How We Reduced Flood Risk in this Texas Community
When planners first envisioned the Valley Ranch community in Irving, Texas, they faced a major challenge: flooding. The proposed site was located in a 100-year flood plain at the Elm Fork of the Trinity River.
Today, Valley Ranch is no longer considered at high risk for flooding but, rather, an area with reduced flood risk. Keep reading to see how it was accomplished!
What is a 100-year floodplain?
A 100-year floodplain means an area has a 1% chance of flooding in any given year. Other areas are even less likely to experience flooding. A 500-year floodplain means an area has a 0.2% chance of flooding in any given year. The location of floodplains is determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and can be viewed at its Flood Map Service Center.
FEMA first designated Valley Ranch in a 100-year floodplain, due to its position in relation to the Elm Fork of the Trinity River. This wasn’t as big of a concern when the land was used for ranching but moving forward on the vision required greater flood protection for residents and businesses.
Removing Valley Ranch from the 100-Year Flood Plain
In 1983, IFCD 3 built a levee – an embankment that prevents the Elm Fork of the Trinity River from flooding Valley Ranch. To better control the water levels throughout the community and ensure long-term safety, IFCD 3 also constructed:
A stormwater pump station
5.5 miles of canals and ponds
A water management system equipped to move large volumes of water
This infrastructure has protected residents, businesses and community resources for more than 40 years. Thanks to IFCD 3’s proactive maintenance and system management, FEMA no longer classifies Valley Ranch as a “1% annual chance flood hazard,” but instead classifies it as an “area with reduced flood risk due to levee.”
Maintaining Flood Protection Infrastructure
Flood protection infrastructure, such as levees, can erode or become outdated, which is why regular maintenance is essential. The levee recertification process is a mandatory inspection process that ensures private levee owners, like IFCD 3, are maintaining their levee according to FEMA and United States Corps of Engineers standards.
Third-party engineers completed testing for IFCD 3’s levee recertification this month. These experts have reported the levee remains in compliance with federal standards, and they are finalizing their report now.
Levee recertification marks a key milestone in IFCD 3’s ongoing effort to maintain critical flood infrastructure and keep the Valley Ranch community safe for years to come.
To stay up-to-date on IFCD 3’s latest activities and learn more about our projects, follow us on X/Twitter and Facebook.
FEMA first designated Valley Ranch in a 100-year floodplain, due to its position in relation to the Elm Fork of the Trinity River. This wasn’t as big of a concern when the land was used for ranching but moving forward on the vision required greater flood protection for residents and businesses.
To stay up-to-date on IFCD 3’s latest activities and learn more about our projects, follow us on X/Twitter and Facebook.