By Natalie Frels
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March 28, 2025
To view the unique discover, click on right here. To: All Companies Teams and People Date of publication: March twenty eighth, 2025 That is to present discover that the Texas Normal Land Workplace (GLO) will conduct an analysis as required by Govt Order 11990 and Govt Order 11988, in accordance with HUD laws at 24 CFR 55.20 in Subpart C Procedures for Making Determinations on Floodplain Administration and Safety of Wetlands to find out the potential impact that Hays County single household catastrophe restoration Home-owner Reimbursement Program (HRP) and Home-owner Help Program (HAP) actions in wetlands and surrounding Federal Flood Threat Administration Commonplace (FFRMS) floodplains can have on the human surroundings. The GLO was allotted HUD funding to assist handle unmet housing wants because of the 2024 Texas extreme storms and flooding, together with Hurricane Beryl (Beryl). On Could 15, 2024, a request was declared for a significant catastrophe on account of extreme storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding starting on April 26, 2024, and continued for a number of weeks. From July 5 to July 9, 2024, Beryl precipitated in depth wind harm, flooding, and energy outages throughout a number of areas, notably alongside the Texas Gulf Coast and inland communities. Wind gusts exceeding 90 mph and rainfall totals surpassing 15 inches in some areas led to important harm to properties, infrastructure, and companies. The State of Texas Neighborhood Growth Block Grant Catastrophe Restoration (CDBG-DR) will fund two residential housing packages for eligible county residents whose properties sustained harm from the 2024 disasters. The HAP gives funding primarily for low-to-moderate-income owners with direct development help for storm-impacted owner-occupied single-family residential housing. The actions coated by this program embrace demolition, rehabilitation, reconstruction, manufactured home substitute, or new development and their related elevation, mitigation, utility, website enhancements, and relocation help, as wanted. The HRP gives funding for low to moderate-income owner-occupied single-family housing (together with manufactured housing). It permits owners to be reimbursed for sure out-of-pocket bills together with Small Enterprise Administration catastrophe residence loans, incurred for repairs to their dwelling together with elevation, wells and septic wants, reconstruction, rehabilitation, manufactured home substitute, and mitigation. The dimensions of the proposed website, proposed variety of models, and challenge footprint usually are not at present recognized, nevertheless, as particular websites are recognized, they are going to be assessed for potential impacts associated to land use, floodplains, and wetlands. Mitigation measures might be utilized as needed to attenuate opposed results. Inside Hays County, Federal Emergency Administration Company (FEMA) efficient maps embrace 26,763 acres (6.2%) within the 100-year floodplain Particular Flood Hazard Space (SFHA) Zones A/AE/AO, 11,808 acres (2.7%) within the regulatory floodway, and 0 acres (0%) throughout the Coastal Excessive Hazard Areas Zone V/VE. Zone X encompasses 5,689 acres (1.3%) of Hays County throughout the 500-year floodplain and 388,631 acres (89.9%) of Hays County exterior all SFHA-designated floodplains. Roughly 7,052 acres (1.6%) inside Hays County are designated as wetlands. This contains freshwater emergent wetlands, freshwater forested/shrub wetlands, freshwater ponds, lakes, and riverine wetlands. The extent of the FFRMS floodplain might be decided at a site-specific stage utilizing the 0.2 % flood method (0.2PFA) or the freeboard worth method (FVA) when applicable. As well as, siting throughout the Restrict of Reasonable Wave Motion (LiMWA)/Coastal A Zone might be decided on the site-specific stage. Actions throughout the LiMWA will carry the identical mitigation and safety technique as siting inside a coastal high-hazard space (Zone V/VE). The floodplains and wetlands inside Hays County serve necessary environmental capabilities that contribute to the county’s ecological well being and group resilience. These areas present floodwater storage and conveyance, serving to to soak up and gradual floodwaters, which reduces downstream flooding and protects close by properties and infrastructure. Moreover, they help groundwater recharge and discharge, sustaining native water provides and sustaining the bottom circulation of rivers and streams. The pure vegetation inside these floodplains and wetlands additionally performs a key function in erosion management, stabilizing soils, and stopping sedimentation in waterways. Moreover, these areas contribute to water high quality upkeep by filtering pollution and sediments, in the end enhancing each human and ecological well being. In inland counties, they assist regulate watershed well being, agricultural water retention, and riparian connectivity, guaranteeing the soundness of native water programs and ecosystems. Past their ecological significance, these floodplains and wetlands maintain intrinsic values that profit the group. They supply leisure alternatives comparable to climbing, fishing, birdwatching, and kayaking, contributing to tourism and out of doors enjoyment. These areas additionally function academic and scientific assets, providing alternatives for analysis and environmental training on hydrology, ecology, and resilience. There are three main functions for this discover. First, individuals who could also be affected by actions within the FFRMS floodplain and wetland and those that have an curiosity within the safety of the pure surroundings must be given a chance to specific their issues and supply details about these areas. Commenters are inspired to supply various websites exterior of the FFRMS floodplain and wetland, various strategies to serve the identical challenge function, and strategies to attenuate and mitigate challenge impacts on the FFRMS floodplain and wetland. Second, an satisfactory public discover program might be an necessary public academic instrument. The dissemination of data and request for public remark concerning the FFRMS floodplain and wetland can facilitate and improve Federal efforts to cut back the dangers and impacts related to the occupancy and modification of those particular areas. Third, as a matter of equity, when the Federal authorities determines it’ll take part in actions happening within the FFRMS floodplain and wetland, it should inform those that could also be put at better or continued threat. Written feedback have to be obtained by GLO on the following handle on or earlier than April 14th, 2025: Texas Normal Land Workplace ATTN: David Camarena, Director Neighborhood Growth & Revitalization (CDR) Division PO Field 12873, Austin TX 78711-2873 A full description of the challenge can also be reviewed from 9 A.M. to five P.M on weekdays on the handle above. Feedback can also be submitted by way of e mail at env.evaluations@restoration.texas.gov.