Farmers Branch stormwater engineer outlines floodplain, drainage and water-quality work

Eric Mueller, the city’s stormwater engineer, told the Farmers Branch Sustainability Committee that his office balances FEMA floodplain requirements, local drainage criteria, capital projects and stormwater-quality permits as part of a single program funded by the city’s stormwater utility.

Mueller said the city helps enforce FEMA floodplain maps so residents can participate in the National Flood Insurance Program. "If we didn't participate in that, then our citizens would not have access to flood insurance, which would be a very bad thing," he said. He described local drainage rules and a stormwater criteria manual used to size sewers, set detention requirements and guide capital improvements.

The nut graf: The presentation explained how the city pays for drainage projects through a stormwater utility fee, how billing is based on impervious area, and how compliance with state and federal permits drives water-quality work — framing why the committee’s interest in green infrastructure and public…