EPR celebrates the completion of a successful technical assistance effort, helping communities plan for flood resilience and hazard mitigation in Liberty and Wharton Counties in Texas. EPR is very proud of our long-term relationship with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; in this case, partnering with EPA Region 6 and our frequent partners on all things environmental engineering, Tetra Tech.
Flooded underpass in Dayton, Texas.
Using EPA’s Flood Resilience for Riverine and Coastal Communities toolkit, EPR and Tetra Tech led a series of workshops helping Liberty and Wharton Counties, including the cities of Liberty, Dayton, Wharton, and El Campo, plan for continued recovery from Hurricane Harvey in 2017, and the environmental impacts of continued growth in the Houston metropolitan area. The technical assistance workshops, conducted virtually due to the COVID pandemic, included planning, administration, and public works representatives from each of these communities, as well as representatives from EPA, FEMA, and the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and covered topics including:
- Drainage Needs Assessment
- Levee Certification
- No-Adverse-Impact Floodplain Management Policies
- The Community Rating System
- Comprehensive Planning
- Funding Opportunities
Working collaboratively with local staff, these workshops produced action plans to mitigate future flood impacts in Liberty and Wharton Counties. These plans will incorporate into mandated Hazard Mitigation Plans and reduce flood risk to life and property using both local and available grant funds.
Top Photo: Colorado River flooding; Wharton County, Texas. Photo Credit: ABC13 Houston