Plum Creek Dam Receives American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Funding

Hays County Flood Control Structure Work Protects Urban Area, Helps Local Economy

Temple, TX, April 17, 2009 —Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced $45 million is available to rehabilitate aging flood control structures nationwide. Funding is provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and is part of the Obama Administration’s plans to modernize the nation's infrastructure, jumpstart the economy and create jobs.

“There are many dams and other important flood control structures across the country that are literally in a race against time when it comes to their ability to protect people and property from flooding,” Vilsack said. “This funding is going to projects where there is the greatest risk of infrastructure failure and threat to life and property.

“These projects will not only revitalize dams, they will also revitalize rural economies by creating jobs and supporting local businesses that supply needed products and services,” Vilsack said.

“Upgrading flood control along Plum Creek will protect people and property along the rapidly growing corridor,” said Rep. Lloyd Doggett, a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and House Budget Committee. “This recovery funding will create jobs, promote future development in Hays and Caldwell counties, and reduce the danger from any future flooding.”

The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will deliver this assistance through its Watershed Rehabilitation Program and direct the funding toward the most cost-effective projects with the greatest need. In Texas, the Plum Creek Floodwater Retarding Structure (dam) No. 5 in Hays County near Kyle was chosen for rehabilitation because it does not meet current safety and performance standards due to the age of the dam and urban encroachment. Rehabilitation measures include raising the top of the dam 3.5 feet with earth fill, installing a new 24-inch hooded inlet type principal spillway, connecting the existing principal spillway and new spillway outlets to discharge into a new impact basin, installing a toe drain system, lowering the auxiliary spillway crest 0.4 feet, and installing a splitter dike.

If the dam was to breach, 30,000 cubic yards of earth fill from the dam would move downstream, clogging streams and increasing flooding on roadways. Estimated damages from a catastrophic breach would approach $3 million and the risk of loss of human life would be significant.

“It is estimated that the rehabilitation of Plum Creek Dam No. 5 will create jobs,” said Don Gohmert, NRCS state conservationist for Texas. “Additional jobs will be created by industries supplying or supporting construction activities and the industries that sell goods and services to these workers and their families.”

“As important is extending the lifespan of the dam for another 50 years and continuing to protect lives, homes and businesses from flooding for a growing area of Kyle,” Gohmert said.

State and local sponsors will provide 35 percent of the funding for the project. The Plum Creek Dam No. 5 site sponsors are the Plum Creek Conservation District, Caldwell-Travis Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), and Hays County SWCD.

The rehabilitation of Plum Creek Dam No. 5 is authorized under the authority of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (Public Law 83-566) as amended by the Small Watershed Rehabilitation Amendments of 2000 (Section 313 of Public Law 106-472).
 

Contact

Lori Valadez, 254-742-9811

Steven Bednarz, 254-742-9871

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