4-14-2025 – Two weeks ago, I posted about HB2068, State Rep. Dennis Paul’s bill. It has the potential to create more effective flood control for more people.
Flooded property in May 2024 near San Jacinto East Fork in Montgomery County just north of Harris County line.
The post prompted 192 readers from across the river basin to write the House Natural Resources committee in support of HB2068. But not all concerned citizens stopped with the committee. One, who wishes to remain anonymous, sent me the text of a poignant letter he wrote to Governor Abbott. It expressed sentiments I hear from many flood victims.
Letter to Governor about HB2068
Honorable Governor,
We desperately need your help in the Harris County, Kingwood, Conroe and Lake Houston Area.
As we all know, flooding rivers and streams do not respect jurisdictional boundaries. The water from several counties, cities and tributaries all end up in Lake Houston.
Eight (8) years ago I received 3 1/2 feet of water in my 1 1/2 year old single-story house. The financial, emotional and physical impacts of this event were devastating.
Red tape and politics aside, VERY LITTLE has been done during the past 8 years to mitigate future flooding. This is proven by several flood threats as a result of flooding from slightly greater than normal rainstorms.
The Harris County Judge and certain Commissioners have totally failed us. We supported a Flood Bond in 2018 to implement a number of much needed projects. But what did the County officials do? They changed the “rules of the project prioritization.” They said they would tackle the hardest-hit areas first. Instead they’re funneling the money almost exclusively to folks in low-to-moderate income areas.
The officials refer to it as “equity”; I refer to it as buying votes. Now, it is my understanding that all funds have been spent.
The City of Houston clearly knows additional gates need to be added to the Lake Houston Dam to handle the release of water from Lake Conroe. The City has been overseeing this project for over 6 years and not one thimble of dirt has been moved.
We are sick and tired of hearing excuse, after excuse, after excuse of why it is taking so long. It is my understanding that funding was approved. But I have to believe that inflation has seriously reduced the amount that will be available to spend.
Study, after expensive study, has been performed. BUT – no meaningful projects to curb flooding have been implemented.
I do not minimize the cost, time and complexity of these projects. BUT IT HAS BEEN 8 YEARS.
I’m convinced the current governing structure, as well as the officials involved, are incapable of planning and executing efforts to successfully mitigate future flooding.
THE TEXAS HOUSE IS CURRENTLY CONSIDERING A BILL THAT WILL CREATE A MULTI- JURISDICTIONAL BODY TO OVERSEE FLOOD CONTROL: HB2068.
ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE TO MOVE THIS FORWARD WOULD BE DEEPLY APPRECIATED.
We have been very “lucky” to not have a repeat of Harvey since 2017. However, I fear everyday for my family that our luck is about to run out!
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20240501-DJI_20240501091139_0042_D-2.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2025-04-14 19:42:452025-04-14 19:42:46Poignant Letter to Governor Urges Him to Support HB2068
But sorry, Larry. This is no laughing matter. Let’s look at the two projects upstream from Lake Houston.
One of those holes in the ground will take twice as long to design and build as the Empire State Building. But that’s not all. Read on.
Mercer Basins near Hardy Tollroad and FM1960
Back in mid-2024, HCFCD told us that they hoped to complete the Mercer Stormwater Detention basin project by Fall of 2024. But when I checked in December, I found HCFCD was far from complete. And it’s still not done.
When you add up the times specified in the original contract plus change orders, HCFCD should have completed it weeks ago.
But as of today, it appeared as if contractors have made practically no progress in the last four months. They are still far from complete. Compare the pictures below with those I took in December.
Mercer Detention Basins/South Pond as of 4/13/25Mercer Detention Basin/North Pond as of 4/13/25Looking S from over Cypress Creek at both basins. Intersection of Hardy Toll Road and FM1960 at top right.There’s obviously a lot of dirt work to do before they start landscaping.
