Flood Early Warning System
“Floods are the leading cause of natural-disaster losses in the United States. Although loss of life to floods during the past half-century has declined, in part because of improved warning systems, economic losses have continued to rise with increased urbanization in flood-hazard areas throughout the Nation (U.S. Geological Survey, 2006).”
Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District (BCRAGD) was awarded grant funds from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) for the installation of an Flood Early Warning System (FEWS) on the Medina River. The USGS will be developing a flood warning tool set for use by Bandera County Emergency Services and the general public during rainfall events. There will be additional gauges and high-intensity rainfall gauges installed, from which a hydraulic model will be developed to create a flood atlas and an interactive flood inundation map that has predictive properties.
Along with the grant funds provided by the TWDB, contributions have also been made by Bandera County government, and the Economic Development Committee from the City of Bandera.
The grant was awarded for a three-year period of funding, at which time a formal report will be submitted to the TWDB on the development and success of the Flood Early Warning System (FEWS). Within those three years BCRAGD will be hosting public meetings to discuss the development of the project and to give updates. The dates and times for the public meetings will be posted on the BCRAGD website.
Flood Preparedness Resources
Streamgage Data
- USGS National Water Information System https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/
- North Prong gage at Brewington Creek https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/inventory/?site_no=08178861
- West Prong gage at Carpenter Creek Road https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/inventory/?site_no=08178871
- Bandera gage https://waterdata.usgs.gov/tx/nwis/inventory/?site_no=08178880
- USGS Texas Water Dashboard https://txpub.usgs.gov/txwaterdashboard/
- USGS WaterAlert https://water.usgs.gov/wateralert/
- USGS Water On-The-Go https://txpub.usgs.gov/water-onthego/
- USGS Twitter
#TX RainWatch https://twitter.com/USGS_TexasRain
#TX FloodWatch https://twitter.com/USGS_TexasFlood
#USGS[streamgage number] (e.g. #USGS08178880)
- National Weather Service River Forecast – only available for Bandera gage (USGS gage number 08178880, NWIS identifier BDAT2) https://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=ewx&gage=bdat2
Flood Inundation Maps
- InFRM FDST: Interagency Flood Risk Management Flood Decision Support Toolbox
https://webapps.usgs.gov/infrm/fdst/or infrm.us
- USGS FIM: US Geological Survey Flood Inundation Mapper https://wimcloud.usgs.gov/apps/FIM/FloodInundationMapper.html
Scientific Investigation Report
- Flood Inundation Mapping Scientific Investigation Report https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20195067
- Flood Inundation Mapping Fact Sheet https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/fs20193043
- USGS Data Release (Flood Inundation Map GIS files) https://doi.org/10.5066/P9WYD6LS
Public Hearings/Meetings
On January 12, 2017 BCRAGD held a Public Hearing on the Flood Early Warning System
On March 30, 2017 BCRAGD held a Public Meeting on the Flood Early Warning System
On October 28, 2017 BCRAGD held a Flash Flood Public Information Meeting
On January 4, 2018 BCRAGD held a USGS Flood Tool Set Status Meeting
On February 20, 2018 BCRAGD held a USGS Flood Tool Set Status Meeting
On February 20, 2018 BCRAGD held a USGS Flood Tool Set Status Meeting
On November 28, 2018 BCRAGD held an informational Public Meeting on the Flood Early Warning System
On February 26, 2019 BCRAGD held a Public Meeting on Medina River Flood Early Warning System
On February 26, 2019 BCRAGD held a Public Meeting on Upper Sabinal River Flood Early Warning System
Local Flash Flood Information Resources
Click below on parts 1-3 for a presentation by the National Weather Service given on October 28, 2017 at the Flash Flood Public Information Meeting.
Part 1 NWS Bandera County Flash Flood Training 2017
Part 2 NWS Bandera County Flash Flood Training 2017
Part 3 NWS Bandera County Flash Flood Training 2017
Click below for the latest update of the Flood Warning Project, presented by BCRAGD in cooperation with USGS on October 28, 2017 at the Flash Flood Public Information Meeting.
Oct 28 2017 Flash Flood Public Information Meeting Presentation