After more than eight months of clearing, grading and drainage prep, The Residences at Kingwood, a 19.7 acre apartment complex on West Lake Houston Parkway between Upper Lake Drive and Kings Park Way, is finally under construction. The developer’s website says the complex will feature 240 Garden Apartments and 49 Townhomes. The photos below show […]
The Associated Press reported on December 30, 2021, that the Biden administration had reversed Trump-era changes to water regulations, which themselves were changes to Obama regulations and other previous administrations. This is getting to be like a tennis match. “Advantage Downstream.” The EPA regulations have changed numerous times over the years. Enforcement changes, too. The […]
On November 21, 2022, the U.S. Government filed a 70-page motion for a summary judgment in the Addicks-Barker Downstream Cases. In 2020, Judge Loren A. Smith dismissed the downstream cases, ruling that the plaintiffs had no right to sue the government for “taking” their property in what he called a 2,000-year storm. However, in June […]
Data provided by the National Weather Service (NWS) shows that precipitation appears to be increasing with temperature in Houston and Harris County. A reader recently asked whether there was a correlation. The hypothesis: in this climate, if temperature increases, then so will evaporation and rainfall. Eighty to 130 years worth of data at different locations […]
Creating a land bank for future flood-mitigation could reduce mitigation costs, speed up projects, and protect the lives and homes of millions. Why Flood Mitigation Takes So Long and Costs so Much Five and a half years after Harvey, officials are still struggling to finance many flood-mitigation projects. Part of the issue has to do […]
In a devastating ruling for Quadvest, L.P., and Woodland Oaks Utility, L.P., John Delaney, visiting judge in the 284th District Court in Montgomery County, rejected their pre-trial arguments and granted a summary judgment that validated the San Jacinto River Authority’s Groundwater Reduction Plan (GRP) contract. Both Quadvest and Woodland Oaks have been subsidence deniers in […]
Early in the morning on December 16, 2022, NASA launched a new satellite that will map and subsequently measure changes in virtually all of the Earth’s rivers, lakes and oceans. High-resolution imaging will even be able to measure changes in ocean currents and temperatures. Scientists will use the imaging capabilities to better understand flooding, droughts […]
This week, contractors completed the demotion of the old Kingwood Middle School (KMS). This clears the way for construction of the new, larger, permanent stormwater-detention basin and rebuilding of athletic fields in front of the new KMS. Even the foundation has been removed. Photos Taken Dec. 17, 2022 The old Kingwood Middle School was the […]
Last night, Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) revealed its long-awaited recommendations to reduce flood risk along Taylor Gully. The recommendations involve channel improvements, another Woodridge Village stormwater detention basin, and a new bridge at Rustling Elms. HCFCD is seeking public comment on the plan through December 28, 2022. Outline of Recommended Alternative Excessive runoff […]
City of Houston Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin’s office has supplied ReduceFlooding.com with the Black & Veatch Engineering report on the recommended alternative for adding floodgates to Lake Houston. One key finding immediately jumped out at me that wasn’t in Martin’s press release last week. The recommended gates would have a release capacity that virtually […]