First bond-funded stormwater project moves forward in Nacogdoches, Texas

(UI) — The City of Nacogdoches, Texas, is preparing to begin construction on its first stormwater drainage project funded through the city's 2023 bond program, according to the Daily Sentinel.

The project is designed to reduce flooding in the Summer Hill neighborhood, where residents have experienced repeated stormwater-related property damage.

City Council approved a $671,363 construction contract for new storm sewers and related drainage infrastructure. Construction is expected to begin following a pre-construction meeting and is anticipated to take about six months, depending on material availability.

The Summer Hill project is the first of more than a dozen drainage improvements planned with proceeds from the $5.9 million drainage bond approved by voters as part of a $43.9 million bond package in 2023.

According to the Daily Sentinel, city officials say additional drainage projects are nearing construction or are in the final stages of design, but available funding remains a limiting factor as infrastructure needs continue to outpace available resources.

The city has also secured additional funding through federal sources, including $1 million in congressional appropriations for drainage improvements, and previously directed $2.2 million in federal pandemic relief funds toward storm sewer reconstruction. Officials are also pursuing state funding to complete a comprehensive drainage study that could help identify broader flood mitigation needs across the city.

City Manager Rick Beverlin said regional drainage planning is important because flooding problems are often influenced by conditions beyond the immediate area where water accumulates. He also noted that Nacogdoches does not charge a drainage impact fee on new development, meaning future infrastructure costs will ultimately need to be covered through grants, developers or the existing tax base.

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