Here's how El Paso will battle storm flooding in 2 city neighborhoods

Martha Pskowski, El Paso Times
·2 min read
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Two stormwater projects in El Paso will receive $7.8 million in funding from the federal infrastructure law, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (D-El Paso) announced Jan. 19.

The Army Corps of Engineers will partner with El Paso Water on design and construction for the priority projects. The Northgate Diversion Channel received $4.05 million and the Clardy Fox Pump Station received $3.8 million.

“Last year, our region saw record amounts of rainfall which led to devastating stormwater damage," Escobar said. "Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Army Corps of Engineers can continue its successful collaboration with El Paso Water to use $7.8 million to repair and improve our stormwater infrastructure, mitigate future rainfall events, and strengthen our community’s resilience to climate change."

Julian Baez, from left, Alicia Rodriguez, center, and Joshua Baez, right, load sandbags at the El Paso Water Northeast Stormwater Operations Center Tuesday, June 29, 2021, in El Paso.
Julian Baez, from left, Alicia Rodriguez, center, and Joshua Baez, right, load sandbags at the El Paso Water Northeast Stormwater Operations Center Tuesday, June 29, 2021, in El Paso.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed into law Nov. 15, 2021, allocates $55 billion to drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure across the country.

More: El Paso's monsoon season brought relief from drought, caused disaster preparedness challenges

Northgate Diversion Channel, Clardy Fox Pump Station priority for EP Water

El Paso Water operates the city's stormwater utility, created following damaging rainstorms in 2006.

The record monsoon rains during 2021 caused flooding in many El Paso neighborhoods. El Paso Water identified numerous stormwater projects as priorities following the rains.

On Jan. 12, the Public Service Board voted in favor of increasing the stormwater fee by 9% starting March 1. According to El Paso Water, with the fee increase, the recommended monthly fee for the typical residential customer will be $4.92, an increase of 41 cents.

Eduardo Ceja prepares for more rain and thunderstorms by picking up sandbags at the El Paso Water Stormwater Operations Center Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, in El Paso.
Eduardo Ceja prepares for more rain and thunderstorms by picking up sandbags at the El Paso Water Stormwater Operations Center Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, in El Paso.

The El Paso Water stormwater master plan describes the Northgate Diversion Channel as an earthen channel in the foothills of the Franklins used to divert runoff from the mountains into the Northgate Dam. The channel protects residential areas near Hondo Pass from flooding. The master plan says erosion from the 2006 monsoon storms "resulted in a failure of the downstream embankment of this channel causing flooding of downstream properties."

The Clardy Fox Pump Station has also been identified as a priority project since the 2006 monsoon season. The low-laying Clardy Fox neighborhood, alongside Route 375, is prone to flooding.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is also conducting a $3 million feasibility study on flooding in the Central El Paso watershed.

Staff writer Martha Pskowski may be reached at mpskowski@elpasotimes.com and @psskow on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso neighborhoods will see flood relief from stormwater projects