Mercer Basins Should Have Been Done Two Weeks Ago
Here’s the timeline on this project.
8/4/23 – Contract was advertised to potential bidders
10/10/23 – Contract was awarded and called for completion in 348 working days.
12/23 – HCFCD issued Notice To Proceed to contractor (I don’t have an exact day, but let’s assume 12/31/23 to be generous).
9/19/24 – Change order added 37 days and $108k
12/10/24 – Change #2 added another 63 days and $105k
1/21/25 – Change #3 added eight more days and $16k.
Thus, given a Notice to Proceed in December 2023, the contractor should have finished the job in 456 days (348 + 37 + 63 + 8).
But 456 days expired 13 days ago.
Today is 469 days since Notice to Proceed
Commissioner Rodney Ellis won’t like this. These basins are in his Precinct 1. Now let’s look five miles farther upstream.
TC Jester East Basin Got Final Funding in February, but Won’t Be Bid Till Fourth Quarter
And that’s despite the fact that Commissioners Court approved an agreement with an engineering company in 2021 to provide design/build/construction-phase services. Come on folks. This is a hole in the ground!
The TC Jester East Stormwater Detention Basin Complex will go in the big forested area in the center of the frame. Photo taken 4/13/25.
This project started five years ago! So why wait until to the fourth quarter to bid it? Why wasn’t it ready to bid the minute GLO gave final approval? Can it even be completed before the deadline in May 2026?
TC Jester Timeline
Here’s its timeline:
9/14/21 – Preliminary engineering review (PER) completed and accepted by the county.
11/30/21 – Approval of agreement with engineering company to provide design/bid/construction-phase services
6/14/22 – Approval to submit the FEMA grant application (for Rep. Crenshaw’s earmark)
1/10/23 – Approval to accept FEMA grant of $9.95 million through TDEM. This is the earmark that Congressman Crenshaw secured.
9/19/23 – Approval to submit application to TWDB to receive the $12 million that Rep. Sam Harless secured
2/27/24 – Harris County Commissioners Court approved an escrow agreement, a requirement to receive TWDB funds
4/23/24 – Authorization to negotiate for materials testing. However, the record doesn’t show that the agreement has come back to Court yet. (Perhaps because they aren’t ready to go to construction.)
6/4/24 – Commissioners Court accepted $12 million from TWDB (the Harless funds)
3/27/25 – Commissioners Court accepted the CDBG-DR grant from the GLO for the construction of the East Basin.
One would like to think that, if they’ve been working on this since 2021, the design would be ready to bid. HUD set a deadline of May, 2026, to complete this project.
That gives HCFCD only a little more than a year…unless HUD grants an extension…to dig a hole in the ground that HCFCD began planning five years ago.
By comparison, the Empire State Building was designed AND constructed in less than three years!
And if it takes six years to finish the TC Jester Basin, that will equal the amount of time it took to build the first transcontinental railroad. But, of course, the civil war slowed the railroad down a bit.
What’s wrong with this picture? I’m with you, Cable Guy. Git-r-done!
Posted by Bob Rehak on 4/13/25
2784 Days since Hurricane Harvey
I have offered to publish HCFCD‘s explanation as to why these projects are taking so long if it chooses to submit one.
“Git-R-Done” is a registered trademark of Git-R-Done Productions, Inc., the company of comedian Larry the Cable Guy (Daniel Lawrence Whitney).
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250413-DJI_20250413100404_0200_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2025-04-13 18:27:332026-04-18 13:03:46Mercer and TC Jester Basins Far Behind Schedule
4/12/25 – Dredging is making progress on Lake Houston and in Austin.
The City of Houston’s most recent West Fork dredging program started last December near the channel south of Royal Shores. The channel connects the San Jacinto East and West Forks. Callan Marine is pumping the spoils through the channel, across the East Fork, up Luce Bayou to a placement area adjacent to the Luce Inter-Basin Transfer Canal.
