Texas Water Development Board approves $5,001,157 to the City of Wharton (Wharton County) for a drainage improvement project

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

AUSTIN – (July 7, 2021) – The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) today approved by resolution financial assistance in the amount of $5,001,157, consisting of $2,601,000 in financing and $2,400,157 in grant funding, to the City of Wharton (Wharton County). The City will use the assistance from the Flood Infrastructure Fund (FIF) for the planning, design, and construction of a drainage improvement project.

In addition to the grant funding, the City could save approximately $1,320,000 over the life of the loan by using the FIF program.

With the financial assistance approved today, the City will complete the drainage improvement project in two phases. Phase I includes a master drainage study that will verify parameters of the hydrologic model based on updated rainfall data. Findings from the study will also produce a detailed hydraulic model with an urban storm sewer analysis. Phase II will implement previously designed solutions with considerations from the master drainage study. The proposed drainage improvements include creek daylighting, channel modifications, and increased capacity of the storm drain system to reduce flood risks.

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.