10-Years and $500 Million towards Managing the Floodplain in Flash Flood Alley

The Anatomy of the Bexar County Flood Control Program
10-Years and $500 Million towards Managing
the Floodplain in Flash Flood Alley
TFMA Presentation
David Wegmann, PE; Bexar County
Susan Fraser, PE, CFM; Bexar County Flood Control/AECOM
September 2013

Agenda
Introductions
Overview
Challenges
• How to staff a $500 M program for finite 10-year period?
• How to deliver projects based on regional boundaries?
• How to select projects based on need?
• How to assess project feasibility?
• How to obtain community support?
• How to create a project that will improve the quality of life for
the community?
Performance Update
Questions

Overview
September 2013

Overview: Establishing the Program
Created by Bexar County Commissioners
Court as an initiative of the Bexar Regional
Watershed Management partnership with:
• Bexar County
• City of San Antonio
• San Antonio River Authority
• 20 Suburban Cities
Alamo Heights, Balcones Heights, Castle Hills, China Grove,
Converse, Grey Forest, Helotes, Hill County Village, Hollywood
Park, Kirby, Leon Valley, Live Oak, Olmos Park, Schertz,
Selma, Shavano Park, Somerset, Terrell Hills, University City,
Windcrest

Overview: Program Details
• Bexar County is in
“Flash Flood Alley” –
Area of varied terrain
prone to fast and high
flooding conditions
• 10-Year, $500 Million
Flood Control CIP to
improve Bexar County’s
flooding conditions
• Program duration from
Oct 2007 – Sept 2017
– We are completing our
6 th year of the Program

Overview: Funding the Program
Debt purchased through Certificates of Obligation,
and paid back via property tax
• Bexar Road and Flood rate is $0.031 per $100
• Road Maintenance & Operation is $0.009 per $100
• Flood Debt is $0.022 per $100
• Projections for 2014 are for $23.1 Million
– (based on $104.4 Billion property value)
To secure historical low interest rates, the remaining $350 Million
of flood control funding was offered for sale July 2013

Overview: Project Inventory ($493 M Budgeted)
81
low water crossings
improvements
5
miles of storm sewer
installation
7
dam rehabilitations
3
detention facilities
270
potential HALT sites
installations
13
miles of channels
improvements

Overview: Program Highlights – Notable Projects, Precinct 1

Overview: Program Highlights – Notable Projects, Precinct 2

Overview: Program Highlights – Notable Projects, Precinct 3

Overview: Program Highlights – Notable Projects, Precinct 4
Perrin Beitel Channel Improvements

Overview: Program Highlights – Notable Projects
Shepherd Road Bridge
Evans Road Bridge
Ingram Road Bridge

Challenges
September 2013

How to staff a $500 M program for a finite 10-year period?
CHALLENGE
Lack of County Staff.
Relatively short program
duration.
SOLUTION
Use some County Staff.
Supplement with Program
Management/Staff
Augmentation services.
Team size changes based on
Program needs.

Challenge:
How to staff a $500 M program for a finite 10-year period?
$492,719,489

How to deliver projects based on regional,
rather than jurisdictional boundaries?
CHALLENGE
Water has no boundaries.
Need to get buy-in and
coordination from
non-equity partners
(Cities) to ensure
sufficient funds are
provided to maintain new
projects and provide
monitoring.
SOLUTION
Engaging non-equity partners early
in the design process ensures new
project requirements can be
included in the maintenance
budgets.
Monitoring by the County during the
warranty period allows set up of
report template.
Equity partnership consideration
ensures the other jurisdictions have
the requisite staff to engage in
coordination activities.

How to select projects based on need, rather than
political boundaries?
CHALLENGE
Select the most critical
projects based on
flooding mitigation rather
than along County
Precinct or City Council
District lines.
SOLUTION
Project selection using the
Bexar Regional Watershed
Management Review process.

How to assess project feasibility?
CHALLENGE
Refinement of dFIRM
model and discovery of
other factors may result
in unfeasible projects.
SOLUTION
Ensure that your elected
officials and the community
understands that not all
projects will be recommended
for construction.
Develop metrics to measure
the project benefits.