I did a brief update about the expansion of the placement area in January. At the time, the dredge was still operation between the channel and the northern extremity of Atascocita Point. And Callan was doubling the size of the placement area.
Since then, the dredge moved about a half mile downstream toward FM1960. And Callan has filled the expanded placement area approximately one-third of the way up. Callan estimated the program would take a year. And that was about a third of a year ago.
In a separate but related effort, State Representative Charles Cunningham’s bill to create a Lake Houston Dredging and Maintenance District picked up some additional support and was considered by the House Natural Resources Committee on April 9. The Committee “reported it favorably”
Photos Taken Today Show Dredging Progress
My estimate on one-third complete is purely a guess based on the original timetable and a visual assessment of the placement area. See the photos below, all taken today.
Looking south toward FM1960 Bridge.Dredge is in upper center. Closer shot reveals dredge bit was submerged and the dredge was pumping.Supply boat docks with dredge. Dredge was at left end of red line this morning and pumping to placement area in red box in upper right.
This program uses money left over from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Emergency West Fork Dredging Program. Therefore, dredging is restricted to the West Fork.
Map of current dredge plan. Today, the dredge was operating slightly NW of the #4 position.
The dredge you saw above is pumping spoils approximately four miles to the northeast. Dredging “spoils” are the materials, including sand, silt, clay, and other organic matter, removed from the bottom of the Lake.
Below is a photo of the placement area for the spoils.
Looking E toward Dayton and Liberty. Luce Bayou Inter-Basin Transfer Canal (left) and placement area (right).
Spoils enter at lower left via a pipeline. Water carrying the sediment then works its way through the maze of compartments in the pond and circles back to where it entered. The closer shot below shows the dirt spreading out. Eventually it will be hard enough to build homes on.
The maze slows down the speed of the water and allows dirt to drop out of suspension.Higher shot shows a “delta” forming within the pond.Before this operation is complete, bulldozers will spread the dirt around evenly.Spoils enter the pond through the pipe on the right. De-silted water exits the pond just a few feet away. It returns to Lake Houston through the canal in the upper right.
Progress on Cunningham Bill to Create Lake Houston Dredging/Maintenance District
The immensity of this task dramatizes the need for State Rep. Charles Cunningham’s bill (HB1532) to create a Lake Houston Dredging and Maintenance District. The project above covers only a tiny portion of the lake, which is losing capacity due to sedimentation.
Cunningham’s bill would create a permanent dredging district for Lake Houston.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250412-DJI_20250412115302_0117_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2025-04-12 16:55:372025-04-12 22:17:40Dredging Progress on Lake Houston and In Austin!
Poignant Letter to Governor Urges Him to Support HB2068
4-14-2025 – Two weeks ago, I posted about HB2068, State Rep. Dennis Paul’s bill. It has the potential to create more effective flood control for more people.
The post prompted 192 readers from across the river basin to write the House Natural Resources committee in support of HB2068. But not all concerned citizens stopped with the committee. One, who wishes to remain anonymous, sent me the text of a poignant letter he wrote to Governor Abbott. It expressed sentiments I hear from many flood victims.
Letter to Governor about HB2068
Honorable Governor,
We desperately need your help in the Harris County, Kingwood, Conroe and Lake Houston Area.
As we all know, flooding rivers and streams do not respect jurisdictional boundaries. The water from several counties, cities and tributaries all end up in Lake Houston.
Eight (8) years ago I received 3 1/2 feet of water in my 1 1/2 year old single-story house. The financial, emotional and physical impacts of this event were devastating.
Red tape and politics aside, VERY LITTLE has been done during the past 8 years to mitigate future flooding. This is proven by several flood threats as a result of flooding from slightly greater than normal rainstorms.
The Harris County Judge and certain Commissioners have totally failed us. We supported a Flood Bond in 2018 to implement a number of much needed projects. But what did the County officials do? They changed the “rules of the project prioritization.” They said they would tackle the hardest-hit areas first. Instead they’re funneling the money almost exclusively to folks in low-to-moderate income areas.
