Stormwater Management

Protecting People and Property from Harmful Stormwater Runoff

When rain hits any hard surface, such as your roof or driveway, it can't soak into the ground so it runs off your property. Uncontrolled runoff can lead to flooding, erosion and pollution problems. It is the City's job to help manage this runoff. The City's Stormwater Management Program is working to modernize the Fort Worth stormwater system and educate the public about the dangers of flash flooding. The Stormwater fee you pay through your monthly water bill provides funding to accomplish our Mission to Protect People and Property from Harmful Stormwater Runoff, in the following ways: 

Pipes, channels, and other systems maintenance.
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MAINTAIN 

existing systems of pipes
and channels to function
as designed.

Drainage construction and improvement
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IMPROVE

drainage and reduce
erosion through
construction of projects.

Flooding and erosion hazards warning flashers.
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WARN

the public and property
owners of flooding and
erosion hazards.

Development and compliance review.
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REVIEW

development for
compliance with City
Stormwater standards.

Stormwater Management Program Documents

For more information on the Stormwater Management Program, read the following documents:

 Runoff Rundown Newsletter   Flood Awareness Newsletter  

If you have questions or concerns about drainage, you can:

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APP

Use MyFW App to report
flooding or clogged storm drains.
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CALL

City Call Center
(817) 392-1234
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EMAIL

StormwaterCS@
FortWorthTexas.gov

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ONLINE

FortWorthTexas.gov/
report

Protect What Matters

Floodplain Facts to help Protect You & Your Property from Harmful Stormwater Runoff.

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Hazard Road Overtopping Mitigation (HROM)

The City of Fort Worth's Hazardous Road Overtopping Mitigation (HROM) Program is an ongoing effort to identify hazardous road location due to flooding, prioritize them, and where feasible, develop solutions to make them safer. The HROM Program was created in response to life-threatening and fatal incidents associated with flood roads, usually at stream crossings.

HROM Fact Sheet(PDF, 2MB).      HROM FAQ's(PDF, 303KB)


Non-FEMA Flood Risk Area

Flood Risk Outside of the FEMA Floodplain

Cleaning blocked inlets by TPW crew

While FEMA maps flood risk along major streams and creeks, most reported flooding in Fort Worth actually occurs outside of the FEMA Floodplain, in what the City refers to as “Non-FEMA Flood Risk Areas”. The City has categorized Non-FEMA Flood Risk Areas into two categories. Areas where the City has evaluated the non-FEMA flood risk in detail are called “City Flood Risk Areas” (CFRA), and these will be used to regulate development in the future. In contrast, the non-FEMA areas where the City has less detailed mapping, called “Potential High-Water Areas” (PHWA), are used to warn about potential flood risks.

In order to better protect property owners in CFRAs from flood risk, the City is revising the existing Floodplain Provisions Ordinance and Updating the Stormwater Criteria Manual. Currently, our regulations do not require Stormwater review for land disturbance less than one acre. With a revised ordinance however, new development and re-development in CFRAs would be required to show they comply with Stormwater regulations, regardless of size. Recommended Council adoption of the updates is planned to go forward spring 2023. A phased rollout of mapping to help communicate flood risk outside of the FEMA Floodplains is planned this year:

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Number of Flood Claims/Reports of Flooding Outside vs Inside Floodplain

In the City of Fort Worth, there are more flood insurance policies and claims located outside FEMA floodplains than inside FEMA floodplains.

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What Non-FEMA Flood Risk Maps Mean to Property Owners:

When the ordinance revision is approved, any sized development or redevelopment within CFRAs will need to show they comply with City drainage standards by filling out a Certificate of Compliance. A Certificate of Compliance demonstrates how the development or redevelopment considered the existing flood risk to ensure new development is safe from flooding and that the development does not aggravate the flood risk to nearby existing homes and businesses. By understanding where non-FEMA flood risks are, property owners can make more informed decisions regarding developing, improving, and purchasing property. Flood Insurance within these areas is not required, but is recommended as a wise way to protect an owner’s investment.

To find out about your property's flood risk, visit:
oneaddress.fortworthtexas.gov use the dropdown "reference" tab for flood risk info.

FAQs (PDF, 177KB)

 

Flood Risk Viewer 

For All Other Drainage Concerns, contact as follows:

 app-icon3.png
APP
Use MyFW App to
report flooding or
clogged storm drains.
call-icon3.png
CALL
City Call
Center
(817) 392-1234  
 email-icon3.png
EMAIL
StormwaterCS@
FortWorthTexas.gov

 online-icon3.png
ONLINE
FortWorthTexas.gov/
report

 


Stormwater Management Program Master Plan

The Stormwater Management Program has completed an intensive, year-long effort to develop a strategic program master plan that is realistic, well-prioritized, and responsive to community needs. The overarching goal of this effort was to help ensure the optimal use of program resources to advance the City’s strategic goals and respond to community needs in each of the four primary program elements:

  • System maintenance
  • Flood/erosion mitigation
  • Flood/erosion warning and
  • Private development review

The plan also outlines formal policy guidance needs and identifies key considerations, which will be used in the future processes to develop each policy.

