At any given time, we are working on hundreds of projects to build, improve, or repair our drainage infrastructure.
Projects typically are used to help address existing problems, often present in older neighborhoods, ones that were built before floodplain and water quality regulations went into effect.
Examples of construction projects include improving storm drains to reduce flooding in the street, shoring up eroding stream banks, or building rain gardens to capture and treat contaminated runoff. Our projects can be complex, multi-million dollar Capital Improvement Projects or repairs that are handled by our own staff and construction crews.
Capital Improvement Projects
Austin's Capital Improvement Program, or "CIP," builds, upgrades, or reconstructs the City's infrastructure. CIP projects are generally large-scale, complex, and more expensive than the maintenance or repair projects that can be completed by the department’s construction crews. Watershed Protection's CIP projects include:
- Streambank stabilization to protect against erosion
- Stormwater control measures to improve water quality in our creeks and lakes
- Storm drain improvements to reduce flood risk
- Dam reconstruction
- Low water crossing improvements
- Buyouts in flood-prone areas.
In Fiscal Year 2022, we appropriated $41.7 million for Capital Improvement Projects.
These projects typically have a consulting engineer to evaluate and design the project and a private contractor to build it. They take years from start to finish. They typically include the following phases:
- Feasibility Study: When several potential solutions are evaluated.
- Preliminary Engineering: When a solution is identified and costs are estimated.
- Design: When the details are worked out, construction plans drawn up and drainage easements are acquired.
- Permitting and Bidding: When all permits are acquired and a contractor is hired.
- Construction: When the project is built.
- Post Construction: Projects typically include a year-long warranty period.
These steps are necessary to ensure that the eventual solution is effective and in compliance with all local, state and federal laws.
Explore Our Projects
We have two maps that you can use to explore our Capital Improvement Projects:
Questions?
Send an email to our Capital Improvement Projects team. Note, for individual projects, please reach out to the contact person on the project's web page whenever possible. Here is a list of projects with web pages.