Hidalgo drainage district summarizes 'Rainbow Drain' Restore Act work, urges local oversight for next phase

Hidalgo County Drainage District No. 1 briefed the Willacy County Commissioners Court on Oct. 23 about ongoing work to restore the Rainbow Drain and related lateral projects and the next steps for federal funding.

"It's a two‑fold project," the district's general manager said, describing the Restore Act (bucket 1) work and a separate lateral G project. The manager said the Restore Act allocation for the local footprint totaled $7,000,000 but third‑party construction estimates approached $13,000,000, prompting the district to seek certification from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and approvals from the Treasury to self‑perform restoration work so the project could proceed within the available budget.

Why it matters: commissioners were told the project covers roughly 62 miles of channel, with about 67–70% of the benefit falling inside Willacy County. The district described a mix of regional and localized measures — new channels, a 270‑acre detention facility, pump structures and control structures at the county line — intended to move water more efficiently and reduce localized flooding during severe rain events.

The district said it is near completion of a feasibility study required for congressional funding and is weighing two federal funding approaches commonly described in the briefing as "section 203" and "section 204." Section 203 would put the federal government in charge of contracting with a 65/35 reimbursement model but with less local control; the district said it prefers a section 204 approach that would allow local control, local bidding and phased work. The district told the court it expects to submit its feasibility report by January to position the project for a 2026 funding cycle.

Next steps and county role: the presenter said final specifications were accepted and that the Water Development Board requires additional documentation because this hybrid delivery model (district as contractor) is atypical for the board. One specific condition noted by the Water Development Board is that Willacy County must hire an independent construction oversight team because the district would be both designer/manager and performing construction. The district estimated roughly 60 days of board review after submission and said legal counsels are working together to complete required forms.

Costs and commitments: the district described the Restore Act element as a $2.8 million local project for a specified segment with a 50/50 reimbursement arrangement returning funds to the district for in‑house work. The presenter acknowledged unknowns — site washouts, maintenance needs and the long timeframe for large earthwork — and said the district will continue routine maintenance in partnership with Delta Irrigation District.

What comes next: commissioners thanked the presenter and asked for follow‑up on paperwork and oversight details. The district provided contact names and said staff are available for site visits and coordination. The county will review paperwork from the Water Development Board and the district's feasibility submission before authorizing any formal county commitments to construction oversight or land purchases.

Provenance: Presentation and discussion began when Hidalgo County Drainage District No. 1 was introduced to the court and continued through the district's closing remarks (transcript discussion concentrated in the court's line item 6 presentation).