Sandy Creek Crossing Repair Project
On April 3, 2025 the project at the Sandy Creek crossing on Old Hwy 90 was complete. This was a successful collaboration between 2 Orange County entities.
Excavation-Construction-Completed
The Orange County Drainage District has recently completed a number of important excavation and construction projects to significantly reduce flooding and improve drainage for the citizens of Orange County, Texas.
Drainage Improvement Project (Anderson Gully at East Railroad and Old Highway 90)
On June 4, 2024, the Orange County Drainage District, with the support of other public and private entities, completed a drainage improvement project to improve flow underneath the railroad trestle located on Anderson Gully between East Railroad and Highway 90 in Vidor, Texas. The project involved removing sediment and debris under the trestle, thereby increasing Anderson Gully’s flow and capacity.
The Orange County Drainage District would like to acknowledge KCS Railroad, the City of Vidor, and the Orange County Road and Bridge Department (Precinct No. 4) for their cooperation and assistance in completing this joint project.
The photographs below reflect the condition of the crossing prior to the project and the activities conducted by the participating entities toward the Anderson Gully drainage improvement project.
Before
Drainage Improvement Activities
Bridge City – FM 1442 Drainage Improvement Project
The Orange County Drainage District is pleased to update our citizens on the FM 1442 Drainage Improvement Project along West Roundbunch Road in Bridge City, Texas.
This joint project involves various local entities including: the Orange County Drainage District, the Texas Department of Transportation, the City of Bridge City, and the Orange County Road and Bridge Department to provide drainage relief to various subdivisions in the City of Bridge City. The affected subdivisions include Sylvan Glades, West Gate, Meadows, Schofield Place, and Palm Ridge Additions. The drainage in these subdivisions was impaired by the inability for storm water to drain from the subdivisions , make its way across FM 1442 (West Roundbunch Road) and into the Colonial Outfall Ditch, ultimately being discharged into the Neches River. The District previously completed an extensive clearing of the existing Colonial Outfall Ditch to increase capacity and speed of discharge of accumulated storm water into the Neches River.
The District also wants to acknowledge the Bridge City Independent School District and the Common Ground Community Church for providing essential easements to the Orange County Drainage District in support of this drainage relief project. Without their efforts, this project would not have been possible.
The District and its local partners designed the Bridge City FM 1442 Drainage Improvement Project to provide drainage improvements during significant rain events (when the ditch adjacent to the north side of FM 1442 becomes full). During these high-intensity rain events, the project allows storm water to flow underneath FM 1442 into the existing Colonial Outfall Ditch (which also drains the Meadowlawn Subdivision), and, ultimately, to the Neches River.
The photographs below depict the District’s progress on the project. As of July 19, 2023, the District has completed the backfilling and covering the installed culverts before the commencement of the new school Bridge City ISD school year.
Needles Street Outfall Project
The Needles Street Outfall Project was a joint operation between the District, Orange County and the City of Vidor, Texas.
The Needles Street Outfall drains from Longleaf Street north crossing under Hickory Street, Kent Street, then drains east crossing under Pine Shadows Street and ultimately into Anderson Gully. The project included installing a new crossing under Pine Shadows Street, and the regrading of the outfall from Anderson Gully to Longleaf Street. The very limited and restricted access caused the project to be very challenging. But with the team approach of the Orange County Drainage District, Orange County Road and Bridge, the City of Vidor and surrounding home owners, the project was successfully completed on 10/14/2021. Since the completion of the Needles Street Outfall Project, the District has continued its commitment to the citizens of the City of Vidor by successfully obtaining funding in support of drainage improvements to Tiger Creek.
The proposed Tiger Creek Improvement Project is designed to construct a 3,600 ac/ft capacity detention pond at the northern reaches of Tiger Creek (Vidor/Rose City Area). Construction shall consist of the excavation, embankment construction, and grading of approximately five million eight hundred eight thousand cubic yards (5,808,000 CY) of dirt, clearing and grubbing of four hundred fifty acres (450 AC) of land, four (4) water control features, four (4) sixty thousand gallon per minute pump units, one (1) intake structure and pump house, two hundred linear feet (200 l.f..) of sixty-inch (60″) discharge piping, erosion protection at pump discharge, and all related appurtenances. Upon completion, the existence of a detention structure will relive the pressure on existing drainage structures located within the City of Vidor, thereby providing drainage relief to all of the citizens of the City.
2021 Cow Bayou Waterway Debris Removal Project NRCS/USDA
The Orange County Drainage District commenced its Bayous Debris Removal Project, which involves primarily the removal of fallen trees and other vegetative debris from within Adams Bayou, Cow Bayou and Little Cypress Bayou. The purpose of the Project is to remove debris from these three bayous that so that drainage is not impaired within these bayous, each of which serve to drain significant portions of Orange County. The Cow Bayou Watershed originates in Jasper County, the Adams Bayou watershed originates in Newton County, and the Little Cypress Bayou watershed originates in Orange County. All three bayous drain into the Sabine River.
The District has secured grant funding from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to help pay for a large portion of this Project. The total cost of the Project is estimated to be approximately $1.5 million. The Drainage District has contracted with Aftermath Disaster Recovery, Inc., which provides multiple barge units equipped with grapple and saws, to assist with the Project.
The first component of the Project was the removal of the debris from Little Cypress Bayou. The Project began on Thursday, June 3, 2021 and was completed on 6/12/2021 removing more then 4200 cubic yards of debris from within Little Cypress Bayou. The scope of the Little Cypress Bayou project included removal of debris within and along Little Cypress Bayou from the Sabine River to FM 3247.
