Study: Flooding in Central Texas to increase

Flooding is expected to become more frequent in Central Texas, and the Watershed Protection Department wants to make sure that Austinites are aware of the potential impacts of this fact. Atlas 14 is a study conducted by the National Weather Service that analyzes historical rainfall data to hypothesize future rainfall and storm patterns in the United States, and NWS is currently working on an update for the Texas area. While  official web publication of the data is due in the fall, the preliminary numbers predict an increase in the severity and intensity of storms in Central Texas in the future, as well as heightened severe flooding in the area. Therefore, Watershed Protection will be revising its flood plain regulations to bring them more in line with the knowledge of this new data. The department will be holding two informational meetings to share and gather input on the anticipated changes to the regulations and flooding in Austin in general. The first meeting is Tuesday, July 17, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the Carver Branch Library, and the second is on Thursday, August 2, from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Town Lake Center – Assembly Room 130. The second meeting will build on the first, so the department suggests attending both, if possible.