1 00:00:03,795 --> 00:00:04,421 The primary 2 00:00:04,421 --> 00:00:08,174 function of this channel, Lateral G, 3 00:00:08,174 --> 00:00:12,429 is to assist in the draining of the small township of Sebastian, Texas. 4 00:00:13,346 --> 00:00:16,641 Most recently, in March of 2025, 5 00:00:16,683 --> 00:00:20,937 it was the first flood experience I had encountered as a county commissioner, 6 00:00:20,979 --> 00:00:26,818 and pretty much 95 percent of the town experienced some type of flooding. 7 00:00:27,068 --> 00:00:30,071 It overflowed on this lateral in many places. 8 00:00:30,655 --> 00:00:32,115 That's why these [Texas] Water Development 9 00:00:32,115 --> 00:00:35,827 Board projects are so essential to get the water, you know, gone. 10 00:00:36,119 --> 00:00:38,038 And yes, we experienced it then. 11 00:00:38,038 --> 00:00:40,874 And in 2019, we had another big, big flood. 12 00:00:40,874 --> 00:00:43,877 So, it looks like it's happening more and more. 13 00:00:44,335 --> 00:00:47,338 We're trying to increase capacity 14 00:00:47,464 --> 00:00:50,800 so that this can hold more water. 15 00:00:50,842 --> 00:00:53,762 It's like having a 12-ounce glass of water. 16 00:00:53,762 --> 00:00:55,388 Well, now you want a 16-ounce glass. 17 00:00:55,388 --> 00:00:57,432 It's just not going to be full— 18 00:00:57,432 --> 00:00:59,017 you know, you can add to it. 19 00:00:59,017 --> 00:01:02,645 And that's what this is doing, is adding that kind of capacity. 20 00:01:03,772 --> 00:01:05,565 We're the ones that reached out to the [Texas Water] 21 00:01:05,565 --> 00:01:08,568 Development Board and then got the other two partners together. 22 00:01:08,693 --> 00:01:12,363 The Drainage District Number 1 in Willacy County is going to assist 23 00:01:12,530 --> 00:01:14,657 or basically let us work on this thing— 24 00:01:14,657 --> 00:01:17,577 they're the owners—then, they'll maintain it. 25 00:01:17,577 --> 00:01:21,998 Hidalgo is going to construct it, and they want to help because this ends up 26 00:01:21,998 --> 00:01:26,961 in the Willacy Hidalgo Main Drain, about three miles down the road. 27 00:01:26,961 --> 00:01:29,631 So, this partnership is unique. 28 00:01:29,631 --> 00:01:33,343 We're all networking together and putting together, as I mentioned, 29 00:01:33,384 --> 00:01:36,387 the regional approach to problem solving. 30 00:01:36,513 --> 00:01:39,015 There's no political boundaries when it comes to rainwater, right? 31 00:01:39,015 --> 00:01:41,017 Rainwater traverses all the political boundaries. 32 00:01:41,017 --> 00:01:44,479 So, we have to work collaboratively as a region to try to address these 33 00:01:44,479 --> 00:01:45,605 challenges that we all face. 34 00:01:49,109 --> 00:01:50,693 Our job here is to basically 35 00:01:50,693 --> 00:01:54,239 take this channel and expand it, create more volume in the system, 36 00:01:54,239 --> 00:01:56,741 and at the same time, upgrade some crossings 37 00:01:56,741 --> 00:01:59,536 so we can efficiently move water out of the area. 38 00:01:59,536 --> 00:02:02,539 We're also adding a 10-acre RDF, regional detention facility, to 39 00:02:03,248 --> 00:02:05,458 help lower the water surface elevation 40 00:02:05,458 --> 00:02:08,461 in the community of Sebastian and surrounding area. 41 00:02:09,212 --> 00:02:12,215 This is being funded through the Flood Infrastructure [Fund] program, 42 00:02:12,257 --> 00:02:15,969 a joint application with Hidalgo County Drainage District Number 1 and Willacy 43 00:02:15,969 --> 00:02:20,348 County Drainage District Number 1, as well, slash Willacy County. 44 00:02:20,557 --> 00:02:23,560 The project’s estimated at $2.9 million dollars; 45 00:02:23,852 --> 00:02:27,105 half of it will be grant funding from the [Texas] Water Development Board. 46 00:02:27,147 --> 00:02:31,234 The other half is in-kind service from the drainage district that we're performing. 47 00:02:31,651 --> 00:02:36,114 It's great to work with the water board simply because we have that 48 00:02:36,823 --> 00:02:40,702 support, financial support for these type of projects in reality. 49 00:02:40,869 --> 00:02:43,746 Not only that, but we have the oversight and the review process 50 00:02:43,746 --> 00:02:48,459 that they are very hands on in helping us move these projects forward, making sure 51 00:02:48,459 --> 00:02:52,005 that what we're doing is going to have a regional impact on the community. 52 00:02:52,213 --> 00:02:56,009 These projects are very important and regionalization is very important. 53 00:02:56,009 --> 00:02:59,137 I think we work very well together down here in the Valley. 54 00:02:59,137 --> 00:03:04,726 And I'm able to see, you know, the actual impact that our projects 55 00:03:04,726 --> 00:03:07,937 that Texas Water Development Board funds on a personal level. 56 00:03:07,937 --> 00:03:11,816 And I mean, it takes a lot of planning, a lot of engineering, 57 00:03:11,816 --> 00:03:15,862 just to get these projects out and funded and completed. 58 00:03:16,029 --> 00:03:19,407 I had a constituent ask me, “Hey, all this stuff y'all are doing, 59 00:03:20,575 --> 00:03:21,534 is it really helping? 60 00:03:21,534 --> 00:03:24,162 Is it really worth it?” 61 00:03:24,162 --> 00:03:27,207 I got to say yes, even if it stays on the road, 62 00:03:27,207 --> 00:03:30,210 if I can keep it out of the house, believe me, 63 00:03:31,377 --> 00:03:32,629 it's a win.