The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District and the City of Wharton, Texas, celebrated the official beginning of their Colorado River Levee Project Phase 1 with a groundbreaking ceremony in Wharton, November 29, 2023.
Representatives from the USACE Galveston District, the City of Wharton, the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDoT), Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) Railroad, the Lewisville Aquatic Environmental Research Facility (LAERF), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gathered at Dinosaur Park in Wharton to kick off construction of the project.
“The Wharton Colorado River Levee Project Phase 1 is not just a regular construction and earth moving endeavor,” said Col. Rhett Blackmon, USACE Galveston District’s commander. “It’s another testament to the Texas spirit, resilience, vision, and unity of a community that is literally part of the founding and fabric of Texas.”
The project will address Wharton’s significant flooding issues due to its proximity to the Colorado River, Caney Creek, Baughman Slough, Peach Creek, and low elevations across the region, Blackmon said. Roughly three quarters of Wharton’s area lies on a 1% (100 year) floodplain. This means 75% of the city is covered in water during a flood event that has a 1% chance of being equaled or exceeded each year.
Wharton averages 42 inches of annual rainfall, Blackmon continued, which worsens flooding in its flat, fertile farming areas. Additional water from the Gulf of Mexico’s tropical storms adds to the city’s flooding challenges.
The city’s continued growth presents even more drainage concerns and risks associated with persistent flooding, Blackmon said.
“This groundbreaking is a celebration of Wharton’s strong community spirit. That spirit was highlighted when the area was devastated by Hurricane Harvey in 2017,” Blackmon said. “With more than a third of all homes and buildings damaged by flood waters, this community stood strong and looked to the future. It is a testament to what can be achieved when people come together and attempt what others might believe impossible.”
The overall project’s flood risk mitigation design consists of four main features: Colorado River Phase 1; Colorado River Phase 2; Baughman Slough; and Santa Fe Ditch, which was completed last year.
“These elements will work harmoniously to provide flood protection for Wharton, addressing specific constraints—such as environmental values—and preserving visibility of the Colorado River from the historic business district,” Blackmon said.
Colorado River Phase 1 of the project will result in almost 12,350 feet of new levee system and five interior water collection sumps.
Construction of the Colorado River Levee Project Phase 1 was awarded—at $48.2 million—on June 23, 2023, and is scheduled for completion in December 2025.
Combined, the project is authorized to construct approximately 30,650 feet of new earthen levees, 1,700 feet of floodwall, and 9,700 feet of channel widening, among other associated features. When all phases are completed, the project will help mitigate against damaging floods experienced by the city.
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