Moore: How CCDD5 mitigates flooding in Harlingen area

HARLINGEN, Texas - Cameron County Drainage District No. 5 has a service area of approximately 40 square miles within Cameron County.The area includes portions of Harlingen, the Town of Combes, Palm Valley and Primera. CCDD5 was established in 1993 as a direct result of the flooding caused by the torrential rainfall of Tropical Depression Two.CCDD5 is responsible for construction, improvements, and maintenance of approximately 70 miles of open drains that transport or convey the storm runoff from floods or heavy rains to the arroyo.It also contracts with the Harlingen Irrigation District No. 1 and with the La Feria Irrigation District #3 for the maintenance of its open drain system; for the excavation of detention ponds; and for the installation of check values on some of our open drains.CCDD5 generates $2.8 million every year in ad valorem revenues that are used to support the operation and maintenance of the drainage district, to provide matching for grants it receives, and to pay for the Flooding Infrastructure Funds (FIF) loans it receives. “The purpose of CCDD5, like all other drainage districts, is to mitigate flooding,” said CCDD5 General Manager Alan Moore. “Flood mitigation, includes but not limited, to reducing flood elevations; to reducing flood damages to residential and commercial properties; to reducing the extent and frequency of flooding; and, to lessening the severity of flooding. It does so by the regular maintenance of its open drains and detention ponds and by building, regrading and upgrading its open drains and detention ponds.”In an effort to better educate the residents that live within the boundaries of CCDD5 on the work of the district, the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service conducted in-depth interviews with Moore and Rolando Vela, the group’s assistant general manager. In this, the first of a three-part podcast series, we ask Moore about CCDD5’s flood mitigation work.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.