City of Abilene to begin multi-million dollar master drainage plan to combat ‘ongoing problem’ with flooding

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – When it rains, it pours in Abilene. It also floods. So, the city says it’s taking strides in implementing a drainage plan that will last the long haul.

The Drainage plan for the city recognizes more than 40 choke points of flooding, and have taken those points to combined them into to nine projects which each focuses on a different region. The entirety of the project will span over 25 years, costing around $25 million dollars.

City of Abilene could fix ‘high priority’ drainage problem area

For funding, design costs ($259,000) are already covered by taxpayers through the Stormwater Utility fee. That fee will also be used to partially cover construction costs ($850,000). Other funding sources come from Regional Flood Plan (RFP) by the Texas Statewide Regional Flood Planning Group (RFPG), and a big hope to secure more than $725,000 through FEMA.

The plan originally started in 2017, surveying residents and stakeholders on the issue. After completing the logistics of the plan in 2020, the city had to hold off on taking the next steps due to funding and the COVID-19 pandemic. It was reintroduced last December.

The first project planned to start within the next year is along Catclaw Creek, which has the most issues having 15 choke hold points.

Srinivi Valavala, Stormwater Project Manager for Abilene, told the city on Tuesday, that the main goal of the project is to reduce the amount of flooding experienced by residents nearby.

“The project itself starts from South 7th to South 11th Street, and it’s a flood control, flood improvement. It’s a drainage improvement project primarily,” Valavala said.

With plans to create three detention ponds, and improve one, to help the flow of water slow down, this would give the runoff some relief. Valavala told KTAB/KRBC the plan is made to work around the infrastructure already in place.

“We are looking to upgrade the lower crossing into a box culvert where you can pretty much drive through and, like, no water crossing detention,” explained Valavala. “We are trying to enhance because the creek already flows through the Oscar Rose Park. That whole area creates like an open space. We’re going to dig a little bit deeper and wider to make it more in line.”

Terrell Carter’s house sits along one of the potential detention ponds. He said flooding has always been a problem and concern when he feels a drop of rain.

“A couple years ago, when it was flooded real bad and we got 13 inches of rain in like 24 hours,” Carter recalled. “I think it’s about time… It’s been happening for years, and it’s been an ongoing problem for not just this, you know, neighborhood, but all neighborhoods, especially down Barrow Street.”

Plans for the first phase of the drainage project have been approved and now await an investigation of Oscar Rose Park before beginning construction. Follow this link for additional details.

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