Meritage Flooding Atascocita Neighbors

4/6/2025 – After a little more than two inches of rain in a two hour period on 4/5/25, neighbors of the Meritage development in Atascocita bordering Pinehurst Trail Drive began noticing muddy runoff creeping toward their foundations.

Aerial photos taken today show that Meritage and its contractors have made some improvements to control runoff since previous storms. However, the attempts did not protect neighbors’ property during this storm, most likely because of poor execution and slow construction progress.

Failures Illustrate Need to Complete Drainage Work Faster

In Phase I, Meritage still has yet to install drainage and silt fence in areas it clearcut early in 2024.

In Phase II, dirt pushed silt fencing over in places. Muddy runoff invaded neighbors’ yards. Silty water also flooded Pinehurst Trail Drive.

These failures illustrate the need to complete drainage work faster once land is cleared.

Meritage is creating the same issues for its neighbors in Atascocita that the Perry Homes Woodridge Village development did with its neighbors in Kingwood.

Construction, in general, increases flood risk. For neighbors when construction practices are flawed or incomplete. And for larger, surrounding areas when increases in impervious cover may be insufficiently mitigated.

One-Year Rain Overcame Meritage Efforts

Before looking at photos of yesterday’s rain and its aftermath, let’s look at the rainfall totals. The closest Harris County Flood Control District gage is at West Lake Houston Parkway, a little more than a mile north. It received 2.6 inches of rain in a two-hour period on Saturday.

*From Harris County Flood Warning System gage on West Lake Houston Parkway at West Fork.*

That’s a one- to two-year rain according to NOAA’s precipitation-frequency estimates for this area. See the 2-hour row in Columns 1 and 2 below.

*Atlas 14 Rainfall Probability Statistics for Lake Houston Area*

It may have rained intensely yesterday. But the rain did not come close to setting any records. It’s EXPECTED. Statistically, construction companies should PLAN on encountering such rainfalls on virtually EVERY project of this scale.

But yesterday’s experience shows they don’t. At least Meritage and its contractor(s) didn’t.

Attempts to Control Drainage Fall Short

Meritage broke this project up into two phases on opposite sides of Pinehurst Trail Drive.

Contractors finished clearing Phase I on the west by the end of January 2024.
They finished clearing Phase II on the east by early 2025.

Both sides flooded already earlier this year on February 11. The West Lake Houston Parkway gage received less than a 1-year rain that time. A public outcry caused Meritage to step up its efforts to control runoff. And they did. Somewhat.

They added more silt fencing, staked out wattle rolls to help filter runoff, and built berms in places to help protect neighbors. They also placed sand bags next to storm sewer entrances to help stop sediment before it escaped into storm sewers.

But photos and video taken after yesterday’s rain also show:

In Phase I:
- Severe erosion
- Storm sewers and drainage pipes stacked and waiting for installation
- No silt fencing protecting wetlands
- No paving, no visible progress toward completion in months.

In Phase II:
- Dirt pushed up against silt fences, knocking them over
- Silty stormwater in neighbor’s yards near the damaged silt fence
- Ponding water throughout the site
- Runoff closing off half of Pinehurst Trail Drive.

See below.

Video and Photos From Day of Storm

A reader sent me these two clips. The first shows street flooding caused by runoff from Phase II. The second shows flooding in the Phase II site itself.

Pinehurst Trail Drive on 4/5/25 Near Meritage Phase II construction site. (13 seconds).

Meritage site on 4/5/25 after a one-year rain. (22 seconds).

A neighbor, James Montgomery, whose yard flooded badly sent me these shots.

*Silty water approaching pool and house from Meritage site beyond fence.*

*Hours later, his yard was still flooded* *with silty water from construction site.*

Aerial Photos Taken 24 Hours Later

Here’s how homes along the northern property line of Phase II looked around noon on Sunday.

*Runoff from Phase II still creeping toward neighbors’ homes 24 hours after rainfall.*

*Ponding water in Phase II on right overflowing into swale and heading toward storm sewer (top center).*

*Note ponding water along entire silt fence on right. A well-constructed berm could have helped here.*

*Looking E at entire Phase II of the Meritage site. Despite months of ideal construction weather since last major rain in February, runoff is still not controlled.*

*Phase I shot shows grass around the detention basin finally taking hold. But drainage work is still far from complete* *more than a year after clearing.*

*More drainage materials stacked up near western edge of Phase I. Note lack of silt fence and silty runoff escaping into wetlands that used to occupy a much larger part of Phase I.*

*Entire site almost 1.5 years into development. Phase I in foreground. Phase II in upper left. Lake Houston at top of frame.*

Personally, I hoped for more – especially from a company whose advertising slogan includes the words “Built. Better.” Construction opens a window of vulnerability to flooding. Companies should do everything they can to complete drainage work as fast as they can to close that window.

For More Information

Meritage builds homes in 11 states. Their website also shows they build homes in 34 communities in the Houston area alone. The posts below contain photos of and background materials about the development.

2/13/25 Meritage Site Overflows Despite Detention Basin

12/23/24 Meritage Finishes Clearing 40 Acres between Pinehurst and Kings River

10/27/24 – Concerns About Fill Height in New Atascocita Development

3/11/24 – New Kings River Development Gets a Buzz Cut

2/13/24 – Meritage Begins Clearing 40 Acres for 210 Homes, Many Over Wetlands

2/26/24 – New Kings River Development Drainage Analysis, Plans Raise Questions

Posted by Bob Rehak on 4/6/25

2777 Days since Hurricane Harvey

The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.