How to assess project feasibility?
Bexar County Project Feasibility Metrics
• Increased mobility and
public safety
– Traffic volume over low water
crossings
– Access for isolated
neighborhoods and schools
– School and VIA bus routes
• Floodplain reduction
– Homes/businesses removed
– Undeveloped property
removed
• Management of
upstream/downstream
impacts
• Total project costs
(engineering, construction,
real estate, utility
relocation)
• Constructability
• Community impact and
public support

How to obtain community support and provide flood
safety education?
CHALLENGE
Many misconceptions
surround the causes of
flooding, floodplain
boundaries, and flood
control projects.
The stakes can run high
since life safety and
property are often at peril.
SOLUTION
Go out early and often.
Secure the services of public
outreach professionals to
assist with going out early and
often.
Develop a comprehensive
public outreach protocol.

How to obtain community support and provide flood
safety education?

Challenge: How to obtain community support and
provide flood safety education?
Bexar County uses public outreach tools and
methods to ensure a fiscally responsible approach.
Outreach may use the following resources:
• Websites
• Email
• Telephone
• Social media
• Traditional media
• Neighborhood and Homeowner
Assoc.
• Electronic Message Boards
• Direct Mail
• Direct-to-door communications
• Established neighborhood
email/newsletter distributions
• Elected official constituent
newsletters/e-newsletters
• Printed flyers distributed to
students/parents through schools
• Community meetings
• One-to-one stakeholder
meetings

How to obtain community support and provide flood
safety education?
At a minimum the following outreach will be conducted:
• Notify county and city (if applicable) elected officials
• Notify stakeholders and property owners
directly impacted by the project
• Notify others that may be impacted such as school
districts, SARA, TxDOT, VIA, first responders, etc.
• Project information posted to
www.bexar.org and
www.bexarfloodcontrol.org

How to obtain community support and provide flood
safety education?
Rock Creek Outfall:
10 meetings, 3 newsletter articles
Laddie Place Phase III:
12 community meetings, 1 ground
breaking
Schaefer Drainage Phase I:
7 community meetings, 1 press
conference
Evans Road LWC:
11 community meetings, 3
newsletter articles, 1 press
conference
Ingram Road LWC:
7 community meetings, 2 press
conferences, 1 media advisory, 1
ribbon cutting
Shepherd Rd LWCs:
2 community meetings, 1
newsletter article, 1 ground
breaking, 1 ribbon cutting
Olmos Dam Rehabilitation:
1 press release, 1 ground breaking

How to create a project that will improve the quality of
life for the community?
CHALLENGE
Project should provide
mobility and flood safety,
but many communities
request additional
benefits such as
improved ecosystems or
recreational amenities.
SOLUTION
Encourage community and City
funding participation to facilitate
development of secondary benefits
like recreational amenities.
Create renderings to help convey
how the project can enhance the
communities’ public space.
Invite naturalists to become
partners in the design process and
hold walkthroughs to gain
community input.

Performance
Update
September 2013

5-Year Performance Summary (April 2013)

6-Year Performance Update (May 2013)

6-Year Performance Update (May 2013)

6-Year Performance Update (May 2013)

Performance during the
April 29, 2013 Storm
September 2013

Performance Update
April 29, 2013 – Up to a 25-Year (4%) Storm
Rain Event:
April 29, 2013
7pm – 10pm
Source: National Weather Service,
NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

Performance on 4/29/2013: Up to a 25-Year (4%) Storm
25-year storm (4% event) near Government Canyon
area (concentrated along tributaries to Culebra & Helotes
Creeks)
• Up to 5 to 6 inches in 2 to 3 hours
2-year storm (50% event) in northwest Bexar County
• Up to 3 inches in 2 to 3 hours
Moderate to light showers in northeast Bexar County
• Averaged 1 inch over 3 to 4 hours
Light showers in south Bexar County
• Less than half an inch over 3 to 4 hours

Performance on 4/29/2013: Up to a 25-Year (4%) Storm
43
Rain Event: April 29, 2013, 7 to 10 PM (Total Rainfall)

Performance on 4/29/2013: Up to a 25-Year (4%) Storm
44
Rain Event: April 29, 2013, 7 to 10 PM (Animation)

