Manvel breaks ground on detention pond to alleviate Hwy. 6 flooding

The project's two phases include a dry pond phase, Phase 1, which will create detention and flood plain mitigation capacity. Phase 2 will convert the dry pond into a wet pond, and this phase will be publicly bid by contractors at a later date, Cyphers said. The drainage districts are assisting with the construction portion of Phase 1, she added.

A drainage pond is a constructed depression that receives and stores stormwater runoff from a specific drainage area, according to the release.

The city of Manvel said stretches of Hwy. 6 within the city were impassable for several days during Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Hwy. 6 is Manvel’s main thoroughfare and is also designated as a hurricane evacuation route, according to the release.

The city identified possible solutions to the ponding issue in 2020 and purchased 117 acres of land near the intersection of Masters Road and Jordan Road. The Manvel Drainage Pond when complete will be able to store 1,000 acre-feet of storage capacity.