The officials refer to it as “equity”; I refer to it as buying votes. Now, it is my understanding that all funds have been spent.
The City of Houston clearly knows additional gates need to be added to the Lake Houston Dam to handle the release of water from Lake Conroe. The City has been overseeing this project for over 6 years and not one thimble of dirt has been moved.
We are sick and tired of hearing excuse, after excuse, after excuse of why it is taking so long. It is my understanding that funding was approved. But I have to believe that inflation has seriously reduced the amount that will be available to spend.
Study, after expensive study, has been performed. BUT – no meaningful projects to curb flooding have been implemented.
I do not minimize the cost, time and complexity of these projects. BUT IT HAS BEEN 8 YEARS.
I’m convinced the current governing structure, as well as the officials involved, are incapable of planning and executing efforts to successfully mitigate future flooding.
THE TEXAS HOUSE IS CURRENTLY CONSIDERING A BILL THAT WILL CREATE A MULTI- JURISDICTIONAL BODY TO OVERSEE FLOOD CONTROL: HB2068.
ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE TO MOVE THIS FORWARD WOULD BE DEEPLY APPRECIATED.
We have been very “lucky” to not have a repeat of Harvey since 2017. However, I fear everyday for my family that our luck is about to run out!
Sincerely,
(Name withheld at reader’s request)
Don’t Stop Now
Sound familiar? Please support HB2068. Write the governor and your other elected representatives.
But don’t wait too long. The vast majority of bills die in committees and never even see a vote on the House or Senate floors.
HB2068 received some good news today. State Rep. Charles Cunningham signed on as a co-author. But the bill is still pending in committee.
For More Information
For more information about HB2068, see these posts:
25/04/09 Natural Resources Committee Hears Testimony on HB2068
25/04/08 Action Needed: Support HB2068 NOW!
Full Text of Bill as Filed
Follow progress of the bill on Texas Legislature Online website.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 4/14/2025
2785 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Mercer and TC Jester Basins Far Behind Schedule
4/13/25 – A quick check of the Mercer and TC Jester stormwater detention basin projects on Cypress Creek showed that, under current management:
They reminded me of Larry the Cable Guy. He’s the stand-up comic, whose famous hook line is “Git-R-Done©.”
But sorry, Larry. This is no laughing matter. Let’s look at the two projects upstream from Lake Houston.
One of those holes in the ground will take twice as long to design and build as the Empire State Building. But that’s not all. Read on.
Mercer Basins near Hardy Tollroad and FM1960
Back in mid-2024, HCFCD told us that they hoped to complete the Mercer Stormwater Detention basin project by Fall of 2024. But when I checked in December, I found HCFCD was far from complete. And it’s still not done.
When you add up the times specified in the original contract plus change orders, HCFCD should have completed it weeks ago.
But as of today, it appeared as if contractors have made practically no progress in the last four months. They are still far from complete. Compare the pictures below with those I took in December.
Mercer Basins Should Have Been Done Two Weeks Ago
Here’s the timeline on this project.
Thus, given a Notice to Proceed in December 2023, the contractor should have finished the job in 456 days (348 + 37 + 63 + 8).
Commissioner Rodney Ellis won’t like this. These basins are in his Precinct 1. Now let’s look five miles farther upstream.
TC Jester East Basin Got Final Funding in February, but Won’t Be Bid Till Fourth Quarter
In September, 2023, HCFCD held a press conference celebrating the funding of the TC Jester Stormwater Detention Basins.
Later, the County decided to seek more money from the Texas General Land Office (GLO), which administers HUD funding in Texas.
And that’s despite the fact that Commissioners Court approved an agreement with an engineering company in 2021 to provide design/build/construction-phase services. Come on folks. This is a hole in the ground!
