Texas Water Development Board approves $22,361,570 to the City of Houston (Harris County) for drainage projects

For immediate release. Contact: Media Relations at 512-463-5129

AUSTIN – (May 6, 2021) – The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) today approved by resolution financial assistance in the amount of $22,361,570, consisting of $18,683,000 in financing and $3,678,570 in grant funding, to the City of Houston (Harris County). The City will use the assistance from the Flood Infrastructure Fund (FIF) for construction of drainage projects.

In addition to the grant funding, the City could save approximately $9,200,000 over the life of the 2021 portions of the loans by using the FIF program. Additional savings may occur when the City closes on other portions of the loans.

With the financial assistance approved today, the City will make improvements on the Taylor Gully channel to upgrade the conveyance capacity of the channel. Improvements include widening, deepening, and lining. Additionally, the City will construct a combined system of roadside ditches and in-line stormwater lines, install culverts, and lower the roadway crown in Wynnewood Acres.

The approved projects are eligible for FIF funding under category 2 of the 2020 Flood Intended Use Plan. This category was designated for planning, acquisition, design, and construction activities to implement flood mitigation projects.

Passed by the 86th Texas Legislature and approved by voters through a constitutional amendment in 2019, FIF was created to provide funding for drainage, flood mitigation, and flood control projects.

The TWDB is the state agency charged with collecting and disseminating water-related data, assisting with regional water and flood planning, and preparing the state water and flood plans. The TWDB administers cost-effective financial assistance programs for the construction of water supply, wastewater treatment, flood control, and agricultural water conservation projects.