Entries by admin
Tunneling: A Potentially Valuable Flood Mitigation Tool
Engineering firm Freese & Nichols claims that “Incorporating tunneling into Houston’s stormwater portfolio could significantly reduce flood damages and improve the reliability of existing conveyance and detention infrastructure.” Tunneling technology, the firm says, has improved dramatically in the last 30 years, making projects possible that were once deemed impossible. Rapid Growth Limits Mitigation Possibilities Houston’s […]
Outlook Good for Bill That Would Double Fines for Illegal Sand Mining
On April 17th, the Texas House of Representatives Environmental Regulations committee heard testimony on a bill that would double fines for illegal sand mining, HB907. No illegal sand miners spoke against the bill, so this one has a pretty good chance of passing. Key Points in Huberty’s Testimony The bill’s author, State Representative Dan Huberty […]
Texas Parks and Wildlife Sand and Gravel Permitting Program: History, Scope and Protections
As I’ve been posting a lot about sand mining legislation, a friend sent me this doc today about the reasons for Texas Parks & Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) permitting program. TPWD regulates mining in rivers; TCEQ regulates mining in flood plains. Difference in Tax Rates Between Rivers and Flood Plains Flood plain mining has a 2% […]
Bill that Could Open Door to River Mining Modified and Heading to Full Senate
Senate Bill 2126, which allows sand mining in rivers – without permits or royalties – was voted out of the Senate Water and Rural Affairs committee last night. The committee left the bill pending during the previous day’s testimony after four of the seven members expressed concerns about it. Changes in Committee Substitute SB 2126 […]
Army Corps Updates Dredging Status
As of April 15, almost all of the Emergency West Fork Dredging Project was complete. The map below shows the current status. As of April 15, the Corps and its contractors have dredged a total of 1,564,000 cubic yards of sediment. The Great Lakes dredge has completed its segment (shown in red) and returned to […]
In Support of HB 907: Doubling Fines for Unregistered Sand Mining
After Hurricane Harvey, I saw mountains of sand everywhere I looked near the San Jacinto River. Since then, I have been studying the origins of the sand and am convinced that part of it comes from bootleg sand mining operations upstream that have destabilized river banks. Bootleg Operators Destabilize River Banks You don’t have to […]
SB 2126 Stalls in Committee
Senate Bill 2126 could open the door to in-river sand mining, but was left pending in the Water & Rural Affairs Committee late last night. Uncontested but Not Unquestioned Testimony Testimony started at about 8 pm. Chuck Gilman from the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) and David Perkins from Texas Aggregate & Concrete Association (TACA) […]
Caution: SB 2126 Opens Door to Sand Mining in Rivers
Senate Bill (SB) 2126 is well intentioned. However, in my opinion, its present wording could have disastrous unintended consequences. What Bill Does SB 2126 would allow a “conservation or reclamation district” to take sand from the West Fork and its tributaries in order to “restore, maintain, or expand the capacity of the river and its […]
Mobile Hurricane Harvey Recovery Center Coming to Huffman April 15
Houston City Council Member Dave Martin reminds residents of an upcoming Mobile Hurricane Harvey Recovery Center event taking place in Huffman tonight. Intake specialists will be available to assist families with guidance on recovery programs and resources under the City of Houston Homeowner Assistance Program. The event will take place on/at: Monday, April 15 6:00 p.m. to […]