River Grove Dredging Begins

River Grove dredging has finally begun. Silt and sand deposited by Hurricane Harvey 2.5 years ago is being removed from two areas: the boat launch and boardwalk. KSA obtained a final permit from the City of Houston and equipment arrived yesterday.

Boardwalk First Priority

As you can see from these pictures, the contractor wasted no time. Equipment has already started removing silt from in front of the boardwalk.

*Mechanical dredging equipment excavates area near boardwalk.*

*Additional equipment is being staged from the parking lot.*

*Contractors closed off* the parking lot adjacent to the boat launch for public safety.

*Contractors have already started removing the top layer of vegetation adjacent to the boardwalk* *that sprouted since Harvey.*

Pictures From Immediately After Harvey

*A huge sandbar deposited by Hurricane Harvey blocked the Kingwood Diversion Ditch which drains the western third of Kingwood.* *Note sand covering the parking lot. It was 5 feet deep in places.* *Taken 9/14/2017.*

The Army Corps dredged a channel through the sandbar above to allow the ditch to empty into the river. However, the Corps’ equipment was too big to maneuver safely near the boat launch. That created the need for a second dredging program with more precise equipment.

*The lagoon in front of the boardwalk was badly silted in.* *Taken 9/14/2017.*

Pictures Taken February 2020 Before Start of Dredging

*Photo taken 2/13/2020 shows how vegetation grew up on silt in lagoon.*

Aerial photo of boat launch area taken on 1/20/2020 shows that Army Corps opened up the drainage channel to the river. However, the area near the boat launch remains too shallow for most boats to launch safely.

Dredging and cleanup should take about 6 weeks. Completion will make eager boaters and park visitors very happy. River Grove has long been one of the most popular parks in Kingwood.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/18/2020

903 Days after Hurricane Harvey

Boardwalk First Priority

Pictures From Immediately After Harvey

Pictures Taken February 2020 Before Start of Dredging

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