This is the sixth in a series on Sand Mining Best Management Practices (BMPs) proposed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). BMPs help reduce erosion and prevent pollution, but these don’t address some important issues. Strengthening them could reduce both the magnitude and toxicity of future floods. By reducing the amount of excess […]
According to best management practices (BMPs) being proposed by the TCEQ, pre-mining planning is one of the main ways to prevent sediment from leaving a mine. So much sand piled up in the San Jacinto after Hurricane Harvey that it reduced the conveyance of the river, contributed to flooding, and cost hundreds of millions of […]
In an effort to reduce sediment escaping into the San Jacinto River from sand mines, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has issued Draft Guidelines on Best Management Practices (BMPs). Yesterday, I discussed vegetative controls for erosion. Today, I will discuss structural control. The two types often work together or in sequence. At the […]
During Harvey, millions of cubic yards of sediment moved downstream. Some came from river bank erosion. But some also came from exposed sediment in sand mines that flank both sides of the West Fork like the one below. It’s exceedingly difficult to determine the percentages that came from various sources. Regardless, sediment built up at […]
At long last, the State of Texas could soon adopt minimum setbacks from rivers for sand mining. The Lake Houston Area Flood Prevention Initiative has been working with the Texas Aggregate and Concrete Association (TACA) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for two years to create a set of Best Management Practices (BMPs). […]
Harris County Commissioners today approved a drainage study for Atascocita. The agenda item read, “Recommendation to initiate and proceed with planning, right-of-way acquisition, design and construction of general drainage improvements in the Atascocita area. (San Jacinto River Watershed, Bond ID F-15, HCFCD Unit G103-00-00, Precincts 2 and 4). The bond allocates $10 million for all […]
This morning, Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) announced an award of nearly $250 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to remove accumulated sediment from eight watersheds. They include: Willow Creek White Oak Bayou Spring Creek Little Cypress Creek Greens Bayou Cypress Creek Barker Reservoir Addicks Reservoir Removing More than 2 Million Cubic […]
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is currently tracking two tropical disturbances in the Atlantic Basin. The one closest to the Caribbean rates a 70% chance of development. The system is not currently a threat to the Gulf of Mexico but you should keep your eye on it. Invest 94L According to the NHC, showers and […]
A couple weeks ago, I posted about rules governing the application of sand mining best management practices (BMPs). Now the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is accepting public comments on the BMPs themselves. Think of the difference this way: how/when to enforce guidelines vs the guidelines themselves. More than 90 people responded to the […]
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has reorganized the sea of flood-related information and redesigned the TexasFlood.org website to provide a more user-friendly resource for Texans who want to increase their flood awareness and preparedness. Given the deadly nature of flood events and the rapid timeframe in which they can occur, remaining flood-ready is essential. One Feature […]