TBCD Receives Grant Money for Projects

By Gloria Way

  Trinity Bay Conservation District (TBCD) General Manager Jerry Shadden reported at October’s regular board meeting that TBCD has been awarded several grants by FEMA. TBCD has not received any grant funding from FEMA for several years.

  Shadden stated that FEMA will pay $1million each for studies on four major projects. The projects are (1) Spindletop SH 124 – replace the bridge and improve the ditch from SH 124 north to SH65; (2) Spindletop SH 65 – replace the bridge and improve the ditch from SH 65 north to IH-10; Double Bayou drainage ditch overflow to Lake Anahuac, and (4) Mayhaw Bayou I-10 drainage project. Shadden said that the Mayhaw Bayou project will be extended to Leblanc only in Winnie. He also emphasized that FEMA would not award the grants if FEMA did not believe there is a need for drainage improvements.

   Again, the $1million granted to each project is for studies only and the funds won’t be available until 2025. After the studies have been completed, Shadden said he is hopeful that FEMA and other grant agencies will approve funding to widen the ditches and build the new bridges over SH 124 and SH 65 over Spindletop Bayou. Each bridge project is estimated to be about $5 million.