Flood Research
In 2019, the 86th Texas Legislature appropriated funding to the TWDB to support a variety of flood-related efforts, including research on topics of priority regarding flood. The TWDB subsequently initiated the Flood Priority Research Program and formed a TWDB Flood Priority Research Steering Committee, made up of TWDB staff, to develop research initiatives and oversee the program.
The aim is for all projects to, at a minimum,
- improve the state's resilience to flood events;
- be applicable statewide or be applicable across multiple communities;
- not require ongoing funding; and
- not focus primarily on purchasing equipment (gages, sensors, etc.).
Additionally, preference is given to projects that
- are likely to reduce risk, impact, or loss of life and/or property in flood events;
- benefit large populations, large geographic areas, or historically underserved areas;
- address an unresolved issue in an area that experiences frequent flood events;
- have the potential to produce near-term (1-2 years preferably, up to 5 years) flood resilience benefits;
- support TWDB flood programs (state and regional flood planning, flood science and community assistance, flood infrastructure fund, etc.); or
- will fully answer a question or produce a useable product.
The Steering Committee is currently working internally to put project teams together and develop scopes of work for the 2024-2025 biennium.
During the 2022 - 2023 biennium, $700,000 was made available to support flood priority research, and five topics were chosen for funding:
- Effective Flood Awareness Communication
- Infrastructure Assessment Methodologies
- Model for Calculating Agricultural Flood Loss
- Nature-based Solutions for Flood Mitigation in Texas
- Developing Future Rainfall Frequency Grids
In the program's first biennium (Fiscal Years 2020 - 2021), $600,000 was allocated to pursue four flood priority research projects:
- Creating a Flood Resource Guide for Flood Officials and Communities
- Creating a Flood Early Warning System (FEWS) Guidance Document for communities
- Assessing the Causes and Predictability of Extreme High Rainfall and Linkages to Flooding in Texas
- Updating the Texas Statewide Highwater Marks Inventory
All project completion dates are estimates and are subject to change. Reports or other products developed by contractors may not be immediately available upon project completion as the TWDB may consider further modifications prior to public release.
Note that funding for some projects is augmented by sources other than Flood Priority Research funding, and occasionally flood research projects are developed exclusively using other funding sources. Click on project names for more information.
For questions on Flood Priority Research work or specific projects, please send an email to floodpriorityresearch@twdb.texas.gov.
Non-Flood Priority Research Funded Projects
Below is a list of projects funded outside of the Flood Priority Research program that are also overseen by the Flood Priority Research steering committee. Click on the project name for more information.