Flood Planning Useful Links and Resources

Yellow sign saying Area Closed Flooding in front of flooded road.

TWDB Rules

Texas Government Code

Legislation

Reports

Flood Technical Advisory Group (FTAG)

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) established a Flood Technical Advisory Group (FTAG) to provide technical advice related to the TWDB's new statewide flood science and planning efforts in early 2020. The purpose of the group is to provide TWDB with outside technical expertise as a resource generally related to regional flood planning, data collection, mapping, and modeling, and other flood-related topics as needed.

FTAG members are selected by the TWDB and are asked to serve as unpaid technical resources for a period of approximately one year that may be extended. The following individuals are currently serving as FTAG members:

  • Duke Altman, Doucet & Associates
  • Curtis Beitel, Walker Partners, LLC
  • Michael Bloom, 5engineering, LLC
  • Cindy Engelhardt, Halff Associates
  • Steve Graham, San Antonio River Authority
  • Ataul Hannan, Harris County Flood Control District
  • Krista Melnar, Freese & Nichols
  • David Walker, Lower Colorado River Authority

For more information regarding FTAG, please see the FTAG Working Operational Guidelines. Please contact Reem Zoun at reem.zoun@twdb.texas.gov, or floodplanning@twdb.texas.gov with any questions.

Nature-Based Solutions for Flood Resilience in Texas

Project summary:

The TWDB developed a Nature-Based Solutions for Flood Resilience in Texas Guidance Manual to synthesize information on the use of nature-based flood mitigation solutions into a single, statewide manual for Texas communities to support the initiation, planning, and implementation of nature-based solutions for flood resilience in Texas.

Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) use or imitate natural features and/or processes to increase resilience while providing sustainable benefits to people and the environment. NBS works in conjunction with built or grey engineering infrastructure to introduce long-term resilience. This guidance provides the guiding principles and framework to help planners and practitioners identify appropriate NBS strategies and locations; evaluate feasibility; and consider design, construction, operation, maintenance, and adaptive management.

Example Model Ordinance Language for Nature-Based Solutions for Flood Resilience was developed as a discretionary resource for communities that wish to incentivize or require the use of NBS. This provides illustrative examples of potential regulations that communities may choose to use, and this resource is available upon request. Please email Flood Planning to request a copy of the model ordinance language.

Nature-Based Solutions Interactive Dashboard:
The Interactive Dashboard summarizes key concepts from the Nature-Based Solutions for Flood Resilience in Texas Guidance Manual, including an introduction to NBS for flood resilience, the NBS Guidance Manual Framework, NBS Case Study Videos, Watershed NBS, Neighborhood NBS, and Coastal NBS. It also provides an interactive Project Map that provides the locations and details of NBS projects in Texas.
Project deliverable(s):
NBS Guidance Manual - A guidance document for communities on pursuing nature-based solutions for flood mitigation in Texas.