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On Dec. 14 the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) met to receive public comment on the administration and use of emergency appropriations provided through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Office of the Governor. Copies of available handouts, agenda and archive of video can be found by visiting the TWDB site.
 
Opening comments

  • Bech Bruun, Chair of TWDB, gave an overview of the MOU and pointed out that the appropriations are emergency appropriations and stands ready to administer funds quickly and effectively.
  • Sen. Kirk Watson appreciates community weighing in on how best to use $6.8 million to protect communities across Texas, hopeful this is just the beginning of renewed state commitment towards flood preparedness.
    • Gave history of funding mechanism and legislation

 
Steve Schultz, Professionally Licensed engineer and father of Laura McComb

  • Speaks on intensity of flooding in hill country in Texas
  • Overall during memorial day floods storm reached 27 feet more than the level it had started out and thankful for the funding brought forward to address flooding
  • His family did not receive warnings of flood and they were forced to ride out storm in the house
  • Did study with CH2M Hill and discussion was on spillway being breached in Canyon Lake, would recommend using that study as a starting point and also thinks sirens could help
  • Flood gages could be improved in Texas and would like to monitor in real time

 
Dr. Robert Mace, TWDB

  • Provided an overview of programs regarding flood planning and services and data available 
  • About 500 flood gages across Texas and provide cooperative funding for some of those gages
  • Present 28 gages shy of monitoring core network but not specifically designed for flood monitoring
  • In some cases a flood can take out a gage
  • Have 115 reservoir gages across the state
  • National Flood Insurance program – is a federal program funded by FEMA but TWDB is charged with coordinating and being part of this program is key
  • Planning grants and project grants also available at federal level
  • Flood protection program – state program but to be able to participate community must be part of the federal program
  • Flood mitigation planning program – at TWDB as well
  • Over $250 million of benefits have been distributed across Texas as a result of the programs
  • TWDB will also assist communities in applications, paperwork process and conduct outreach on flood issues

 
Richard Wade, TWDB- Deputy Executive Admin for Texas Natural Resources Information System

  • Water Code 16.021 – defines role of Texas Natural Resources Information System
  • Provided detail on what TNRIS is doing and outreach efforts which include but not limited to quarterly meetings, take questions directly on website, and working on authoritative data database
  • Because of SB 20, Strategic mapping contract will go through TNRIS and many agencies have partnered together on the program
  • TNRIS also has archival data such as older maps and wants to work with technology to remap state with higher resolution models
  • TWDB member Kathleen Jackson asked if they have a seat at the table during emergencies
    • They do not have a seat at the table but will communicate through and coordinate with SOC (command center)
  • Bech Bruun inquired about real time forecasting
    • The higher resolution the better, LIDAR information, elevation data is extremely critical  

 
Robert Joseph, United State Geological Survey (USGS)

  • Gave a quick overview of the USGS, no regulatory authority or land management responsibilities
  • Has approx.551 gages across the state and are funded through various partnerships
  • Staff goes to site to also take measurements in a wide variety of conditions
  • Bruun inquired about relationship with other river authorities
    • Some river authorities may have their own system in place and that information would not be on the USGS site
  • Out of 550 gages and less than 10% are truly flood harden and used for flooding purposes
  • Real time is data transmitted hourly – but selected sites may be up in 15 min intervals
  • Bruun asked about real time alerts and possibility to build on infrastructure in place
    • There are opportunities there and exploring all the time ways to enhance

 
Mark Null, Hydrologist for National Weather Services

  • Gave overview of what they do at River Forecast Center
  • Posed that as an agency  they need to address how they get information to those coming to Texas to understand more about hydrology and get warnings out to those not familiar with flooding in Texas and messages need to address bilingual audience   
  • Expansion priorities include new gaging at certain sites, develop model simulations at existing gage sites and establish new gaging and new modeling development
  • Asked about real time again – real time could be up to an hour or even more since it is collected every 15 minutes and uploaded every hour but it could be up to two hours, it can be behind possibly one minute type data may be the answer in the future
  • Line of site radio gages installed in Austin give a broadcast straight to GS or emergency manager and does not go up into satellite
  • Bruun asked if real time via radio tower would be more effective in urban vs rural
    • Defers to USGS to answer the question
  • Gages would be priority if they were asked where they should direct resources
  • In regards to request for early warning resources – they get request from emergency managers for flood inundation maps

