Dams Saved Texas About $40 Million in Flood Damage Costs

TEMPLE (USDA) –  Rainfall totals of 15 to 20 inches were documented across Texas last month, making it the wettest May on record. Many areas received more than their average annual rainfall last month alone.

According to the National Weather Service in Fort Worth, over 35 trillion gallons of rain fell across the state, which is enough to cover all of Texas in eight inches of water.

While the rains did provide much-needed drought relief, the downpours damaged roads and bridges, stranded motorists, and were responsible for a reported 27 deaths.

However, the 2,041 watershed dams across the state helped prevent further road and bridge damage, crop and livestock loss, and home damage.

"The more than 2,000 dam sites across the state that were affected by the rainfall provided at least $40 million in estimated damage reduction benefits from storms throughout the month of May," said Lori Ziehr with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.

According to Ziehr, the state would have realized an additional $20 million in damage reduction if the 266 planned dams awaiting funding had been built.

Watershed dams capture raging floodwaters and hold it, releasing it slowly downstream. Slowing the water’s velocity greatly reduces flood damage.

The structures also annually provide over $140 million in benefits to Texas, including improved recreation, water supplies and wildlife habitat.

Ziehr will talk more about this on tomorrow’s Real Estate Red Zone podcast.