flood mitigation projects proposed for el paso county, Texas

Along a stretch of rural towns that have been subject to arroyo, street, and land flooding from excessive rainfall, a move is on to seek funding for a handful of flood mitigation projects.

Members of the El Paso County Commission are looking for grant support to significantly improve the Fabens Dam, on the north side of Interstate 10 in the town of Fabens.

That facility was built for a 100-year capacity, but according to county records, “will not contain additional capacity for larger storms.”

As proposed, the retention structure would be deepened, while an emergency overflow wall will be built along the top of the dam.

Funding for the project may come through the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program.

As proposed, that program will also fund the expansion of a detention pond at Angel’s Park, just north of the village of Clint; and new or expanded detention ponds in the villages of Tornillo, Doniphan, Clinton, and Horizon.

Altogether, the projects will cost around $9.5 million to complete. If successful in securing the grant funding, El Paso County will provide a roughly 25 percent match of $2.5 million.

By Garry Boulard

---