 
Mike Talbott, Harris County Flood Control

  • Gave overview of district – have 257 gage locations and 975 sensors
    • Most are stream gages but there are some things that relate to transportation, etc
  • Things they have learned – having real time data requires understanding of risk, gathering accurate reliable data, evaluating what data is revealing and action that needs to be taken
  • Factors to consider for gathering data include looking at entire watershed for location, operation and maintenance needs and costs
  • In response to a question on how they issue alerts – they work with the National Weather Service
  • Measurements they do are in one minute intervals, direct line of sight and put up on website
  • Upgrades they are looking at include primarily looking at forecasting capabilities and how to provide better forecasting services to the public

 
David Walker, LCRA Manager of River Operations

  • LCRA operates 6 dams and reservoirs along the Colorado River
  • LCRA mostly concerns itself with flood control and water supply problems
  • Flood management usually means controlling flood waters upstream with dams and eventually passing waters into Lake Travis’ flood storage area, includes monitoring water flow over dams and controlling so damage does not occur
  • Gravel pits, impervious cover, tools used by LCRA to manage river
  • Much of the information used to control river operations cannot be “perfectly known,” depends on specific timeliness and appropriate application of information
  • Reliability and accuracy are thus keys of good flood management, malfunctions most likely when information is most needed
  • Redundancy and good locations for gages are crucial, allows data to be checked for validity
  • Rainfall management should occur before effects ever show up on stream gages
  • Hydromet system helps LCRA manage river, includes a 270 stations that collect and distribute data every 15 minutes, analysts and computer systems interpret and utilize data
  • LCRA utilizes theoretical flow rating in addition to physical measurements to build accurate stream flows
  • Hydromet data is available to public and partner agencies, uses many different types of data collection tools including radar and acoustic tools, incorporates LCRA’s radio communication network
  • LCRA has found division of data and labor to be helpful in flood management, relies on both internal and external data analysis
  • LCRA communication with partner agencies is “robust,” close partnerships exists with emergency management officials and state and national agencies
  • LCRA also uses web-based and radio updates, alerts and links on the LCRA front page, also developed a Google Maps service to display emergency areas and weather
  • LCRA has a “polled” system for data updates, polls data rather than having it automatically sent; automatic sending has problems with data collision and continuous power requirements
  • Bruun comments that he uses Hydromet to track Onion Creek in Buda

 
Kevin Shunk, Floodplain Administrator, City of Austin

  • 1981 flood started major flood response initiative by Austin
  • Watershed Protection Department helps manage and monitor flood conditions, has full backing of city council
  • Austin breaks flood management into 3 key areas; Education, Technical Information, and Continued Funding are crucial to managing flood conditions
  • Education
    • Education action includes neighborhood meetings, poster and calendar distribution, and student outreach
    • “FloodPro” is Austin’s website flood management tool, allows people to type in their address and see the flood risk alerts, etc. in their area
    • Radio messaging and web advertisements have also been effective, radio messages can go out within a few-hours notice
    • Atxfloods.com is another useful tool, region wide service that details road closures and flood conditions, could fit across the state
  • Technical Information
    • Mostly for emergency personal and responders, Austin has detailed maps and models for 3/4ths of the city, adequate funding is very important for this
    • Models and maps help Austin analyze flood conditions
    • Flood warning system is “fantastic,” rain and stream gages throughout Austin and partnership with USGS works in flood forecasting software to create models of flood conditions
    • ATX Floods Alerts is a subscription service specific to Austin, allows Austin to send warnings and information as much as needed, can warn earlier than if Austin is relying on other services
  • Continued Funding
    • Dedicated staff help immensely for Austin’s flood management, training is essential
    • Technology upgrades are required to keep accurate and useful flood information
    • Partners are also very important, National Weather Service, USGS, LCRA, TFMA, regions, etc. are vital in discussions over flood preparedness and management
  • Jackson asks if Austin has any active flood mitigation projects
    • Yes, includes improving roadways, also includes projects like the Lower Onion Creek Buyout Project where Austin buys homes in flood-prone areas
  • Bruun asks how projects are funded
    • Depends on the project, some small ones are funded with city funds, larger projects like buyout projects are assisted by federal matching funds

