Weslaco's Cleckler-Heald Detention Facility boosts flood defenses

WESLACO, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The City of Weslaco held the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday for the Cleckler-Heald Regional Detention Facility.

According to the city, the project located at Garza Middle School is vital for the infrastructure project designed to enhance flood mitigation in the community.

"This is a project that is a partnership with Weslaco ISD," said Mayor Adrian Gonzalez. "We partnered up, and they allowed us to their open land to hold all the water that needed to be held from our surrounding areas. We have over 200 homes that were built in 2018 that it affected. This project will help alleviate and prevent those waters from going into those homes, and it will be stored here in our retention facility."

The areas designated for the RDF consist of a 75-acre-foot storm water detention capacity, which provides critical relief to the Paisano Road area downstream.

As well as helping to reduce the risk of flooding in adjacent neighborhoods.