El Paso County Stormwater Master Plan

 County Stormwater Master Plan
For more information about the County Stormwater Master Plan, contact Stormwater Engineering at (915) 594-5684 or email cerubio@epwu.org.

City of El Paso Master Plan: Improving the System

 Stormwater Master Plan
 Master Plan Community Advisory Committee Report

The El Paso Stormwater Master Plan, approved by the Public Service Board and City Council in 2009, lays out capital improvement projects that will prepare the city for major rain events. The projects are financed through cash funding and bonds.

In the first three years, these master plan projects will improve flood control in Central, East, Mission Valley, Northeast and Northwest watersheds. More than 50 percent of the community's flood risk will be addressed or reduced. Typical improvements include the following:

• Additional retention ponds
• Expanded street inlets
• Enlarged culverts
• Reservoir expansion
• Additional storm drains
• Enlarging culvert crossings and road underpasses
• Channel lining

The master plan study evaluated all areas of the city, but focused on areas where flood risk is particularly high. This focus on major threats produced a more cost-effective and useful plan. Ultimately, about 100 projects are recommended, in addition to another $80 million in localized flooding issues recommended by EPWU staff. The total cost of improvements is estimated at $650 million.

The Stormwater Master Plan Community Advisory Committee, established by EPWU, proved an integral part of the process. The committee reviewed the proposed three-year plan and recommended its adoption as a reasonable, balanced and cost-effective approach to addressing El Paso's flood and drainage issues faced.

The master plan uses standards consistent with those used by other communities in Texas and the Southwest, and as a result it was well received by regulators, insurers, infrastructure fanciers and other parties. Along with the improvements made after Storm 2006, the master plan forms the basis of significant reduction to flood risk, economic, transportation and health and safety issues in the El Paso community.

Stormwater Master Plan Projects

Completed

• Basin G Excavation (create wetland by adding additional storage)
• Basin G Drain and Culvert Improvements (regrade drain to deliver flow from Playa Drain and Mesa Drain)
• Cebada Outfall Clearing and Relocating Facilities Phase I (remove trash and debris; relocate utilities; Alameda Ave to I-10)
• Cebada Outfall Conduit Clearance Phase II
• Electric Ditch Improvements (increase capacity; install box culverts; widen ditch)
• Featherlake II Basin (create wetland by adding additional storage)
• Government Hills Inlets and Crossings (construct new inlets and crossings added to improve drainage on four streets)
• Lee Trevino Drainage Improvements Phase I (install drainage pipeline and inlets: James Watt, Pellicano and Ability)
• RV Channel Improvements (reconstruct non-functioning earthen channel)
• Lee Trevino Drainage Improvements Phase II (drainage improvements along Lee Trevino from Jesuit Basin to Vista Del Sol)
• Mesa Drain Improvements (widen ditch)
• Van Buren Dam Rehabilitation (raise level)

Under Design and Construction

• Northeast Channel 2 Improvements (increase capacity; line with concrete; upgrade intake structures)
• Doniphan Ditch Improvements (widen ditch)
• Magnolia-Piedras Force Main and Pump Station (new stormwater force main and related piping from I-10 and Magnolia to Rio Grande; new pump to relieve flooding of Magnolia watershed area)
• Copia Pond