Creeks and Canals… They’re all about the Function

Visitors and newcomers to Valley Ranch can’t help but see the wide range of water structures throughout the community, from small creeks and canals to ponds and other waterways. They’re so prevalent, we chose to name our blog WaterWays.

While these features provide a unique backdrop for work, play and other daily activities, IFCD 3 facilities serve a critical function for the community.

Unknown to many and not overly obvious to the untrained eye, most of the land within Valley Ranch once had been part of the river bottom of the Elm Fork of the Trinity River and labelled a 100-year flood plain, as defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). However, when the area was being eyed for development in the early 1980s, this designation created a challenge. Lenders financing the construction and sale of buildings require special flood insurance coverage for structures located in flood plains, which can be costly.

Fortunately, installation of flood control facilities that apply certified and accredited practices in the management of stormwater to meet government standards provided a less expensive alternative to mandated flood insurance for Valley Ranch. Through creation of a flood control district by the Texas Legislature in 1983 and the subsequent work of several entities, the 3.5-mile IFCD 3 Levee and Pump Station were constructed. This project reclaimed the area that is now Valley Ranch from the 100-year floodplain, removed the floodplain designation from the FEMA maps and paved the way for development. Today, IFCD 3 delivers an engineered solution that’s served the community for more than three decades.

Canals, water structures, drainage features and stormwater inlets on streets throughout Valley Ranch connect with existing creeks and streams to direct water to IFCD 3 facilities that transfer water by gravity through flood gates or, in the case of major precipitation, by pumps to the Elm Fork of the Trinity.

Performance of these facilities has been proven numerous times. In 2015, for example, heavy and sustained rain fell late in the week leading up to Memorial Day weekend. Without the presence of IFCD 3 facilities, the amount and duration of rain that caused dumpsters to be floating down the Elm Fork would have resulted in an average of 36 inches of standing water across every square foot of land in the community. Yet, District facilities designed, maintained and operated to handle such events resulted in no flooding in Valley Ranch.

While creeks and canals may appear to exist to add attractiveness to the community, these features are in place for a single purpose – delivering flood control that benefits all in Valley Ranch. They essentially provide yet another example of the often truncated, misappropriated phrase coined by the early 20th century architect Louis Sullivan.

“Form (ever) follows function.”