Performance on 4/29/2013: Up to a 25-Year (4%) Storm
45
Helotes Creek RSWF
HALT
French Creek Trib
S. Hausman LWC
Prue Rd LWC
Hausman Ph I & II
Huebner Creek @ Prue
Galm Rd Ph I & II
N. Verde Rd LWC
Whisper Creek
Huebner Creek II & III
Ingram Rd Bridge

Performance on 4/29/2013: Up to a 25-Year (4%) Storm
46
Ingram Road LWC
($9.9 M Total Cost)
• Unimproved Ingram Road low
water crossing would have
overtopped by 2.5 to 3 feet
during the April 29th Storm
(W Commerce/Pinn Rds
downstream closed)
• New Ingram Road Bridge
provided safe passage during
the April 29th Storm

Performance on 4/29/2013: Up to a 25-Year (4%) Storm
Ingram Road LWC ($9.9 M Total Cost)
47
BEFORE
AFTER

Performance on 4/29/2013: Up to a 25-Year (4%) Storm
HALT Phase II
48
Highwater Alert Lifesaving Technology
$3 M Total Budget, $420 K for NW Sites
• Activated Sites in northwest Bexar County
– Baxtershire @ Culebra Creek
– Doheny @ Culebra Creek
– Beverly Hills @ Culebra Creek Trib
– Wickwilde @ Culebra Creek Trib
• TxDOT coordination to install site
at FM 1560 @ Culebra Creek

Performance on 4/29/2013: Up to a 25-Year (4%) Storm
Galm Road Phase I & II
49
$12 M Total Budget, $2 M Flood Control
Proposed road elevation will be 10-ft higher than existing.
Currently concrete columns 8-ft higher than existing.
9 people were rescued from 6 different
vehicles trapped in the 11500 block of
Galm Road in flooded waters

Performance on 4/29/2013: Up to a 25-Year (4%) Storm
50
ID Project Name Pct. OCL/ICL Status Total Budget
LC8 Ingram Road Low Water Crossing 2 ICL Completed $ 9,900,000
N/A Galm Road Phase I (Program Funding Only) 2 OCL Under Construction $ 2,000,000
CW1 High Water Detection System Phase II (Costs for NW Sites) CW OCL/ICL Under Construction $ 420,000
LC17B Huebner Creek Enhanced Conveyance NWWC Segment II 2 ICL Advertising $ 15,600,000
LC18 Boerne Stage Road (Program Funding Only) 3 OCL Detailed Design $ 10,700,000
LC27 Old Fredricksburg Road 3 OCL Detailed Design $ 2,100,000
LC9 Hausman Drainage Project Phase I 3 ICL Detailed Design $ 13,100,000
LC19 Local Project -Whisper Creek at Hollyhock 3 ICL Detailed Design $ 2,800,000
LC15 Huebner Creek RSWF at Prue Road 3 ICL Detailed Design $ 3,500,000
LC17C Huebner Creek Enhanced Conveyance NWWC Segment III 2 ICL (Leon Valley) Detailed Design $ 23,100,000
LC23 French Creek Trib NWWC –Environmental 3 ICL (Helotes) Negotiation/Detailed $ 5,100,000
LC10 Hausman Drainage Project Phase II 3 ICL Preliminary Design $ 8,700,000
LC-6 Prue Road at French Creek 3 ICL Preliminary Design $ 6,800,000
LC37 Helotes Creek RSWF 2 OCL Planning $ 5,500,000
LC5 S. Hausman LWC @ French Creek 3 ICL Planning $ 13,000,000
LC26 N. Verde Rd. LWC @ French Creek 3 ICL Planning $ 5,200,000
Total Budget $ 127,520,000
~$128 M Bexar County Commitment to
Flood Control in the April 29th Storm’s Vicinity

Performance during the
May 25, 2013 Storm
September 2013

Performance Update
May 25, 2013 – Up to a 250-Year (0.4%) Storm
Rain Event:
May 25, 2013
Most intense rain
was from
3 AM to 12 Noon
Source: National Weather Service,
NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

Performance on May 25, 2013:
Up to a 250-Year (0.4%) Storm
250-year (0.4%) storm in North, Central Bexar County
(Interpolation of storm event based on SARA Regional Hydrology and Hydraulic Standards)
• Over 12.2” in 24-hrs (red)
• SAT Airport Rain Gauge
5/24: 2.33”
5/25: 9.87”
25 to 100-year storm (4% to 1%
event) in North, Central, West
Bexar County
• 6” to 9” in 12-hrs
(yellow/orange)

