Texas Water Development Board approves $455,000 to the City of Port Arthur (Jefferson County) for a master drainage plan

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

AUSTIN – (June 3, 2021) – The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) today approved by resolution financial assistance in the amount of $455,000 in grant funding to the City of Port Arthur (Jefferson County). The City will use the assistance from the Flood Infrastructure Fund (FIF) for a master drainage plan project.

With the financial assistance approved today, the City will develop a new master drainage plan and policy guide. The plan will use institutional knowledge, LiDAR data, and hydrologic and hydraulic studies to manage flood threats. It will also include a priority list of future drainage projects for the City.

The approved project is 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.