Taylor Gully Excavation, Repairs Now Focusing on Area Downstream from Maple Bend Bridge

Harris County Flood Control District’s current excavation/repair project on Taylor Gully is nearing its downstream limit. The project began in January upstream from the Maple Bend Bridge. Drone photos below taken on 3/19/21 show the extent of work downstream from the bridge.

The project has two main objectives: 1) restore the conveyance of the ditch, and repair damaged or blocked storm-drain outfalls and backslope interceptor structures.

Pictures from 3/19/21

Taylor Gully in Woodstream. Direction of flow goes from lower left to upper right toward woods. Total project length is about 2250 feet: 750 upstream and 1500 downstream from the Maple Bend bridge between the two red lines.

Looking NE from Maple Bend in Woodstream Village. Upper banks have already been addressed on both sides of channel. Now, excavation seems to be focusing on the lower areas near the water and working back upstream (toward the camera position).

*Ground level shot in same direction taken with telephoto lens from Maple Bend bridge.*

*Note the height of these drain pipes – 6 feet! They will convey water from storm drains directly into the ditch.*

Smaller pipes stacked along the banks (see below) will be used to create backslope interceptors before the job is complete.

*Looking back upstream toward the Maple Bend Bridge in the middle ground. Areas beyond the bridge appear complete, but area in foreground does not yet have backslope interceptor pipes installed.* *(See more below.)*

Excavation and final dressing of slopes is almost complete upstream of the bridge. See below. When complete, the downstream slopes will look this way, too!

The two concrete structures on the sides of the the ditch are called backslope interceptors. Swales run parallel to the ditch and catch water before it can flow over the banks. The pipes carry the water beneath the bank to the bottom of the ditch. This is a “best management practice” that reduces erosion and extends maintenance intervals.

Next Steps

The project started in mid-January. At the current rate of progress and assuming cooperative weather, “substantial completion” could happen within a month. Substantial completion is a major milestone for contractors. When they think they are done, they schedule a walkthrough for HCFCD to inspect the work. If anything misses the mark, the Contractor has 30 days to clean-up the “punch list items”. Then HCFCD walks it again. Once the Contractor has addressed all outstanding items, the company demobilizes and the Flood Control District “accepts” the channel.

This project is separate from a Taylor Gully preliminary engineering study for capital improvements. The capital improvements could include more upstream detention on the Woodridge Village Property, which has now been purchased by the City and County from Perry Homes on March 4.

A previous study, the Kingwood Area Drainage Analysis, proposed improvements to Taylor Gully in October 2020.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/24/2021

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