Performance on May 25, 2013:
Up to a 250-Year (0.4%) Storm
5 to 25-year storm (20% to 4%) in outer central band of
Bexar County
• 4 to 6 inches in 12-hrs (blue)
1 to 5-year storm (100% to 20%
event) in farthest outer band of
Bexar County
• 2 to 4 inches in 12-hrs (pink)
Light showers in eastern Bexar
County
• 1 to 2 inches (green)

Performance on May 25, 2013:
Up to a 250-Year (0.4%) Storm
Olmos Dam ($6.3 M Total Cost)
• Structural integrity reinforced
• Installed 68 cable tendons
• Protects 10,909 properties with a value of $3.2 Billion
2013: 36.7 Feet
2002: 40 Feet
1998: 36 Feet
h

Performance on May 25, 2013:
Up to a 250-Year (0.4%) Storm
Barbara Drive (SA-3)
• Provide unflooded access and reduce flooding
• Preliminary Phase Study completed Nov 2012
• Construction costs escalated from $8.5 M to $13.4 M.
Barbara Drive
(SA-3)

Performance on May 25, 2013:
Up to a 250-Year (0.4%) Storm
Barbara Drive (SA-3)
• Provide unflooded access and reduce flooding
• Preliminary Phase Study completed Nov 2012
• Construction costs escalated from $8.5 M to $10.9 M
Barbara
Drive (SA-3)

Performance on May 25, 2013:
Up to a 250-Year (0.4%) Storm
Barbara Drive (SA-3) (Video: YouTube, San Antonio Flood 360 View @ Barbara Dr May 25, 2013)

Performance on May 25, 2013:
Up to a 250-Year (0.4%) Storm – Barbara Dr
E Rector
Dellwood Project
$13.3 M
E Rampart
Sprucewood Ln
Project not Recommended for
Construction
• Improvements to reduce flooding to El
Montan (just east of San Pedro) to the
Olmos Golf Course would require a
multi-phase project at a cost of $45.5 M
to remove 169 properties from the
floodplain.
• Phase I (from Oblate to the Olmos Golf
Course) would cost $10.9 M in
construction costs to remove 43
properties from the floodplain.
– Although McCullough between
Barbara Drive and Shannon Lee
would no longer flood, mobility would
not be improved because
McCullough would still flood north
and south of the crossing and Oblate
would still flood east and west.
• Invasive construction through the alley
and backyards of homes (16-ft
easements required from fenceline)
San Pedro Ave
El Montan
Oblate Dr
McCullough Ave
Outfall Tailwater Project
$3.8 M
McCullough Project
$17.5 M
Springwood Ln
Barbara Dr Project
$10.9 M
Barbara Dr

Performance on May 25, 2013:
Up to a 250-Year (0.4%) Storm – Barbara Dr
Drainage Alley
Barbara Drive
McCullough Ave
Existing Drainage Easements Varies from 50 to 65
feet Requiring:
• 16 foot temporary construction and utility
easements from 22 properties
• Major construction in the backyard of residents
homes involving excavation, installation of concrete
boxes, & utility relocation
• Impacts to fences, sheds, detached garages,
playscapes, etc.

Performance on May 25, 2013:
Up to a 250-Year (0.4%) Storm – Barbara Dr
After the storm, options to move forward:
1. City pursues a voluntary buyout program along
Barbara Dr and Shannon Lee.
2. County pursues a funding partnership with the City (to
cover the shortfall) for the construction and real estate
to move forward with the Barbara Dr Project.
3. City uses the Preliminary Phase studies provided by
the County to develop a comprehensive plan to
address the progression of the Ultimate Solution
Project for the area.

