Study to determine improvements for flood damage reduction
EL PASO –The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), which has studied and built some of the most challenging flood control projects in the country, has selected El Paso’s Central watershed flood control as one of only eight feasibility study projects nationwide as part of a special program. This opportunity offers the potential for funding of 65% of design and construction costs based on the outcome of study findings.
The Corps will look at weather data, run models on flooding dynamics in the Central watershed, assess the conditions of existing dams and drainage systems, and produce a Chief’s Report of findings and recommendations. EPWater has been working for years to gain support from the Corps and from Congress for this project, which was a line-item in the federal budget this year.
The city has experienced record rainfall this monsoon season. One of the recent major rain events occurred on August 12, where part of Central El Paso received 3.2 inches of rain in one hour.
WHAT: EPWater, USACE announce that an agreement has been finalized and will be signed this week to begin the Project for Flood Damage Reduction Feasibility Study.
WHO: John Balliew, President and CEO, El Paso Water
Brian Sanchez - Project Management, USACE
Mark Doles - Chief Plan Fomulation, USACE
Stephen Scissons - Chief Hydrology and Hydraulics, USACE
Jason Laney, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, National Weather Service
WHEN: Wednesday, September 1 at 1:30 p.m.
WHERE: Kentucky Dam (intersection of Kentucky St. and Aurora Ave.)