Flood Risks Loom Over Texas Oilfield in Guadalupe River Basin

Hundreds of oil tanks sit in the floodplain, raising concerns about potential environmental disaster

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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An investigation by Inside Climate News has found that more than 500 oil tanks dot the floodplains of the Guadalupe River and its tributaries in the Eagle Ford Shale region of Texas, posing a major risk of environmental disaster in the event of severe flooding. Longtime residents recall the devastating 1998 flood that submerged much of the area, and worry that a similar or worse flood could cause widespread oil spills from the tanks. With the threat of more intense rainfall due to climate change, experts say the risk is only growing.

Why it matters

The lack of a statewide floodplain policy in Texas has allowed oil companies to build extensive infrastructure in high-risk areas, putting the local environment and communities at grave risk. A major flood could release millions of gallons of oil and toxic wastewater, contaminating the Guadalupe River, San Antonio Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico. This highlights the need for stronger regulations and oversight to protect vulnerable regions from the impacts of the oil and gas industry.

The details

Inside Climate News' analysis of FEMA flood data found that a 500-year flood event could submerge at least 22 tank batteries containing 144 individual oil and wastewater tanks with 10 or more feet of water, with 12 tanks sitting beneath at least 20 feet of water. The rules for building in floodplains fall to the small, rural county governments in the region, which may not have been equipped to handle the rapid expansion of the oil industry during the shale boom. Oil companies have dismissed warnings from local landowners about the flood risks, with one reportedly telling a rancher that "we'll have all the oil and gas out of this ground before the next flood."

  • In 1998, a major flood event submerged much of the Guadalupe River basin, with water levels exceeding predicted worst-case scenarios in some areas.
  • Last summer, severe flooding in the Texas Hill Country near Kerrville washed away a girls' summer camp and killed more than 100 people along the Guadalupe River, 150 miles upstream from the Eagle Ford Shale.

The players

Sara Dubose

A fifth-generation landowner in Gonzales County with 10 oil tanks on her family's ranchlands in the floodplain, each holding up to 21,000 gallons of oil or toxic wastewater.

Blake Muir

A fifth-generation landowner with more than a dozen wells on his property, who has photos showing the vast landscape of water that overtook the region during the 1998 flood.

Ben Prause

A former elected executive of DeWitt County who presided during the 1998 flood, which he described as "just terrible" with water "everywhere."

James Dodson

The 71-year-old co-founder of the San Antonio Bay Partnership and son of a south Texas pipeline technician, who believes a major flood could cause oil from toppled tanks to end up in the Gulf of Mexico.

Sister Elizabeth Riebschlager

An 89-year-old Catholic nun from Cuero who held town hall meetings for local families during the shale boom, and recounts a rancher's warning about the flood risks that was dismissed by an oil company.

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What they’re saying

“There's a whole lot of tanks full of oil that are going to float away. Spill all over our land and ruin it for 100 years.”

— Sara Dubose, Landowner

“It was the flood that many thought would never happen. Unfortunately, an even greater flood will occur sometime in the future.”

— Ben Prause, Former DeWitt County Executive

“It's a disaster waiting to happen. They have these oil wells all through these areas that flooded like it's no problem.”

— Sister Elizabeth Riebschlager, Catholic Nun

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.