 
Mayor Steve Thurber, Wimberley, Texas

  • Urges board to invest “significant” portion of funding to updating stream gages in the Wimberley area
  • Wimberley typically relies on “Old Timers” network to inform Wimberley of flood conditions
  • First responders have to guess as to the arrival of flood waters based off of “Old Timers” network information
  • 4 stream gages have been funded as of today on the Blanco River, gages are to be shared by all affected cities
  • Real time rainfall data is critical in flood prediction
  • Urges board to fund outreach and information management programs, including updated flood maps and evacuation procedures
  • Gages and information programs are the most effective use of funds for cities like Wimberley

 
Bill West, General Manager, GBRA

  • River Forecast Center in Fort Worth is the federal entity responsible for forecasting river flow
  • Evacuation on anticipated floods that do not actually occur is costly and time consuming
  • Forecasts without rainfall data and gage flow data is premature and unreliable, river forecast center needs all of the help available to give
  • Rural watershed management requires different information than urban watershed management
  • Proposal by city of Wimberley is “barebones,” of which only a portion has been funded
  • Good portion of the $6.8 million should be dedicated to enhancing weather and river forecast data to help the river forecast center, gages and other tools are important
  • GBRA would like to have some say on allocation of funds
  • Bruun asks if $175,000 allocation on GBRA proposal includes already funded gages
    • $175,000 is for additional gages

 
Travis Barnett, Parkhill, Smith, & Cooper

  • Discussion is important, $6.8 million should be the beginning
  • Urges board to seek ways to spend money in other regions of the state that experience flash flooding, Hill Country is not the only region with issues
  • Urges board to find way to involve engineers to look at funding proposals from technical standpoint

 
Richard Meyrick, Merrick Engineering

  • Merrick was responsible for floodplain mapping for New Braunfels in 2002
  • Urges board to carve a piece of funding for additional flood management and warning research
  • Radar information for floodplain prediction could be very valuable, research funding would help develop such tools

 
Steve Graham, Assistant General Manager, SARA

  • SARA has partnered with TWDB for a number of years
  • Bexar County invested $13 million dollars for mapping around 2005
  • “Floodworks” is the Bexar county forecast system
  • Flood prediction requires some position downstream and usually requires some lag time to make accurate forecasts, communities positioned upstream may only get accurate predictions hours out
  • Differing data formats between entities that monitor and forecast is a problem, developing a data format could help greatly for computer modeling and information sharing
  • River forecast center is the best way for rural communities to get accurate flood prediction data
  • SARA shares information with the National Weather Service, but SARA also makes different types of predictions than River Forecast Center and is looking at ways to disseminate to the public

 
David Maidment, UT of Austin faculty and member of National Flood Interoperability Experiment

  • Working with Texas Advance Computing Center (TACC) to develop system with forecasting capabilities
  • Forecast could range from a few hours ahead to a few days ahead
  • They are working on phase II of this study
  • Data will be put into national system in Maryland

 
Jessica Baker, President of Texas Floodplain Management Association (TFMA)

  • Wants to support TWDB and supportive of Governor actions
  • Supports funding of gages that were discussed today
  • Would also like them to consider a very strong outreach and public education component with notification component
  • Three top priories they have identified: increase support and training for local flood plain administrators, public outreach and education component, and mitigation (continue to increase support for flood mitigation programs)

 
Kurt Wall, RFID Center and Global Water Group

  • Problems with water include fracking but they have solved that problem but cannot mention name of who they worked with
  • Marsh land is also a problem but worked on that issue
  • Would like to offer his services to help lead a team

 
John Graf, Synergy Concepts Corporation 

  • Works with state and agencies/universities on developing systems
  • Cannot talk about his military work but sees certain social communication methods being corrupted and says information needs to be on private network and encrypted
  • Also noted need for experienced staff and look for talent in own backyard

 
Closing comments: TWDB members thanks those who testified and noted that TWDB will continue to accept comments online 

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