8/7/26 – Yesterday, Harris County Commissioners discussed the largest tax hike in Harris County history. Before raising taxes a penny, they should examine the efficiency of the departments they oversee.
Harris County Commissioners discuss budget proposals on 8.06.26
Since 2022, I have posted about slowdowns in Harris County flood-mitigation projects as one deadline after another slipped. It started with wholesale management changes made by the Democratic majority on Commissioners Court.
The slowdowns became so serious in the case of HCFCD that the department head recently resigned under pressure. As statistics below show, she left her successor, Marcus Stuckett, with huge challenges.
The problems at HCD have not yet received the attention that HCFCD received. But they are also serious.
Both groups must use grant money by strict deadlines or lose it. And both are far behind schedule.
They raise the questions, “Will tax increases continue to fund inefficiency? And if so, are increases really necessary?”
CDBG Projects Bring Efficiency Issues into Sharp Focus
At HCFCD, the potential loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds brought the former Executive Director’s efficiency into sharp focus. She failed to advance projects in a timely manner. And that is jeopardizing hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding. Harris County taxpayers backstop those funds.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey, PE fought to expose HCFCD’s problems, even as Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia fought to keep in place the very people covering the problems up.
So, where exactly do things stand? How bad is the problem?
GLO awarded HCD $204 million dollars on 8/31/2022. To date, HCD has expended $69 million (34%). They must expend the remaining two thirds by August 31, 2027. So…
HCD has expended only 34% of the funds in 80% of available time.
Their $204 million includes 10 neighborhood drainage infrastructure projects valued at $168 million. Of the 10:
Construction is complete on one
Six are in various stages of construction (46-89% complete)
One is being advertised for bids
Two are still in design.
GLO also awarded HCD $37.5 million for 30 planning studies. Of those:
One was withdrawn
One is complete
The remainder are just starting or in various stages of completion ranging from 1% to 50%.
These also have deadlines of August 31, 2027.
HCFCD CDBG Mitigation Grants
HCFCD received an allocation of $546 million in CDBG Mitigation (MIT) funds in 2023. To date, it has expended only $25 million. HCFCD must complete construction and GLO must receive final billing by 3/31/28 – only 20 months away. Thus, under Dr. Tina Petersen…
HCFCD managed to spend 5% of its MIT money in 64% of available time.
HCFCD CDBG – DR Grants
GLO also approved an HCFCD allocation for $322 million in CDBG-Disaster Relief (DR) funds on 11/27/23. Almost 34 months later, HCFCD has expended only $15.6 million. So…
HCFCD has spent less than 5% of DR funds in 84% of available time.
Summary Table
This table summarizes the status of CDBG projects.
According to the GLO, only seven of 29 HCFCD DR and MIT projects are actually in construction.
HCFCD’s report submitted to Commissioners Court this week shows 12 “in construction.” However, only seven of the 12 have any work billed against them. Delays in contractor mobilization may account for the difference.
So, where do we go from here?
The Bundle Jumble
Before Dr. Tina Petersen resigned, she tried to cobble together a plan that would get HCFCD past the $322 million DR hurdle.
She reached agreement in principle* with both the GLO and Harris County Commissioners Court to apply work billed to date in all four categories above against the $322 million DR obligation. That would give the county a little more breathing room.
In a best-case scenario, the county might bill enough to meet the entire $322 million obligation and lose nothing. In a less-than-best-case scenario, the county would narrow its losses.
Will It Work?
To date, the county has spent only $109 million in all four programs together. That covers only about a third of the $322 million.
What happens if HCFCD’s new management and HCD can’t spend another $213 million in the next six months? Potentially, HUD could start clawing back money from the GLO and the GLO could start clawing it back from the County.
But Harris County has already encumbered money for its suppliers. So, the buck stops with Harris County taxpayers.
Remember as you follow the county’s budget debate in coming weeks to ask whether you’re paying for additional services you want or simply funding inefficiency.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/7/2026
3265 Days since Hurricane Harvey
*When I asked the GLO for the wording of the agreement, a spokesperson said, “It has not been finalized yet. We are still getting details we need to write the amendment.”
