City of Galveston fortifies flood protection network, selecting Stantec for South Shore Drainage project design

$55 million infrastructure improvement project will increase existing storm drainage system capacity to enhance community resiliency and protect critical evacuation routes

The City of Galveston has selected Stantec, a global leader in sustainable design and engineering, to lead design of the South Shore Drainage project. The $55 million project represents a critical component in the city’s rising coastal protection strategy to protect residents, businesses, key evacuation routes, and vital resources from the risks of extreme storm surge and rainfall.

“To support the City’s mission for a more resilient Galveston, our team will develop a resilient design that mitigates storm impacts, while improving quality of life, enhancing local environment, and supporting long-term economic vitality,” said Jeffery Pena, Stantec Senior Principal. “We look forward to partnering with the city and key stakeholders to help manage the community’s flood risks.” 

Located on Galveston Island, Galveston is the largest community established on a barrier island in the United States and is among the most vulnerable locations in Texas to natural hazards. Frequent hurricanes, tropical storms, and high tides from the Gulf of Mexico bring intense rainfall and severe flooding to the community. Galveston also contends with challenges related to sediment management, which further obstructs the efficacy of existing drainage systems.

As part of the project, the Stantec team will design an upgraded storm sewer system spanning approximately 9,000 linear feet with the capacity to manage water drainage from a 25-year storm event. The system will also be designed to retain stormwater from a 100-year storm event within the City’s right-of-way through the addition of an outfall pump station on English Bayou, with an estimated capacity of 1,200 cubic feet per second. To help safeguard pump station performance, resilient design measures will include a floor elevation above the 500-year storm level and controls for remote monitoring, among other features. The project will also address “sunny-day flooding” from high tide events.

Stantec’s scope of work will include hydrologic and hydraulic modeling; survey; geotechnical testing and analysis; gravity system upgrades; and pump station design including civil, mechanical, electrical, architectural, landscape architecture, SCADA system design, and construction management. Project construction is expected to commence 2024.

Stantec is an industry leader in the design and delivery of major coastal stormwater and tidal projects across the Gulf region. Recent project experience includes the completed and fully operational Permanent Canal Closures and Pumps Project in New Orleans and the ongoing delivery of the Orange County Coastal Storm Risk Management Project in Texas. Collectively, Stantec brings a long history of work in Texas with more than 500 team members based out of five offices across the state. See here to learn more about Stantec’s experience protecting the Gulf.

About Stantec
Communities are fundamental. Whether around the corner or across the globe, they provide a foundation, a sense of place and of belonging. That’s why at Stantec, we always design with community in mind.

We care about the communities we serve—because they’re our communities too. This allows us to assess what’s needed and connect our expertise, to appreciate nuances and envision what’s never been considered, to bring together diverse perspectives so we can collaborate toward a shared success.

We’re designers, engineers, scientists, and project managers, innovating together at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships. Balancing these priorities results in projects that advance the quality of life in communities across the globe.

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