Performance on May 25, 2013:
Up to a 250-Year (0.4%) Storm
Laddie Place Phase III ($28 M Total Cost)
Benefits of Project:
• Removes approximately
74 homes from the floodplain
• Reduces flooding
• Establishes new usable
green space, enhancing the
community’s quality of life
Before
May 25 th Flooding
Future

Performance on May 25, 2013:
Up to a 250-Year (0.4%) Storm
Laddie Place Phase III ($28 M Total Cost)
Ground Breaking Ceremony on May 29 th
Construction completion by the end of 2014

Performance on May 25, 2013:
Up to a 250-Year (0.4%) Storm
HALT Phase I & II: Highwater Alert
Lifesaving Technology ($3.9 M Total Budget)
Sites Activated in Bexar County:
• Wickwilde @ Culebra Creek
• Doheny @ Culebra Creek
• Jarratt @ Elm Creek
• Cagnon @ Medina River
• Scenic Loop Road @ Helotes
Creek
• Jungman @ Medina River
• Menger @ Elm Waterhole Creek
• Antonio Dr @ Los Reyes Creek
• Quintana @ Post Oak Creek
• Pearsall @ Elm Creek (Gates)
• Pearsall @ Live Oak (Gates)
• Robert Glen @ Live Oak Slough
• Schaefer @ Cibolo Creek
• Aviation Rd @ Cibolo Creek
• Macaway @ Macaway Creek
• Weir @ Cibolo Creek
• Specht @ Cibolo Creek
• Bulverde @ Cibolo Creek
• Bexar Bowling @ Cibolo Creek
• New Berlin @ Woman Hollering
(Gates)

Performance on May 25, 2013:
Up to a 250-Year (0.4%) Storm
Evans Road LWC ($3.9 M Total Cost)
• Unimproved Evans Road low water crossing would have
overtopped by approximately 5 feet during the May 25th
Storm (Menger Road downstream HALT site activated)
• New Evans Road Bridge provided safe passage during
the May 25th Storm
Bridge is 15 feet
higher than low
water crossing

Performance on May 25, 2013:
Up to a 250-Year (0.4%) Storm
Evans Road LWC ($3.9 M Total Cost)
Flooding during Construction
Flooding before Construction
Completed Bridge

Performance on May 25, 2013:
Up to a 250-Year (0.4%) Storm
Knoll Creek ($9.2 M Total Budgeted)
Jung Road Crossing – TURN AROUND, DON’T DROWN
Knoll Creek
Jung Rd
May 25th Flooding

Performance on May 25, 2013:
Up to a 250-Year (0.4%) Storm
Knoll Creek ($9.2 M Total Budgeted)
Jung Road Crossing – TURN AROUND, DON’T DROWN
Knoll Creek
Jung Rd
May 25th Flooding

Performance on May 25, 2013:
Up to a 250-Year (0.4%) Storm
Knoll Creek ($9.2 M Total Budgeted)
Classen Road Crossing
Knoll Creek
Classen Rd
Jung Rd
May 25th Flooding

Performance on May 25, 2013:
Up to a 250-Year (0.4%) Storm
Knoll Creek ($9.2 M Total Budgeted)
Classen Road Crossing
Knoll Creek
Classen Rd
Jung Rd
May 25th Flooding

Performance on May 25, 2013:
Up to a 250-Year (0.4%) Storm
Knoll Creek ($9.2 M Total Budgeted)
Classen Crossing
Knoll Creek
Classen Rd
Jung Rd
May 25th Flooding

Performance on May 25, 2013:
Up to a 250-Year (0.4%) Storm
Knoll Creek ($9.2 M Total Budgeted)
Classen Crossing
Knoll Creek
Classen Rd
Jung Rd
May 25th Flooding

Performance on May 25, 2013:
Up to a 250-Year (0.4%) Storm
Knoll Creek ($9.2 M Total Budgeted)
Classen Crossing
Knoll Creek
Classen Rd
Jung Rd
May 25th Flooding

Performance on May 25, 2013:
Up to a 250-Year (0.4%) Storm
Knoll Creek ($9.2 M Total Budgeted)
Classen Road Crossing
Knoll Creek
Classen Rd
Jung Rd
May 25th Flooding

Performance on May 25, 2013:
Up to a 250-Year (0.4%) Storm
San Antonio River Watershed ($161.9 M Total Budgeted)
San Antonio River Watershed was the hardest hit.
Improvements in this watershed include:
23 projects:
• 18 low water crossings
improvements
• 2.9 miles of storm sewer
installation
• 3.7 miles of channels
improvements
• 3 dam rehabilitations
• 1 detention facility
93% of the budget of the SA River projects is inside the city limits

Questions?
September 2013