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/CC-260806.jpg?fit=1100%2C610&ssl=16101100adminadmin2026-08-07 20:02:552026-08-07 20:21:52Largest Tax Hike in Harris County History Raises Efficiency Question
8/6/2026 – One of the strongest El Niños ever is suppressing tropical activity in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf. El Niños create wind shear that disrupts the formation of tropical storms and hurricanes. As a result, forecasters have lowered their estimates which were already below normal to begin with.
NOAA Updates Seasonal Forecast
In an email this morning, Jeff Lindner, Harris County’s meteorologist, wrote, “Updates to the seasonal Atlantic basin hurricane outlooks this week continue to indicate a high chance of below to well below normal activity across the Atlantic basin as we move through the peak of the season (August-October).”
That’s welcome news. “The main driver of the highly negative conditions is the continued increasing El Niño event well underway in the waters of the eastern and central Pacific Ocean. There, sea surface temperatures are currently running (1-3º C above normal values),” said Lindner.
El Niño Region 3.4 (the dark area off the western coast of South America) tends to correlate highly with weather impacts in North America, including shifts in the jet stream. Niño 3.4 is currently averaging a sea surface temperature anomaly of +2.3º C.
One of Worst El Niño Events since 1950
“That already approaches some of the maximum El Niño events since 1950,” added Lindner. “With the likely peak of this event around December or January…it is now fairly likely that one of the strongest El Niño events in modern times will occur.”
El Nino events, especially of this magnitude, tend to produce tremendous wind shear values across the deep tropics in the Caribbean and tropical Atlantic. They effectively tear apart any tropical system attempts at development.
“Wind shear values of 40-60 kts have been common across the Caribbean so far this hurricane season,” said Lindner. “They extend eastward into the tropical Atlantic and are some of the strongest on record in this part of the basin.”
In addition to the high wind shear values, Lindner also cited dry sinking air that continues to dominate much of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean. He noted slightly more favorable conditions north of the Bahamas and through the northern Gulf.
Sea surface temperatures are running near normal to slightly above normal in some parts of the Atlantic basin. High negative wind shear values and dry sinking air are resulting in lower than average instability and a general overall lack in thunderstorm activity.
“One of the Quietest Seasons since 1997”
Accordingly, the seasonal outlook numbers for the basin remain well below the average of 14 named storms. Two “tropical storms” have already occurred (Arthur and Bertha) both of which impacted the northern Gulf coast and suffered greatly under adverse conditions keeping their intensity low and organization poor.
The basin is on track to be one of the quietest seasons since 1997 (another powerful El Niño year).
Lindner says there will be small windows of favorable conditions, most likely in August and September. For instance, areas in the middle Atlantic north of the highly unfavorable deep tropics could produce a few storms if tropical waves can reach those areas.
Budding meteorologists may be interested in reading NOAA’s entire seasonal outlook updated today. It’s a deep dive into the science of tropical forecasting.
It Only Takes One
Remember! Just because the outlook numbers are lower than average, does NOT mean there will not be any additional tropical storms or hurricanes or potential threats this year. So remain prepared.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/6/2026 based on information from Jeff Lindner
3264 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/ct5km_ssta_v3.1_global_20260805.png?fit=1787%2C1054&ssl=110541787adminadmin2026-08-06 15:20:072026-08-06 15:24:47Tropical Forecast Lowered for Remainder of 2026 Season
8/5/2026 – In 2020 – three years after Hurricane Harvey – the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) applied for $500,000 grant from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to study Joint Reservoir Operations between Lake Conroe and Lake Houston. They hoped they could reduce flooding through better coordination of releases from the two dams.
March 2026 Public Input Session in Humble
Earlier this year, SJRA held a public input session at the Humble Civic Center where it outlined the goals of the study and listened to dozens of downstream residents still harboring PTSD from flooding and angry about delays.
At the event, SJRA said it would present its conclusions this FALL in The Woodlands. Now, five months later, the schedule has slipped to Spring 2027. See the screen capture below from SJRA’s website.
