In 2018,
voters in Harris County
approved a $2.5 billion bond
measure to fund flood control measures throughout the county.
The bonds will help fund more than 200 projects
to reduce flood risk throughout Harris County
including bayou expansions, reservoirs, canals and
detention basins.
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Water is good for Texas
Flood Mitigation
Floods can cause devastation across Texas. In Central and West Texas, flash floods are a common danger and frequently strike with little or no advance warning. Coastal areas are susceptible to flooding from poor drainage, overflowing riverbanks and hurricane-induced storm surges.
Flood mitigation planning protects against periods of extremely intense rainfall, over short periods of time, that quickly claim lives, destroy property and disrupt the economy. Flood management and flood mitigation can also help the environment and Texas terrain. Controlled flooding contributes to groundwater recharge and preserves floodplains that serve as habitats for many plants and animals.
Flood Mitigation Solutions
| Structural | Non-Structural |
|---|---|
| Dams | Open Space Preservation |
| Seawalls | Residential Relocation |
| Floodgates | Wetland Restoration |
| Channel Alterations | Flood Warning Systems |
| Stormwater Detention Basins | Zoning Law Updates |
Future Planning
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) is charged with establishing a statewide flood mitigation planning process — separate from the state water planning — and developing Texas’ first-ever state flood plan by September 2024.
The TWDB also administers a regional flood planning process composed of 15 flood planning regions based on river basins.
Flood Infrastructure Fund
Flood Infrastructure Fund Active and Completed Project Commitments, July 2022
| Description | Category | Active Projects |
Amount Committed to Projects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flood Protection Planning for Watersheds | 1 | 46 | |
| Planning, Acquisition, Design, Construction, Rehabilitation | 2 | 67 | |
| Federal Award Matching Funds | 3 | 7 | $5,967,628 |
| Measures immediately effective in protecting life and property | 4 | 7 | $1,710,954 |
Sources: Texas Water Development Board, Comptroller of Public Accounts
Following the devastation of Hurricane Harvey in 2017, Texas voters approved a constitutional amendment establishing the $800 million Flood Infrastructure Fund (FIF) program, which offers no-interest loans and grants and in four different project categories. As of July 2022, the TWDB reports 127 active projects, with more than $433 million in funding.
This is one in a series of reports the Comptroller has prepared on water in Texas.
Questions?
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the material on this page, please contact the Comptroller’s Data Analysis and Transparency Division.