CORYELL COUNTY, Texas — A much needed resource to address flooding is now in the works in Coryell County. The county was recently granted $2.5 million to reduce flood risk and better understand future water supply.
"We've never had a flood management plan and that's why I think this is really historic for the county," said County Judge Roger Miller.
By the request of the American Conservation Foundation, Coryell County was granted the funds from the General Land Office. That money will go to flood risk reduction plans for the Leon River watershed and the Cowhouse Creek watershed.
"It will also provide us with steps or recommendations to implement to hopefully make us a safer and a more resilient county when we're exposed to extreme flood events," Miller added. "It also leverages our ability to plan for other grant funds to elevate and improve all the low water crossings in the county."
The plan also includes the addition of five to seven new locations upstream in the watersheds that will be early warning centers for flooding. It's an improvement upon the two that are already in Coryell County.
"That's telling us what is already happening, it's not giving us any advance warning to be able to take action or to be able to communicate with our first responders and even our residents that this is imminent and it is coming," Miller added. "That's the critical piece."
Miller said the plan will also play an important role as the county continues to grow.
"This gives us a tool for the next 20 to 50 years, it's not something that's going to be just for today, and it allows us to build on it," Miller explained.
To help make the Flood Management Plan a success, the County is asking residents to provide feedback and comment on the recent floods. Residents are encouraged to take the online Flood Survey and explain how flooding, particularly on roadways and low water crossings, has affected them, their family and their community.
"The first reason that it's important is because floods and the rising waters don't affect everyone the same way, even along the watershed," Miller explained. "The responses that we need are a depiction of how the rivers and the creeks are affecting those individuals in those specific areas, and it doesn't mean, it's not necessarily that you have to live on a river or creek."
The survey can be found at this link.
Coryell County asks residents to complete the survey by July 20. More information and a link and QR code to the survey can be found at this link.
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