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County updates on $3.9 million Leon River watershed flood‑mitigation study led by Texas A&M affiliate
Summary
County staff described a $3.9 million, multi‑year Leon River watershed study that will produce flood models, groundwater analysis and policy recommendations and said the work could feed early‑warning tools for residents and school districts.
Coryell County Commissioners were briefed on a watershed‑scale flood‑mitigation study funded at about $3.9 million and led by Blackland, part of the Texas A&M AgriLife system.
The project, entered into through an interlocal agreement between the county and ACF, expands to include the Leon River watershed up to Belton Lake Dam and the Cowhouse Creek watershed, county staff said. The study comprises four components: surface‑water flood modeling, a groundwater study that will evaluate underground storage potential, drainage and mitigation engineering, and a policy component to be led by the Bush School at Texas A&M.
Why it matters: County officials said the study will produce a predictive flood model that can plug into county emergency‑management systems and provide early warnings for communities, schools and rural bus routes. Staff said outputs could include maps and timing predictions (for example, when floodwaters will reach Gatesville or Mound), locations suitable for managed groundwater storage, and model products to evaluate the drainage impacts of new development.
Project timeline and partners: Presenters said the effort will run roughly three years, with much of the data collection and modeling expected in the first 18–24 months and a later year devoted to policy work and implementation recommendations. Participants at a recent kickoff included neighboring county judges, GLO representatives and municipal representatives. County staff said the model will be designed to feed the sheriff’s office and other emergency operations tools.
Staff asked whether the court wanted periodic updates; commissioners indicated they wanted the item on future agendas. County staff said they will coordinate schedules for upstream gauge installs and stakeholder briefings as the project’s engineering and modeling produce usable outputs.
Ending: County staff described the study as a long‑term investment in hazard mapping and water‑resource planning and said they will return with periodic updates and opportunities for the court to review interim products.