Matt Barrett, PE, SJRA’s Water Resources and Flood Management Division Manager, offered this explanation for the delay in an email.
Barrett said, “We are budgeting more time for reviews due to the number of partners involved. A couple other items that impacted the schedule and may delay the report are the modeling for the pre-release analysis, as well as required coordination with the ongoing Lake Houston Gates Project. We also expect a fair amount of stakeholder engagement.”
At the July SJRA Board Meeting, General Manager Aubrey Spear said that the Joint Operations study could not be done before the gate design was completed. Spear said he would have more information at the October SJRA Board Meeting. Mr. Sprear’s comments about the study begin at about 14:30 into this video and last for about 3 minutes.
Mr. Spear addressing SJRA Board Members at their 7/23/26 meeting.
Houston City Council Member Fred Flickinger said today that the part of the Gates project that the SJRA needs to finish its work should be ready in 4-6 weeks.
Before Mr. Spear concluded his remarks at the SJRA Board Meeting, he spent another minute addressing the status of SJRA’s long-delayed sand-trap study, which has been sitting on the shelf for more than four years.
No SJRA Study Results Implemented Yet
SJRA has conducted a number of studies since Hurricane Harvey. They include a:
Study for building regional detention basins on Birch and Walnut Creeks, (far upstream on Spring Creek).
Yet nine years after Harvey, to my knowledge…
No drainage recommendations from any of these studies have ever been constructed.
The 661-page Birch and Walnut Creek study took so long that recommendations could not be implemented. By the time it was finished, the land had been sold to developers. A large solar farm was already built on one of the parcels needed when the SJRA Board reviewed the results and decided to take no action.
I hope the same does not happen with the Joint Ops study. Downstream residents desperately need something actionable this time from the SJRA.
One expert familiar with the issues involved told me, “Frankly, there’s no reason this study could not have moved forward long ago. It’s about procedures and operations. If the design of the gates changes, just update the procedure manual.”
Plea for Downstream Involvement
At every SJRA Board meeting, one or more residents from Lake Conroe speak during the public comments to oppose any pre-release. Downstream residents rarely if ever appear. So, the “no pre-release” mantra goes unchallenged. The SJRA Board needs to hear opposing points of view if downstream residents ever hope to see recommendations from the Joint Ops study implemented.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/5/2026
3263 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.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/SJRA-Board-Meeting.png?fit=1646%2C914&ssl=19141646adminadmin2026-08-05 17:02:142026-08-06 08:54:08SJRA Announces More Delays on Joint Reservoir Operations Study
Largest Tax Hike in Harris County History Raises Efficiency Question
8/7/26 – Yesterday, Harris County Commissioners discussed the largest tax hike in Harris County history. Before raising taxes a penny, they should examine the efficiency of the departments they oversee.
To see why, review the recent history of the Harris County Housing & Community Development (HCD) Department and Flood Control District (HCFCD). Together, they manage more than a billion dollars of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) projects for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) via the Texas General Land Office (GLO).
Since 2022, I have posted about slowdowns in Harris County flood-mitigation projects as one deadline after another slipped. It started with wholesale management changes made by the Democratic majority on Commissioners Court.
The slowdowns became so serious in the case of HCFCD that the department head recently resigned under pressure. As statistics below show, she left her successor, Marcus Stuckett, with huge challenges.
The problems at HCD have not yet received the attention that HCFCD received. But they are also serious.
They raise the questions, “Will tax increases continue to fund inefficiency? And if so, are increases really necessary?”
CDBG Projects Bring Efficiency Issues into Sharp Focus
At HCFCD, the potential loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds brought the former Executive Director’s efficiency into sharp focus. She failed to advance projects in a timely manner. And that is jeopardizing hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding. Harris County taxpayers backstop those funds.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey, PE fought to expose HCFCD’s problems, even as Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia fought to keep in place the very people covering the problems up.
So, where exactly do things stand? How bad is the problem?
To answer those questions, I relied on data supplied by the GLO in Austin.
