Passed by the Legislature and approved by Texas voters through a constitutional amendment, the FIF program provides financial assistance in the form of loans and grants for flood control, flood mitigation, and drainage projects via the TWDB. FIF rules allow for a wide range of flood projects, including structural and nonstructural projects as well as nature-based solutions. The County submitted four (4) abridged applications in June 2020.

 
The County is currently managing two (2) active TWDB grant/loan for Stormwater project HAC7 [$3,321,100 (grant $1,650,000 & Loan 1,6505,000)] in the Greater Clint Area and SSA1 [$34,530,000 (grant $13,812,000 & loan $$20,718,000)] located south of I-10 along the unincorporated area of Nuevo Hueco Tanks in between the City of El Paso and City of Socorro as identified in the recently updated and adopted County Stormwater Master Plan. The third (3) project SOC1 &SOC2 [$4,650,000 (grant $2,278,500 & loan $2,371,500)]  is currently being reviewed by TWDB staff for and we should anticipate a favorable response sometime in the last quarter of this calendar year. TWDB requested that the County complete and submit the Intent to Apply form by July 1st, 2022. The confirmation of intent to apply if funds are available is for project CAN1. The funding proposal totals to approximately $1,960,000 and is 10 percent grant ($176,400) and 90 percent zero-interest loan ($1,783,600).

This project involves constructing 1,240 feet of concrete lined channel along Flow Path Number 42, in addition to acquiring ROW property for maintenance of the channel. The proposed concrete channel will consist of a bottom width of approximately 30 feet, 2 to 1 side slopes, and would be approximately 5 feet deep. The purpose of these improvements is to provide sufficient capacity within the channel to convey the 100-year flood and benefit the residents in Canutillo, a census-designated place in El Paso County.

Additionally, the section of channel located between IH-10 and Los Mochis Road is currently undeveloped. Future development must ensure the channel has capacity to convey the 100-year flood and provide necessary maintenance access to the County.

Uncontrolled flows originating in the upper end of the watershed and the encroachment into the channel by residents of Canutillo are resulting in the flooding of residences along Flow Path Number 42, downstream of the Canutillo Heights Community. Runoff from undeveloped areas in the watershed enters the upper tributaries that converge to form the Flow Path Number 42. Additional runoff is accumulated as flows travel through the steepest part of the watershed. The channel has sufficient capacity to convey flows through the Canutillo Heights Community due to concrete channel improvements, but the improvements do not extend beyond the community. As flows leave the community, the channel becomes earthen and unstable. The channel also becomes constricted, resulting from encroachment into the channel by residents living adjacent to the channel. The channel has insufficient capacity at this location, resulting in the flooding of residences adjacent to the channel. The County does not own or possess a drainage easement through this area making it difficult to improve and maintain the channel. The items seek to authorize the County to submit a full application to TWDB for planning, acquisition, design, and construction funds.

On March 28, 2022 (Item 4-K), the court authorize the County Judge to sign the Texas Water Development Board Flood Infrastructure Fund Intent to Apply letter for County Stormwater Project CAN1 (Abridged Application No. 13790). Further, direct staff to draft a scope and fee for professional engineering service utilizing the on-call civil engineering program for application development assistance. (Contract No. 2022-0232) (CC Precinct 4)

June 15, 2020 (Item 4-O), the court authorize the submission of four (4) abridged grant applications, as described in the attached backup, to the Texas Water Development Board's Flood Infrastructure Fund Program for Fiscal Year 2020. (Contract No. 2020-0470)