How IFCD 3 Invests in Flood Control

Over the past four decades, IFCD 3 has protected the Valley Ranch community from severe flooding. This protection is mainly thanks to the creation and maintenance of our pump station, canals and equipment, all of which work together to control water levels throughout our community.

In order to continue providing flood control to Valley Ranch for decades to come, it’s extremely important to invest in the right equipment and stay on top of maintenance. During our initial launch in 1983, we strategically invested in high-quality equipment that was made to last. Since then, we’ve continued to invest in industry experts that help us conduct routine maintenance checks on all our equipment and determine when certain items need replacing. Our team’s hard work behind the scenes ensures that our flood control efforts are always working effectively.

Below are a few technical advancements we’ve made since 1983 to ensure our equipment and waterways stay up to date:

  • The construction and launch of a backup source of commercial power for the pump station now allows our team to run the pumps whenever needed, even if the rest of Irving is suffering a power outage.
  • Technical advancements now allow the pumps to be turned on or off remotely, in the rare case that a storm hits while our team is offsite or in the field.
  • In 2021, the IFCD 3 board approved a project to analyze the value of adding a tilting weir dam to our various control methods. To learn more, visit our original post about this flood control method.
  • The one-by-one replacement of the six pumps within our pump station with lighter weight material enables the pumps to turn on and off with less electrical power than the previous pumps.

In-field maintenance projects are also extremely important to our flood control efforts. These projects cover the levee, canals, ponds and other storm drainage management facilities. From reinforcing existing structures to checking for cracks and anomalies along canal walls and inspecting waterways for erosion, maintenance is crucial to keeping the Valley Ranch community free from severe flooding.

As we continue to provide flood control to Valley Ranch, we continue to research new technology, materials and equipment that could make our flood control efforts efficient and effective.

To learn more about IFCD 3 and our mission to deliver flood control to Valley Ranch, explore the rest of our website, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Irving Flood Control District III