Posting Language
Title
Approve a resolution authorizing the submission of an application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Flood Mitigation Assistance grant program for the Fort Branch Flood Risk Reduction Project. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact. If successful and federal funds are awarded, Watershed Protection will be required to contribute 25% in matching funds. In that event, staff will return to City Council to authorize the execution of a funding agreement, accept and appropriate federal funds, and contribute the local match.
De
Lead Department
Austin Watershed Protection.
Fiscal Note
This item has no fiscal impact.
For More Information:
Janae Spence, Assistant Director, 512-974-6591, Janae.Spence@austintexas.gov; Henry Price, Supervising Engineer, 512-974-1275, Henry.Price@austintexas.gov.
Additional Backup Information:
The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant program makes federal funds available to states, U.S. territories, federally recognized Tribal Nations, and local governments for hazard mitigation activities. It does so by recognizing the need to reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
On April 30, 2026, FEMA published an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2024 Notice of Funding Opportunity for the FMA grant program that incorporates recent federal guidance and aligns with overarching national goals. The application submission deadline is August 6, 2026. FMA funds a variety of flood mitigation activities that help reduce flood risk to NFIP policyholders and improve public safety. For this grant application cycle, the available funding is $600 million for national competition. The grant program offers three separate funding categories: $60 million for Capability and Capacity Building Activities, $420 million for Localized Flood Risk Reduction Projects, and $120 million for Individual Flood Mitigation Projects. The Texas Water Development Board is the state administrator of the FMA grant program and requires an earlier sub-application submission deadline of June 25, 2026.
Austin Watershed Protection (WPD) intends to submit a sub-application for the Fort Branch Flood Risk Reduction Project. Project cost share is required for all sub-applications funded under this grant program. The sub-application falls under the Localized Flood Risk Reduction Projects category with a maximum federal funding amount of up to $50 million. If successful and federal funds are awarded, the department will be required to contribute 25% in matching funds. In the event of a successful sub-application, staff will return to City Council to authorize the execution of a funding agreement, accept and appropriate federal funds, and contribute to the local match requirement. Matching funds are available in WPD’s capital budget.
The Fort Branch Flood Risk Reduction Project is a capital improvement project to reduce the risk of roadway and building flooding through infrastructure improvements. The project will benefit approximately 140 properties and 3 low water crossings that are located within the 100-year floodplain along Fort Branch, a tributary of Boggy Creek, between US 290 and Manor Road. The benefited properties are primarily single-family residential homes in the Windsor Park neighborhood in Council District 4. This area is ranked the 10th highest regional flood risk in the city by the Austin Watershed Protection Strategic Plan.