TPWA DRAINAGE/FLOODPLAIN COOPERATION IMPACT TASKFORCE

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TxDOT Riverside Conference Room 1A.2 

September 26, 2003

10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.

I.                   Introductions                                              

                Tom Wendorf and Ed Drusina discussed the importance of collaboration efforts between both entities.  Individual introductions were made among all attendees.

II.      TxDOT Drainage/Floodplain Cooperation Impact   

          (Ed Drusina, TPWA; Tom Wendorf, TPWA)

A.     Economic Development

·        Property value drops due to access changes

·        Upstream & Downstream property impacted by floodplain changes

·        Increased maintenance of city streets, diking slows flows and dropping sediment and concentrating flows

·        Future drainage improvements will pass costs on to the community

·        Lower ratings in Community Rating System (CRS) for flood insurance

B.     Public Safety

·        Higher velocity and increased depth at road crossing

·        Diking from elevated roadways result in increased risk to public

·        Design standard for gateways and main lanes are for 50-year storm.  Main lanes and gateway flood during most storm events greater than 10 years.

C.     Transportation

·        Flooding damages structures

            D.     Homeland Security

·        TxDOT concentrates flows causing need for larger structures, which can hide illegal activity (drug trafficking, graffiti, etc.). 

·        Illegal entry into the United States is enhanced by larger structures along the US/Mexico border.

·        Higher incidence of drownings.

III.             TxDOT Design Flood Standards Overview           

(David Stolpa, TxDOT)

A.       Hazard Mitigation Plan

·        David Stolpa discussed the Hazard Mitigation Plan.  He mentioned that the number one issue for San Antonio is flooding.

·        David mentioned that TxDOT works with FEMA’s Flood Plain Administrator of record when working within the municipality

·        Tom Wendorf mentioned that FEMA lists an elected official as the Flood Plain Administrator, therefore the list should be revised

·        Roy Sedwick of the Floodplain Managers Association stated that the Flood Plain Administrator should be a Certified Floodplain Manager

·        Participants reiterated the need for standardized guidelines

·        Tom Wendorf requested a consensus among participants – participants agreed that they would not approve project plans unless local standards were followed.

IV.            Federal Design Flood Standards Overview            

(Ed Drusina, TPWA; Tom Wendorf, TPWA)

·        FEMA

-        City requires all developers to investigate flood plain impacts.

-        If impact is suspected, detailed engineering calculations are required to include HECI, HECII, and Sediment Transport Calculations.

-        Conditional letter of map revisions must be submitted through the regional flood plain manager to FEMA.

-        Flood Insurance Rate Maps are adjusted as required.  Local residents are very sensitive to the FIRM.

V.      Example Projects and Challenges                          

          (Ed Drusina, TPWA; Tom Wendorf, TPWA)

               A.     Alcan Way/Loop 375

B. Cebada Drain/IH-10

B.     Zarzamora Creek/Callaghan Road MPO Capital Improvement Project

C.     Brookside Apartments/Spencer Lane/IH-10

Due to time constraints, the group agreed to skip this agenda item. 

VI.            Next Steps

·        A Memorandum of Understanding dated February 26, 1999 between TxDOT and the TNRCC was distributed

·        Tom Wendorf requested that the participants review the MOU for consideration of adopting the policy as  standard

-        Roy Sedwick will provide Tom Wendorf an electronic copy in Word format of the MOU

-        Comments should be submitted to TxDOT for review and consideration

-        Roy Sedwick mentioned that several state agencies exist that have not signed this document 

·        Mary Lou Ralls agreed to the need for a standard policy and will take recommendations to Amadeo Saenz

·        The group agreed that the next taskforce meeting should be held next spring.

VII.            Other Business