Housing and Community Development Projects
GLO awarded HCD $204 million dollars on 8/31/2022. To date, HCD has expended $69 million (34%). They must expend the remaining two thirds by August 31, 2027. So…
Their $204 million includes 10 neighborhood drainage infrastructure projects valued at $168 million. Of the 10:
GLO also awarded HCD $37.5 million for 30 planning studies. Of those:
These also have deadlines of August 31, 2027.
HCFCD CDBG Mitigation Grants
HCFCD received an allocation of $546 million in CDBG Mitigation (MIT) funds in 2023. To date, it has expended only $25 million. HCFCD must complete construction and GLO must receive final billing by 3/31/28 – only 20 months away. Thus, under Dr. Tina Petersen…
HCFCD CDBG – DR Grants
GLO also approved an HCFCD allocation for $322 million in CDBG-Disaster Relief (DR) funds on 11/27/23. Almost 34 months later, HCFCD has expended only $15.6 million. So…
Summary Table
This table summarizes the status of CDBG projects.
According to the GLO, only seven of 29 HCFCD DR and MIT projects are actually in construction.
HCFCD’s report submitted to Commissioners Court this week shows 12 “in construction.” However, only seven of the 12 have any work billed against them. Delays in contractor mobilization may account for the difference.
So, where do we go from here?
The Bundle Jumble
Before Dr. Tina Petersen resigned, she tried to cobble together a plan that would get HCFCD past the $322 million DR hurdle.
She reached agreement in principle* with both the GLO and Harris County Commissioners Court to apply work billed to date in all four categories above against the $322 million DR obligation. That would give the county a little more breathing room.
In a best-case scenario, the county might bill enough to meet the entire $322 million obligation and lose nothing. In a less-than-best-case scenario, the county would narrow its losses.
Will It Work?
To date, the county has spent only $109 million in all four programs together. That covers only about a third of the $322 million.
What happens if HCFCD’s new management and HCD can’t spend another $213 million in the next six months? Potentially, HUD could start clawing back money from the GLO and the GLO could start clawing it back from the County.
But Harris County has already encumbered money for its suppliers. So, the buck stops with Harris County taxpayers.
Remember as you follow the county’s budget debate in coming weeks to ask whether you’re paying for additional services you want or simply funding inefficiency.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/7/2026
3265 Days since Hurricane Harvey
*When I asked the GLO for the wording of the agreement, a spokesperson said, “It has not been finalized yet. We are still getting details we need to write the amendment.”
Tropical Forecast Lowered for Remainder of 2026 Season
8/6/2026 – One of the strongest El Niños ever is suppressing tropical activity in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf. El Niños create wind shear that disrupts the formation of tropical storms and hurricanes. As a result, forecasters have lowered their estimates which were already below normal to begin with.
NOAA Updates Seasonal Forecast
In an email this morning, Jeff Lindner, Harris County’s meteorologist, wrote, “Updates to the seasonal Atlantic basin hurricane outlooks this week continue to indicate a high chance of below to well below normal activity across the Atlantic basin as we move through the peak of the season (August-October).”
That’s welcome news. “The main driver of the highly negative conditions is the continued increasing El Niño event well underway in the waters of the eastern and central Pacific Ocean. There, sea surface temperatures are currently running (1-3º C above normal values),” said Lindner.
El Niño Region 3.4 (the dark area off the western coast of South America) tends to correlate highly with weather impacts in North America, including shifts in the jet stream. Niño 3.4 is currently averaging a sea surface temperature anomaly of +2.3º C.
One of Worst El Niño Events since 1950
“That already approaches some of the maximum El Niño events since 1950,” added Lindner. “With the likely peak of this event around December or January…it is now fairly likely that one of the strongest El Niño events in modern times will occur.”
El Nino events, especially of this magnitude, tend to produce tremendous wind shear values across the deep tropics in the Caribbean and tropical Atlantic. They effectively tear apart any tropical system attempts at development.
“Wind shear values of 40-60 kts have been common across the Caribbean so far this hurricane season,” said Lindner. “They extend eastward into the tropical Atlantic and are some of the strongest on record in this part of the basin.”