Stormwater Management Program Master Plan(PDF, 17MB)

The City Council has adopted the Stormwater Management Program Master Plan, which resulted from an intensive, yearlong effort to compile and understand lessons learned during the first 10 years of the program and to develop a strategic direction that is realistic, well-prioritized and responsive to community needs.

Video: Stormwater Master Plan Update

 


Program Background

The City of Fort Worth implemented a Stormwater Utility in 2006 to address a backlog of data and technology needs, fulfill maintenance obligations, and construct capital projects to protect people and property from harmful stormwater runoff. The first 10 years of the Stormwater Management Program have focused on assessing citywide flood risk and drainage system capacity, addressing many of the most hazardous flooding problems in the city, implementing a high water warning system, developing a work order system and maintenance program, and developing a basic inventory of the major components of the drainage system. 

 

Related Documents

Download the Floodplain Management Plan(PDF, 59MB), which has been approved by City Council. 

Main Report

View the Strategic Stormwater Management Program Master Plan Report(PDF, 61MB)


Stakeholder Meeting Information

Stakeholder Meeting 1 (Jan. 26, 2017)

Stakeholder Meeting 3 (Aug. 3, 2017)

Stakeholder Meeting 4 (Oct. 19, 2017)

 


 Linwood Neighborhood Flooding

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A neighborhood meeting was held on September 8, 2022, to discuss residents concerns about flooding in the Linwood neighborhood during the August 21-22, 2022 rain event.

 

For additional information, contact: 

Questions on Flood Mitigation, contact:
Justin Naylor, P.E. CFM, PMP
682-215-6547
justin.naylor@fortworthtexas.gov
Report Drainage Issues, contact:
Stormwater Customer Service
817-392-6261

 

Meeting Information

 
Runoff Rundown

Floodplain Management Plan

The City of Fort Worth is working on a Floodplain Management Plan for the entire city. This will be the first part of a growing public planning and interaction program being led by the Stormwater Management Division.

Protect, Know Flooding Risk tab icon Protect What Matters, Know Your Flood Risks

Floods can happen anywhere and at anytime.

To learn more about your risk for flooding and how to prepare for floods, visit FloodSmart.gov or email floodplain@fortworthtexas.gov.

Find out if your flood risk is low, moderate or high before the next storm hits, so you can take steps to protect your home or business. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) publishes Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) which show the different flood zones that designate the risk.

To find your property, visit the One Address and type in your address. You can also email floodplain@fortworthtexas.gov for assistance in determining flood risks or obtaining documents.

Due to the extensive reported flooding risks citywide outside of FEMA floodplains and the limited resources to help lessen these risks, a policy is necessary to provide city staff and the community with guidance for mapping, communication and regulating local flood risks. A Non-FEMA Flood Risk Area stakeholder working group was formed to help with guidance in forming a policy. For more information visit Non-FEMA Flood Risk Area.

Protect your property with Flood Insurance

Flood Insurance 

When it comes to protecting your personal safety and that of others, don’t risk your life when you come upon a roadway covered in water. Turn Around, Don’t Drown!

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Flood Warning Information

The City of Fort Worth Flood Warning Information is designed to provide real-time flood warning risk levels, in order to protect people from hazardous flood conditions.

Residents can see real-time flood warning information at monitored low-water road crossings. The Flood Threat link shows whether the road crossing is experiencing no known threat ("NONE"), potential conditions for flooding ("CAUTION"), or has overtopped ("AVOID").

See flood information here.

Flood Information

Residents of Fort Worth can obtain flood information concerning flooding, flood maps, mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements, and flood zone determinations from the City of Fort Worth's Transportation & Public Works Department (Stormwater Management Division) located at City Hall or by calling 817-392-6261.

Elevation certificates of some properties located in the Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA’s) are on file in the Engineering Vault of the Transportation and Public Works Department located in City Hall. Copies of the available elevation certificates are available upon request.

Real-time river gauge information is available through the National Weather Service.


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Customer Service 

Map of City Fort Worth Texas

OneAddress

Find data about your address, including if your property falls within a regulatory floodplain or is in an area that is potentially flood prone.

View the data for potential flood risk at your property in Fort Worth.

 

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Non-FEMA Flood Risk Area

  • Flood damages in Fort Worth occur more often outside the FEMA floodplains than inside.
  • The flood insurance policies outside the floodplain have experienced 73 percent more damages than inside the FEMA floodplain.
  • View information on Non-FEMA Flood Risk Area

Source: National Flood Insurance Program