By RICARDO CAVAZOS

The city of Mercedes like many other Rio Grande Valley cities has had its share of flooding after heavy rainfall.

In more recent times, there was the downpour of over 15 inches in June 2018, which was followed a year later, same month, with a similar big rain event. Then in the summer of 2020 came Hurricane Hanna with rains of 10-to-15 inches in the Mid-Valley. All of these events resulted in catastrophic flooding, the sort of once-in-every hundred years floods that now seem to come far more often.

Many Mercedes neighborhoods along the expressway and north of the city absorbed the full impact of these huge rains. Families were displaced and property was damaged. It also demonstrated, again, the need for improving infrastructure – and drainage projects are among the most expensive – as the city seeks to bring new businesses to the city.

Hidalgo County and local government are taking big steps to get projects going and built to ease longstanding flooding issues in Mercedes. County Commissioner David Fuentes said four projects with a total investment of $20 million are being put into place to ease flooding in those parts of Mercedes that perennially flood. Mayor Oscar Montoya pointed to four retention ponds on the city’s southwest side where he said floodwaters can be quickly and effectively diverted.

The objectives for both the county and the city are the same when it comes to improving drainage. Have fewer families displaced from their homes and reduce property damage. Doing so will give Mercedes a big boost as it continues to attract new businesses and developers for new home construction. 

“The business people we’ve been talking to understand the importance of all this,’’ Mayor Montoya said. “We’re letting them knows we’re moving on these projects to improve our infrastructure. With what we’re doing, and what the county is doing, we should be able to move that (rain) water faster out of the city.’’

Focusing On Mercedes

County Commissioner Fuentes pointed to the Mercedes-area drainage projects as he looks over maps at his Mid-Valley office.

One of those is the Anaquitas Drainage Structure. It’s located off Mile 1 East south of 10th street. The Anaquitas is one of the city’s major drainage outlets and is key to moving floodwaters from downtown-area neighborhoods. In early June, Fuentes and other local officials gathered for a groundbreaking to commemorate significant upgrades to the Anaquitas. The county commissioner said improvements to the structure’s gates will significantly boost the system’s capacity. 

“The modeling shows we’ll be able to handle large amounts of (flood) water,’’ Fuentes said. “We’re trying to be impactful in looking what areas flood the most and what we can do to fix it.’’

Anaquitas is one of the four county drainage projects focused on Mercedes. Another is increasing capacity of a ditch leading from southwest Mercedes and the new retention ponds and draining to the floodway. Indian Hills north of the city is another perennial flooding hotspot in Mercedes. Improvements in ditch capacity is expected ease flooding in that area.

The Mercedes area improvements are part of a $190 million county bond issue passed in 2018. Fuentes’ Precinct 1 received $80 million of that total, with $20 million allocated for Mercedes. All of the bond money is dedicated to drainage projects. For Fuentes, improving drainage protects neighborhoods and schools, reducing property damage, and making Mercedes more viable for economic development.

“Mercedes has so much potential,’’ Fuentes said. “It has a lot of destination to it for shopping because of the outlet mall. Mercedes also has a lot of land available. McAllen, Pharr, all of that area is filled up along the expressway, so you see the development moving toward Mercedes.’’

Changing Perceptions

Mayor Montoya concurred with the county commissioner’s take on the potential of his city. 

He conceded that “one of the biggest issues we have is that in Mercedes it floods.’’

“At the end of the day, infrastructure is important to everybody,’’ Montoya said. “We thank the county and the drainage district for all they’re doing. Cities need to do their part, too. We have infrastructure to fix and we’re going to continue to work on it.’’