Drainage districts and county come together to resolve flooding issues in rural RGV area

Transcript

Commissioner Ernie Garcia - Precinct 4, Willacy County

The primary function of this channel, Lateral G, is to assist in the draining of the small township of Sebastian, Texas.

Most recently, in March of 2025, it was the first flood experience I had encountered as a county commissioner, and pretty much 95 percent of the town experienced some type of flooding. It overflowed on this lateral in many places. That's why these [Texas] Water Development Board projects are so essential to get the water, you know, gone. And yes, we experienced it then. And in 2019, we had another big, big flood. So, it looks like it's happening more and more.

We're trying to increase capacity so that this can hold more water. It's like having a 12-ounce glass of water. Well, now you want a 16-ounce glass. It's just not going to be full-you know, you can add to it. And that's what this is doing, is adding that kind of capacity.

We're the ones that reached out to the [Texas Water] Development Board and then got the other two partners together. The Drainage District No. 1 in Willacy County is going to assist or basically let us work on this thing-they're the owners-then, they'll maintain it. Hidalgo is going to construct it, and they want to help because this ends up in the Willacy Hidalgo Main Drain, about three miles down the road. So, this partnership is unique. We're all networking together and putting together, as I mentioned, the regional approach to problem solving.

Raul E. Sesin, PE, CFM - General Manager, Hidalgo County Drainage District No. 1

There's no political boundaries when it comes to rainwater, right? Rainwater traverses all the political boundaries. So, we have to work collaboratively as a region to try to address these challenges that we all face.

Our job here is to basically take this channel and expand it, create more volume in the system, and at the same time, upgrade some crossings so we can efficiently move water out of the area. We're also adding a 10-acre RDF, regional detention facility, to help lower the water surface elevation in the community of Sebastian and surrounding area.

This is being funded through the Flood Infrastructure [Fund] program, a joint application with Hidalgo County Drainage District No. 1 and Willacy County Drainage District No. 1, as well, slash Willacy County.

The project's estimated at $2.9 million dollars; half of it will be grant funding from the [Texas] Water Development Board. The other half is in-kind service from the drainage district that we're performing. It's great to work with the water board simply because we have that support, financial support for these type of projects in reality. Not only that, but we have the oversight and the review process that they are very hands on in helping us move these projects forward, making sure that what we're doing is going to have a regional impact on the community.

Zenaida Guerrero, E.I.T. - Project Manager, Texas Water Development Board

These projects are very important and regionalization is very important. I think we work very well together down here in the Valley. And I'm able to see, you know, the actual impact that our projects that Texas Water Development Board funds on a personal level. And I mean, it takes a lot of planning, a lot of engineering, just to get these projects out and funded and completed.

Commissioner Ernie Garcia - Precinct 4, Willacy County

I had a constituent ask me, "Hey, all this stuff y'all are doing, is it really helping? Is it really worth it?" I got to say yes, even if it stays on the road, if I can keep it out of the house, believe me, it's a win.