Protecting Valley Ranch from DFW’s Biggest Storms

Texas weather has a reputation for being wild and unpredictable, and storms in Valley Ranch are no exception. Since IFCD 3 formed in 1983, our team has managed water levels through some record-breaking precipitation.

As we wrap up the spring season, let’s take a look back at a few of the most intense storms we’ve faced and how IFCD 3 protected Valley Ranch from flood damage.

1. May 2015

Though spring usually brings rainfall in Texas, May 2015 holds the record for the most precipitation in a month across Dallas/Fort Worth, recording 16.9 inches of rain. Though there were a few others, much of that precipitation was generated by two large storms at the end of the month.

With the leadership of then-Operations Manager (now IFCD 3’s General Manager) Dallas Burke, our team ran the pumps for several days to keep Valley Ranch safe. While May 2015 still holds the record for monthly rain totals, the National Weather Service reports that 2015 was the wettest year on record in DFW with 62.6 inches total.

A major storm in May 2015 contributed to the wettest year in DFW since 2000. IFCD 3 stays ready to respond to weather events of any size.

2. September 2018

Though fall showers aren’t always guaranteed, September 2018 brought some of the heaviest rain experienced in IFCD 3’s 41-year history. This month, 7.6 inches of rain fell from a single storm, causing some areas of the Metroplex to flood and water levels in the Valley Ranch canals to rise.

IFCD 3 pumped 332 million gallons of stormwater from the sump. That’s enough to fill 11,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools! Our team worked over 100 hours to prevent this storm from flooding Valley Ranch.

3. August 2022

While relatively dry the rest of the month, August 2022 was marked by one of the largest weather events our team has experienced. Like September 2018, one DFW storm produced over 7 inches of precipitation – more than many months get in total.

While some DFW communities flooded, IFCD 3 used our pump station and sluice gates to remove excess water from Valley Ranch and keep residents flood-free.

How do things look for 2025? Of course, it’s too early to tell… January was one of the wettest starts on record, but the precipitation total through April is hovering around average.

At IFCD 3, we’re prepared to respond to storms of all sizes and prevent flooding in our community. Our mission is to keep the community safe with innovative flood control facilities, well-designed infrastructure and a skilled team of experts. These vital resources equip us to protect Valley Ranch from North Texas’ largest weather events – those of the past and those still to come.

To learn more about our flood control solutions, read our blog post on Structural Flood Control Methods. You can also follow us on Facebook and X / Twitter for the latest from IFCD 3.