In addition to the high wind shear values, Lindner also cited dry sinking air that continues to dominate much of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean. He noted slightly more favorable conditions north of the Bahamas and through the northern Gulf.
Sea surface temperatures are running near normal to slightly above normal in some parts of the Atlantic basin. High negative wind shear values and dry sinking air are resulting in lower than average instability and a general overall lack in thunderstorm activity.
“One of the Quietest Seasons since 1997”
Accordingly, the seasonal outlook numbers for the basin remain well below the average of 14 named storms. Two “tropical storms” have already occurred (Arthur and Bertha) both of which impacted the northern Gulf coast and suffered greatly under adverse conditions keeping their intensity low and organization poor.
The basin is on track to be one of the quietest seasons since 1997 (another powerful El Niño year).
Lindner says there will be small windows of favorable conditions, most likely in August and September. For instance, areas in the middle Atlantic north of the highly unfavorable deep tropics could produce a few storms if tropical waves can reach those areas.
Budding meteorologists may be interested in reading NOAA’s entire seasonal outlook updated today. It’s a deep dive into the science of tropical forecasting.
It Only Takes One
Remember! Just because the outlook numbers are lower than average, does NOT mean there will not be any additional tropical storms or hurricanes or potential threats this year. So remain prepared.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/6/2026 based on information from Jeff Lindner
3264 Days since Hurricane Harvey
SJRA Announces More Delays on Joint Reservoir Operations Study
8/5/2026 – In 2020 – three years after Hurricane Harvey – the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) applied for $500,000 grant from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to study Joint Reservoir Operations between Lake Conroe and Lake Houston. They hoped they could reduce flooding through better coordination of releases from the two dams.
March 2026 Public Input Session in Humble
Earlier this year, SJRA held a public input session at the Humble Civic Center where it outlined the goals of the study and listened to dozens of downstream residents still harboring PTSD from flooding and angry about delays.
At the event, SJRA said it would present its conclusions this FALL in The Woodlands. Now, five months later, the schedule has slipped to Spring 2027. See the screen capture below from SJRA’s website.
Proffered Reasons for Delays
Matt Barrett, PE, SJRA’s Water Resources and Flood Management Division Manager, offered this explanation for the delay in an email.
Barrett said, “We are budgeting more time for reviews due to the number of partners involved. A couple other items that impacted the schedule and may delay the report are the modeling for the pre-release analysis, as well as required coordination with the ongoing Lake Houston Gates Project. We also expect a fair amount of stakeholder engagement.”
At the July SJRA Board Meeting, General Manager Aubrey Spear said that the Joint Operations study could not be done before the gate design was completed. Spear said he would have more information at the October SJRA Board Meeting. Mr. Sprear’s comments about the study begin at about 14:30 into this video and last for about 3 minutes.
Houston City Council Member Fred Flickinger said today that the part of the Gates project that the SJRA needs to finish its work should be ready in 4-6 weeks.
Before Mr. Spear concluded his remarks at the SJRA Board Meeting, he spent another minute addressing the status of SJRA’s long-delayed sand-trap study, which has been sitting on the shelf for more than four years.
No SJRA Study Results Implemented Yet
SJRA has conducted a number of studies since Hurricane Harvey. They include a:
Yet nine years after Harvey, to my knowledge…
The 661-page Birch and Walnut Creek study took so long that recommendations could not be implemented. By the time it was finished, the land had been sold to developers. A large solar farm was already built on one of the parcels needed when the SJRA Board reviewed the results and decided to take no action.
I hope the same does not happen with the Joint Ops study. Downstream residents desperately need something actionable this time from the SJRA.
One expert familiar with the issues involved told me, “Frankly, there’s no reason this study could not have moved forward long ago. It’s about procedures and operations. If the design of the gates changes, just update the procedure manual.”
Plea for Downstream Involvement
At every SJRA Board meeting, one or more residents from Lake Conroe speak during the public comments to oppose any pre-release. Downstream residents rarely if ever appear. So, the “no pre-release” mantra goes unchallenged. The SJRA Board needs to hear opposing points of view if downstream residents ever hope to see recommendations from the Joint Ops study implemented.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/5/2026
3263 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.