the development of the recommended plan. The Final Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act Report, dated February 3, 1999, has been coordinated with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The conclusion was that if the Recommended Plan/LPP is implemented, the project should include the acquisition and intensive management of a minimum of 1,179 acres of terrestrial habitat, including 926 acres of bottomland hardwoods and reforestation of 253 acres of mixed grass-forblands. A program to monitor the success of the environmental mitigation and restoration features of the project will be adopted and jointly implemented be the non-Federal sponsor and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 

CONCLUSIONS
I have reviewed and evaluated all documents concerning the Fort Worth District Engineer's recommendation, including the views of other interested agencies and the general public, and have considered prevailing administrative policies and procedures. Based on these factors, I find the Recommended Plan as contained in the Final General Reevaluation Report and Integrated Environmental Impact Statement, dated February 1999, suitable for use as a plan for implementation of flood damage reduction, environmental restoration, and recreation at Dallas, Texas. I further conclude that the Dallas Floodway Extension project should be implemented as soon as practicable.

Based on the conditions set forth in the Fort Worth District Engineer's findings and the conditions set forth herein, I conclude that the public interest is best served by the decisions as set forth herein.


Hans A. Van Winkle
Brigadier General, U.S. Army
Deputy Commander of Civil Works

Related Files
 

Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

 

Archived Information

NOTE: The following documents are for reference only and do not represent the latest project information. For the latest information please review the updated information at the top of this page.

Contact Information

Mr. Clay Church
CESWF-PAO
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Fort Worth District
P.O. Box 17300
819 Taylor Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76102-300
Phone:
  817-886-1314
Email:
  Clayton.A.Church@usace.army.mil