Stormwater Management

Flood Risk Outside of the FEMA Floodplain

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:

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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Potential High Water Areas (PHWA)

Potential High Water Areas (PHWA) are Non-FEMA Flood Risk Areas caused by natural drainage patterns where flooding is likely to occur. The City of Fort Worth uses PHWA mapping as advisory areas to inform residents and developers about flood risk.

For more information: 

View PHWA| FAQ document for more information(PDF, 3MB)

Flood Risk Letter

September 2022 Flood Risk Letter Mailed to CFRA property owners and renters.(PDF, 585KB)

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.

Stakeholder Meeting Information

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: 

Meeting Information

All development within the City of Fort Worth requires local and state permits. Contact the City of Fort Worth’s Development Services Department at 817-392-2222 for advice before you build, fill, place a manufactured home or otherwise develop.

The zoning ordinance, Floodplain Provisions Ordinance and the International Building Codes have special provisions regulating construction and other developments within floodplains. Without these provisions, affordable flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) would not be available to property owners in the City of Fort Worth. Any development in the floodplain without a permit is illegal. Such activity can be reported to the City Call Center at 817-392-1234.

Video: Cumulative Impacts

Two Types of Cumulative Impacts

The Stormwater team has been investigating reports of increased flooding associated with new developments that meet current requirements for no offsite impacts. Two case studies were recently completed to quantify the potential impact of increased impervious surface and/or reduced valley storage. Case studies were performed in:

• Central Arlington Heights and Linwood Bailey: older urban watersheds with underground storm drain systems experiencing increasing
amounts of impervious surfaces.
• White's Branch: a mostly suburban watershed draining to a natural stream-based floodplain with a loss in valley storage.

VALLEY STORAGE | Filling in the existing floodplain storage areas creates additional flooding to areas downstream. White's Branch Watershed

IMPERVIOUS COVER | Every rooftop, driveway, and sidewalk that replaces a natural surface generates a little more stormwater runoff than before that adds up over time. Central Arlington Heights and Linwood Bailey Watersheds

What does Cumulative Impact mean for you as a Property Owner?

The Stormwater Management Division has begun sharing the results of the Cumulative Impacts analyses with internal stakeholders such as the Mobility: Infrastructure and Transportation Committee and the Development Advisory Committee. The Stormwater team will continue to work with departments like Zoning and Development Services and a stakeholder group made up of internal and external stakeholders.

The goal of the stakeholder and interdepartmental meetings is to enact effective policy changes to build upon existing land use and stormwater regulations and criteria to better protect people and property from harmful stormwater runoff.

Cumulative Impact Stakeholder Group Meetings

For more information, contact...

Floodplain@fortworthtexas.gov