OUR PURPOSE
Dedicated to change.
IFCD 3 was formed by the Texas State Legislature in 1983 for the purpose of providing and maintaining necessary flood control and drainage facilities to remove the District area from the 100-year floodplain of the Elm Fork of the Trinity River. The District oversees construction and maintenance of the levee, storm water pump station, canals, ponds and other storm drainage management facilities to protect residents, businesses and their respective assets from the impact of flood-related water damage.
Since its inception, the District has created and maintained the 5.5 miles of waterways and implemented a number of key projects to serve the Valley Ranch Community.
HOW IT WORKS
Standard Pump Station Operations: On a day-to-day basis, the IFCD 3 team monitors and manages the five and a half miles of waterways that collect storm water drainage in the Valley Ranch community.
SERVICE AREA
IFCD 3 serves the nearly 30,000 residents and businesses in the Valley Ranch Community located in Irving, Texas. The District is bordered by Belt Line Rd. and LBJ Freeway on the north and south, and between the City’s recently expanded Sam Houston Trail Park and North Lake on the east and west.
1. MODERATE RAINFALL BELOW 418 FEET
Average rainfall runoff is conveyed to the Elm Fork of the Trinity River through the IFCD 3 sluice gates and gravity discharge allowing the waterways to maintain a stable elevation of approximately 418 feet – average elevation in the Elm Fork is approximately 404 feet.
2. HEAVY RAINFALL OVER 419 FEET
When strong storm systems with heavy rains pass through the area, IFCD 3 staff members carefully monitor water levels. Between 418 – 419 feet, river and lake levels as well as weather conditions are observed and equipment is prepared for operations. Through an alert system, the team is notified when water levels reach 419 feet in the canals and lakes and 415 feet in the Elm Fork.
3. PUMPS ACTIVATED
After prolonged rain events or during strong thunderstorms, IFCD 3 pumping operations are initiated in order to control water levels in the canals and lakes of Valley Ranch. To isolate IFCD 3 waterways from the Elm Fork, pump station sluice gates are closed when the Elm Fork water level reaches an elevation above 418 feet.
