To: All interested Agencies, including FEMA, Texas Water Development Board, Travis County/Transportation and Natural Resources, City of Austin/Watershed Protection Department; groups; and individuals
This is to give notice that Travis County has conducted an evaluation as required by Executive Order (E.O.) 11988 in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 Subpart C (Procedures for Making Determinations on Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands) for an activity funded under the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program (grant number GLO 19-281-000-8780) and which is to be located in the 100-year floodplain. The proposed project activity consists of a new drainage structure to be located along approximately 110 linear feet of Crystal Bend Drive, between Crooked Creek Dr and Long Meadow Dr in Austin, Travis County, Texas, to replace the undersized structure at the crossing of Harris Branch Creek. The intent is to eliminate or reduce water from overtopping the roadway at this location.
Travis County considered several alternatives and mitigation measures to minimize adverse impacts and to restore and preserve natural and beneficial values, while improving flooding conditions in the project area. The proposed action must take place in the floodplain, as proposed, in order to prevent potential damage to vehicles and loss of life due to roadway overtopping. All work will be conducted within the existing road right-of-way. Drainage improvements will be designed to obtain the highest conveyance capacity possible while avoiding floodplain impacts (water surface elevation increases) in the 100- and 500-year storm events based on current FEMA regulatory flow rates and floodplain models. The proposed project will not change the capacity of the floodway or cause any change to the floodplain.
The Responsible Entity has reevaluated three alternatives to building in the floodplain and has determined that it has no practicable alternative. Environmental files that document compliance with E.O. 11988, are available for public inspection, review and copying upon request as delineated below.
Written comments must be received by Travis County at the following address on or before August 16, 2021: Travis County, CDBG, P.O. Box 1748, Austin, TX 78767, (512) 854-3460, Attention: Elena Rivera, Project & Environmental Senior Planner. Due to COVID- 19, the project information is not available for in-person review. However, a full description of the project can be downloaded at Project Description-English and Descripción del Proyecto-español. Comments may also be submitted via email at: [email protected].
The full Final Public Notice is available in English and Spanish (español).
