Over the past 32 years, Hays County resident Nora Folsom has seen development inch closer to her home on Claudia Drive.
But development within the past decade has led to drainage issues near Folsom’s home. She suffered property damage during the Oct. 30 flood event.
For Folsom, getting nearby drainage problems rectified is her goal. According to Buda City Engineer Stanley Fees, the city is working to rectify those issues.
“We’re working on it,” Fees said. “We’ve seen her situation and are working to get it taken care of.”
According to Folsom, the first problem stemmed when two large detention ponds that were built adjacent to Phase II of the Stone Ridge subdivision. She believes runoff from Phase III and IV of the subdivision are funneled via underwater sewer pipes.
She said the construction affected the flow of runoff. It was to the point where water, which normally flows down a natural drain in front of her home, now flows underneath it.
“If you build houses, you build streets and sidewalks, the water isn’t going to soak in. It’s going to run off,” Folsom said. “That’s why they built a detention pond … for runoff but it comes down to my house.”
Folsom said she attempted to inform the city of Buda about the problem. Fees said the city first heard from Folsom after the 2013 Halloween flood event.
But an expansion to the nearby America Auto Auction, which Folsom said she wasn’t aware of, came in along the frontage road of IH-35. The expansion added to Folsom’s troubles, as two more detention ponds were built. It led to runoff from the AAA detention ponds converging with runoff from Stone Ridge.
It all came to a head on Oct. 30, when floodwater raged onto Folsom’s property. She said the detention ponds overflowed and poured onto her property. Her home was spared, as she said water made its way to the top step of her house. Folsom’s car, however, wasn’t as lucky.
“Water was halfway up the backseat of my car,” Folsom said. “It was into the engine and glove compartment.”
Folsom said several of her neighbors also suffered damage. For Folsom, her belief was that the detention ponds from the AAA contributed to the flood.
“It made me sick when I saw this,” Folsom said. “They (the city) knew these [detention ponds] were flooding me.”
According to Fees, the city was aware Folsom’s complaints, and that there were drainage issues near her home. Fees said the city identified her area as priority within their Drainage Master Plan, which was completed in xxx.
Fees said the project is now part of the city’s six drainage projects that are part of the $55 million bond initiative.
But fixing the issue continues to be a work in progress. Fees said consultants have been hired to analyze solutions to the issues. He said consultants are currently working on designs to mitigate the problem.
“It takes a little time to get things done,” Fees said. “We have to put projects out to bid and put plans together.”
Folsom hopes the city can rectify the problem.
“They need to fix that water so it doesn’t come down there, and it goes somewhere else,” Folsom said. “I don’t know where it can go. But I don’t want it near my house or my cars.”
