Commissioners blame development for flooding in South Midland

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At a Midland County Commissioners’ Court meeting on Monday, commissioners cited development in the south of the draw as the main cause of the flooding around Cotton Flat Road and West County Road 120.

Commissioner Luis Sanchez said the county discovered, during an investigation into the causes of recent flooding, that a newly developed property is obstructing the natural flow of stormwater.

“We are still trying to find out when it was developed, but this is where the water was flowing and it is no longer flowing there,” he said.

The county has hired crews to push standing water through this property and under State Highway 349, following the area’s floodplain, he said.

Sanchez told Reporter-Telegram last week that crews were also pumping water from fracking tanks and distributing sandbags to residents to alleviate flooding in homes.

The county is working on a plan to prevent future flooding, according to Sanchez. He said Monday the county was exploring ways to recreate the neighborhood’s natural floodplain so crews don’t need to divert water with every storm.

The court also approved the renewal of the disaster declaration that County Judge Terry Johnson signed last week regarding flooding. The declaration will be in effect for 30 days unless extended by the court.

Johnson said the statement allows the county to seek funds or other resources for flood-related issues, including spraying mosquitoes and cleaning up oil barrels that have been improperly stored and have contaminated the water. Residents will also be able to apply for loans if their businesses have been damaged by the flooding, he said.

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