On 6/11/2021, The District commenced the second component of the project involving the removal of trees and debris from within and along Adams Bayou. The scope of work for Adams Bayou starts at FM 1006, and reaching as far north as Eight Gate Road. Pictures below are from current progress of Adams Bayou. This project is currently still in progress, Additional pictures will be posted as the project proceeds.
On 6/28/2021, The District commenced the third and final component of the project involving the removal of trees and debris from within and along Cow Bayou. The scope of work for Cow Bayou begins at Texas Ave. in Bridge City, Texas, and terminates at Highway 12 where Cow Bayou crosses underneath. Pictures will be added to this post as the project proceeds.
The Cow Bayou waterway debris removal project was completed on 7/24/2021. Aftermath the contractor that was selected to perform the job removed over 5500 cubic yards of debris. The Drainage District loaded all the debris from an upland bank, and hauled the material to the final disposal site.
2021 Adams Bayou Waterway Debris Removal Project NRCS/USDA
The Orange County Drainage District commenced its Bayous Debris Removal Project, which involves primarily the removal of fallen trees and other vegetative debris from within Adams Bayou, Cow Bayou and Little Cypress Bayou. The purpose of the Project is to remove this debris from these three bayous that so that drainage is not impaired within these bayous, each of which serve to drain significant portions of Orange County. The Cow Bayou Watershed originates in Jasper County, the Adams Bayou watershed originates in Newton County, and the Little Cypress Bayou watershed originates in Orange County. All three bayous drain into the Sabine River.
The District has secured grant funding from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to help pay for a large portion of this Project. The total cost of the Project is estimated to be approximately $1.5 million. The Drainage District has contracted with Aftermath Disaster Recovery, Inc., which provides multiple barge units equipped with grapple and saws, to assist with the Project.
The first component of the Project was the removal of the debris from Little Cypress Bayou. The Project began on Thursday, June 3, 2021 and was completed on 6/12/2021 removing more then 4200 cubic yards of debris from within Little Cypress Bayou. The scope of the Little Cypress Bayou project included removal of debris within and along Little Cypress Bayou from the Sabine River to FM 3247.
On 6/11/2021, The District commenced the second component of the project involving the removal of trees and debris from within and along Adams Bayou. The scope of work for Adams bayou starts at FM 1006, and reaching as far north as Eight Gate Road. Pictures below are from current progress of Adams Bayou. Additional pictures will be posted as the project proceeds.
The Adams Bayou waterway debris removal project was completed on 7/16/2021. Aftermath the contractor that was selected to perform the job removed over 12,500 cubic yards of debris. The Drainage District used internal forces to load all of the debris from an upland bank, and haul the material to the final disposal site.
2021 Little Cypress Bayou Waterway Debris Removal Project NRCS/USDA
The Orange County Drainage District has commenced its Bayous Debris Removal Project, which involves primarily the removal of fallen trees and other vegetative debris from within Adams Bayou, Cow Bayou and Little Cypress Bayou. The purpose of the Project is to remove this debris from these three bayous that so that drainage is not impaired within these bayous, each of which serve to drain significant portions of Orange County. The Cow Bayou Watershed originates in Jasper County, the Adams Bayou watershed originates in Newton County, and the Little Cypress Bayou watershed originates in Orange County. All three bayous drain into the Sabine River.
The District has secured grant funding from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to help pay for a large portion of this Project. The total cost of the Project is estimated to be approximately $1.5 million. The Drainage District has contracted with Aftermath Disaster Recovery, Inc., which provides multiple barge units equipped with grapple and saws, to assist with the Project.
The first component of the Project is the removal of the debris from Little Cypress Bayou. The Project began on Thursday, June 3, 2021. The scope of the Little Cypress Bayou project (depicted in the map above) includes removal of debris within and along Little Cypress Bayou from the Sabine River to FM 3247. The photos below document the progress of the project to date. More photos will be added as they become available.
On 6/11/2021 Aftermath Disaster Recovery, Inc., and the Orange County Drainage District completed the debris removal project on Little Cypress Bayou, resulting in more then 4200 cubic yards of debris being removed from the Bayou.
Susan Circle North Outfall
Here is an update of our progress as the Orange County Drainage District makes improvements to the Susan Circle North Outfall. The North Susan Circle Outfall receives storm water from Spooner Street, Nelson Street, Tower Road, Joel Street, Louise Street and surrounding areas. The current scope of work for this project includes the excavation and grading of the Outfall, commencing work at Highway 1442, and then proceeding north and west until completion northwest of Spooner Street, as depicted by the pink line in the map shown above. Previously the District has excavated and graded the Susan Circle Outfall south of Highway 1442 to the location where it ties into the Bessie Heights Marsh. Due to the Outfall connecting to the Marsh, drainage within this Outfall is tidally influenced.
Check back for additional information and photographs as Orange County Drainage District makes improvements to the Susan Circle North Outfall ditch.
F-5 Lateral Outfall
The F-5 Lateral Outfall receives storm water from Lakewood Estates, Colonial Lane Estates and surrounding areas. The current scope of work for this project includes the excavation and grading of the F-5 Lateral Outfall, from Terry Gully to Orange Street, which is depicted by the pink line in the map shown above.
The District completed this project in the middle of May, 2021.
Oldbury Road and Farragut Heights Outfalls
The Oldbury Road Outfall receives storm water from Highway 105 and surrounding areas, and then merges with the Farragut Heights Outfall, which generally provides drainage for the area east of Highway 105 in the general area of Farragut Heights, Becky Circle, Oldbury, Pug Road and Corbett Street. The scope of work for this project includes the excavation and grading of the Oldbury Road and Farragut Heights Outfalls, which are depicted by the pink line in the map shown above.
