The Flood Plan will provide updated floodplain mapping and mitigation alternatives for portions of Travis County.
About the Plan
Travis County, in collaboration with the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), is developing a Master Flood Plan for the County that includes:
- Evaluating flood mitigation alternatives for areas of southeast Travis County
- Updating floodplain maps for Western Travis County based on updated Atlas 14 rainfall data provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- Gathering information about existing drainage structures and bridges
- Developing a database of low-water crossings
The Plan builds off previous efforts initiated by the County and the City of Austin and is broken up into three tasks that once completed, will provide updated floodplain mapping and mitigation alternatives for portions of the County.
Virtual Open House
Travis County is hosting a virtual open house from Thursday, May 30 to Friday, June 21, 2024, to share more information about the Western Travis County Floodplain Study and collect input from County residents. Please visit the virtual open house and provide your feedback by Friday, June 21, 2024.
You can also submit comments by email to [email protected] or by mail to Travis County MFP, P.O. Box 5459, Austin, TX 78763.
Print the comment form (link to PDF)
Si necesita materiales en español, por favor llame al 512-900-4330 o envíe un correo electrónico a [email protected]
Study Background
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) completed a historical rainfall study for the United States in 2018, called Atlas 14, to create a more accurate picture of rainfall estimates. The study included rainfall estimates from past major events including the Tropical Storm Hermine in 2010, Blanco River Memorial Day Flood in 2015, Hurricane Harvey in 2017, and many other local flooding events that impacted Texas between 1994 and 2017.
Rainfall data is used to define flood risk and to analyze and design stormwater infrastructure such as bridges, culverts, channels, storm drainage systems, and detention facilities. The Atlas 14 rainfall data for the County shows approximately 3 – 3.5 inches of increase in the 24-hour 1% annual chance event. The 1% annual chance flood event has a 1 in 100 probability of occurring in any given year.
To address the growth in flood risk, Travis County has partnered with the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) for a Flood Infrastructure Fund (FIF) Category 1 grant to develop the Master Flood Plan for the County.
For more details, please reference the FAQ Sheet.
Key Tasks Timeline
Task 1: Assessing mitigation alternatives for southeast Travis County
Summer 2023 – Fall 2024
More information on Task 1 will be available at a later time.
Task 2: Updating floodplain maps for Western Travis County watersheds
Summer 2023 – Early 2025
Task 2 includes a floodplain study that will help the County identify existing flood risks based on the most recent Atlas 14 rainfall data and provide the County and Cities with better data to help with the implementation of flood damage prevention measures.
The County is engaging with County residents to gain insights and experiences related to flooding of creeks and rivers in the study area and to keep residents informed of the latest floodplain maps.
Two rounds of public meetings are planned for Task 2 of the study:
- Round 1: Virtual Open House feedback – May 30 to June 21, 2024:
- Round 2: In-person Public Meetings – tentatively planned for early 2025
Task 3: Evaluating low water crossings across the County
Summer 2024 – Spring 2025
More information on Task 3 will be available at a later time.
Come back soon to learn about upcoming events.
