Massive Sand-Mine Breach Empties Hundreds of Acre-Feet into West Fork

8/24/25 – The abandoned Hanson Aggregate sand-mine on the San Jacinto West Fork had a massive breach of its northern dike this evening – unrelated to weather. According to the Montgomery County Appraisal District, Heidelberg Materials Southwest AGG LLC now owns the property where the breach occurred.

Breach Discovered Shortly after 6 PM on 8/24/25

A thousand acre-feet of water or possibly more rushed out of the 140-acre pond, obliterating everything in its path, and depositing enough sand and silt in the San Jacinto West Fork to back water up in the river.

I received a call from a neighbor who alerted me to the breach at 6:38 PM. And by the time I arrived shortly after 7 PM, the water level in the pond had dropped an estimated 8-10 feet he said.

Water was still rushing out of the pond fast enough to cause large chunks of the shore to break away, endangering onlookers who had to back away.

The water eroded a channel approximately 800 feet long, 50 to 200 feet wide and perhaps 15-20 feet deep – all in a matter of minutes.

The cause of the breach is unknown. However, aerial photos showed a small excavator and piles of drain pipe near the breach.

Photos, Video Taken Between 7 and 8 PM on 8/24/25

Below are photos and video of the devastation.

*Water rushing out through breach in pit wall. West Fork San Jacinto is just out of frame at the top. Looking W.*

*Compare height of breach to height of excavator for scale.* *Also note amount of decline between water surface and brush along shoreline.*

*Looking upriver at sand and silt expelled from mine.*

*Note large, mature pine trees undermined by rushing water.*

*The raging water mowed down dozens of mature trees as it carved its way to the river.*

*Looking east from over the river at breach and turbulence it created in water.*

*Higher angle looking west shows volume of material swept away.*

*Sediment deposited in West Fork. Looking SE* *and downriver.*

*Corrugated pipe next to excavator tracks that were gobbled up by raging water.*

*Close up of excavator at edge of breach.*

Here is a 26-second drone video taken while flying from the pond to the river.

There Must Be A Better Way!

Ironically, this mine had one of the largest setbacks on the West Fork. (See satellite image above.) The setback varied from approximately 400 feet to more than 1,000. However, there was a small drainage channel running along the northern edge of the mine that had a narrower setback And that’s where the breach occurred.

This disaster underscores the need to find a permanent, safe solution for abandoned sand mines along area rivers and streams.

I previously proposed aggregating them over time into a West Fork Greenway which could become a state park. I tentatively named the concept the Montgomery County Lake District.

Instead of letting such mines remain a dangerous blight, turn them into a recreational amenity that could add value to area homeowners and developers.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/24/25

2917 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.