Flooding still a concern around Lake Grapevine, Wise County

Tropical Storm Bill has moved on but is still causing headaches for flood-soaked regions of North Texas.

In Grapevine, officials were warning residents of three apartment complexes near Grapevine Mills mall that they could be cut off by floodwaters coming from Denton Creek and an overflowing Lake Grapevine.

“We put 800 apartments on notice to stay tuned and be ready to evacuate if they have to,” Mayor William D. Tate said Thursday. “I imagine that was very unsettling for them to wake up this morning and find out they may have to relocate.”

However, Tate added that city officials remained hopeful the evacuations wouldn't be necessary.

The apartment complexes notified of a possible evacuation are River Walk, Marquis and Mustang Ridge, Tate said. All the complexes are relatively new and a short walk or drive from the Grapevine Mills shopping area.

Farm Road 2499, which runs next to Grapevine Mills, was closed Thursday afternoon out of concern about rising flood waters at nearby Lake Grapevine.

“Once the waters recede and it is safe for travel, FM 2499 will be reopened,” Texas Department of Transportation spokesman Val Lopez said in an email.

Included in the portion of 2499 that is closed is a busy stretch from Grapevine Mills Boulevard to near Spinks Road, Lopez said.

Various side streets may also be closed as needed, he said.

The road closing creates a quandary for motorists trying to get in and out of Flower Mound. That town has now lost two roadway connections with Grapevine in 2499 and Fairway Drive. However, motorists can still get to Flower Mound using any of several east-west routes in Lewisville.

Tate issued a disaster declaration and evacuation order for Grapevine Wednesday night. The move gives city officials the authority to take reasonable steps to force residents to leave their property, and relieves the city of liability for anyone who refuses to leave.

The mayor said he was told by those monitoring Lake Grapevine, including the Army Corps of Engineers and city officials, the lake could crest about three and one-third feet over the spillway Friday — a huge amount of water at one time, but three-fourths of a foot less than previously projected.

“That three-quarters of a foot is huge for us,” Tate said. “It may avoid the evacuation of those 800 apartments.”

Lake Grapevine, a flood control lake operated by the Army Corps of Engineers, is at 26.8 feet above capacity.

The city also had concerns about its wastewater facilities being overcome with flood water, but has come up with a plan to pump water out of the way of the flooding.

Watching Bridgeport, Eagle Mountain

Rising water at Lake Bridgeport, Eagle Mountain Lake and Lake Worth is also being monitored closely.

One house has been flooded again at Lake Bridgeport and more are expected to flood on Eagle Mountain and Lake Worth on Saturday.

“It looks like we’re going to get into three houses at Eagle Mountain and three or four Lake Worth two days from now,” said David Marshall, the Tarrant Regional Water District’s director of engineering and operations support.

There were also concerns that could close Texas 114 near Boyd but it now appears the flows will stay below the highway.

“The runoff is turning the river around Boyd into another lake again just like it did last month,” Marshall said.

Once the waters peak on Eagle Mountain and Lake Worth, it will be a slow decline. Boating will probably be prohibited on both lakes until some time next week.

The Wise County Sheriff’s Office reported two roads along Big Sandy Creek, County Road 2650 and Saddle Ridge Road, have been closed because roadways over the culverts washed out.

“Denton Creek and Brushy Creek seem to have been hit the worst since their watersheds received anywhere from 6 to 12 inches ... in the Bowie to Montague to Saint Jo areas,” the Wise County Sheriff’s Department said on its Facebook page. “Also, we have had several severe roadside washouts that are hazardous and the traveling public should avoid using these areas as much as possible.”

Wise County Judge J.D. Clark said there were numerous high water rescues in the Chico area on Wednesday and many roads and culverts were damaged in the west and northwest part of the county.

The National Weather Service reported more than 9 inches fell near Nocona in Montague County. Rainfall totals of 5 to 6 inches were reported across Wise County.

At least 10 roads are closed in Montague County, where many culverts have also been washed away.

“Some of these roads could be closed for some time,” said Montague County Sheriff Paul Cunningham. “I don’t know of anybody that’s been completely cut off but some have had to get creative to get around.”

Cunningham said the entire county was cleaning up from what seemed like flooding of Biblical proportions.

“We’ll be fine as soon as we get that ark off the road,” Cunningham said.

Gordon Dickson, 817-390-7796

This story was originally published June 18, 2015 at 1:48 PM with the headline "Flooding still a concern around Lake Grapevine, Wise County."