Breaking Down IFCD3’s Do’s and Don’ts

Our name, Irving Flood Control District #3, can be confusing to some. Sure, we address flood control in District #3 of Irving, but how exactly do we control flooding? Below, we’re going to explain what we do, and don’t do, when it comes to flooding.

First, a quick history lesson: When Congress passed Section 201 of the Flood Control Act of 1965, it gave the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permission to conduct waterway projects in more than 30 locations across the nation. The goal? Design and build navigation, flood control and shore protection across the U.S. to protect against natural disasters. The outcome? Changes to the shape and path of multiple rivers, basins and flood plains across Texas, including those that once dominated Dallas-Fort Worth.

As these projects were completed throughout the late 1900s, they allowed for communities to be built in areas that previously were unsafe to live in due to flooding. In 1983, the Texas State Legislature formed IFCD 3 to do just this: provide and maintain necessary flood control and drainage facilities to make Irving fit for residential communities.

Flash forward to today, IFCD 3 uses engineering methods to control water levels throughout Valley Ranch. By controlling the water levels in our five-and-a-half-mile network of canals, waterways and structures, we’re able to prevent flooding, protecting you and your property during severe weather.

Now, back to our Do’s and Don’ts… We DO control flooding and water levels throughout Valley Ranch’s waterways through building and maintaining the levee, dams and reservoirs, and planting vegetation along waterways, to minimize erosion.

We sometimes get asked about floodplain restoration and if that’s part of our job. The simple answer is no, we DON’T. Restoration and flood control are quite the opposite of each other! In fact, if we restored the Trinity River’s flood path that once ran through Irving, there would be no Valley Ranch to live in, because it would be underwater.

For more information about our history and our role in our local community, visit ifcd3.org, or visit our Facebook and Twitter pages.