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Waller Creek Flood-Management and Water Quality Improvements

Summary

A flood-diversion tunnel from near W. 15th Street at Waller Creek to Town Lake is being planned. The tunnel will be some 60 feet below the surface and about 22 feet in diameter. The project will result in floodwaters being contained within the existing Waller Creek channel and will allow development near the creek.

Status

The Austin City Council approved the contract for project engineering services on May 20, 1999. Preliminary engineering studies have been underway since that time. A public meeting was held on June 29, 1999 to present the scope of the preliminary engineering investigations. Since that time, the engineering consultant has advised the City that the cost of the project will be greater than estimated in the 1996 study of the project. Supplemental project preliminary engineering studies have been authorized to study additional tunnel alignments and outlet locations in an attempt to determine the most cost-effective project. Another public meeting will be held in mid-March 2000 to discuss the results of the preliminary engineering investigations.

Description

The tunnel will be 22 feet in diameter, approximately 5,500 feet long and will intercept creek flows in Waterloo Park below 15th Street and discharge to Town Lake. The project will remove 42 commercial and residential structures and 12 roadway crossings from the 100-year floodplain.

The natural baseflow (the sustained flow in a stream) of Waller Creek will be preserved and augmented by re-circulation of water through the tunnel, a water quality benefit. The diversion of flood flows will allow development along the banks, which is currently prohibited by floodplain ordinance.

Several tunnel alignments are being studied. All alignments originate near W. 15th and Waller Creek. The alternate alignments will be equally effective relative to reducing the water-surface elevation of Waller Creek during flood flows. One alignment may be less costly than the other and offer other benefits.

Assuming additional funding is authorized, construction can be started in the late summer of 2001 and be completed in two years.

Basic Data

Project Contact: Gary M. Kosut, P.E., Watershed Protection Utility, 499-3374
Estimated Project Cost: $25,000,000 (new estimate available in March 2000)

Revised Janaury 21,2000

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