This project started five years ago! So why wait until to the fourth quarter to bid it? Why wasn’t it ready to bid the minute GLO gave final approval? Can it even be completed before the deadline in May 2026?
TC Jester Timeline
Here’s its timeline:
One would like to think that, if they’ve been working on this since 2021, the design would be ready to bid. HUD set a deadline of May, 2026, to complete this project.
That gives HCFCD only a little more than a year…unless HUD grants an extension…to dig a hole in the ground that HCFCD began planning five years ago.
By comparison, the Empire State Building was designed AND constructed in less than three years!
And if it takes six years to finish the TC Jester Basin, that will equal the amount of time it took to build the first transcontinental railroad. But, of course, the civil war slowed the railroad down a bit.
What’s wrong with this picture? I’m with you, Cable Guy. Git-r-done!
Posted by Bob Rehak on 4/13/25
2784 Days since Hurricane Harvey
I have offered to publish HCFCD‘s explanation as to why these projects are taking so long if it chooses to submit one.
“Git-R-Done” is a registered trademark of Git-R-Done Productions, Inc., the company of comedian Larry the Cable Guy (Daniel Lawrence Whitney).
Dredging Progress on Lake Houston and In Austin!
4/12/25 – Dredging is making progress on Lake Houston and in Austin.
The City of Houston’s most recent West Fork dredging program started last December near the channel south of Royal Shores. The channel connects the San Jacinto East and West Forks. Callan Marine is pumping the spoils through the channel, across the East Fork, up Luce Bayou to a placement area adjacent to the Luce Inter-Basin Transfer Canal.
I did a brief update about the expansion of the placement area in January. At the time, the dredge was still operation between the channel and the northern extremity of Atascocita Point. And Callan was doubling the size of the placement area.
Since then, the dredge moved about a half mile downstream toward FM1960. And Callan has filled the expanded placement area approximately one-third of the way up. Callan estimated the program would take a year. And that was about a third of a year ago.
In a separate but related effort, State Representative Charles Cunningham’s bill to create a Lake Houston Dredging and Maintenance District picked up some additional support and was considered by the House Natural Resources Committee on April 9. The Committee “reported it favorably”
Photos Taken Today Show Dredging Progress
My estimate on one-third complete is purely a guess based on the original timetable and a visual assessment of the placement area. See the photos below, all taken today.
This program uses money left over from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Emergency West Fork Dredging Program. Therefore, dredging is restricted to the West Fork.
The dredge you saw above is pumping spoils approximately four miles to the northeast. Dredging “spoils” are the materials, including sand, silt, clay, and other organic matter, removed from the bottom of the Lake.
Below is a photo of the placement area for the spoils.
Spoils enter at lower left via a pipeline. Water carrying the sediment then works its way through the maze of compartments in the pond and circles back to where it entered. The closer shot below shows the dirt spreading out. Eventually it will be hard enough to build homes on.
Progress on Cunningham Bill to Create Lake Houston Dredging/Maintenance District
The immensity of this task dramatizes the need for State Rep. Charles Cunningham’s bill (HB1532) to create a Lake Houston Dredging and Maintenance District. The project above covers only a tiny portion of the lake, which is losing capacity due to sedimentation.
Cunningham’s bill would create a permanent dredging district for Lake Houston.
In March, the bill picked up three additional sponsors: Armando Walle (District 140), Harold Dutton, Jr. (District 142) and Valorie Swanson (District 150).
On 3/19/25, the House Natural Resources Committee heard testimony on the bill. See video starting at approximately 1:23 here.
On 4/9/2025, the House Natural Resources Committee reported it favorably as substituted and recommended it be put on the Local & Consent Calendar.
That’s good news. You can follow the bill’s progress here.
We still have a long way to go. But so far, so good.
For More Information on Dredging
See these related posts:
2025/01/15 New West Fork Dredging Program Off to Fast Start
2024/12/21 West Fork Dredging Spoils Being Deposited Near Luce IBT Canal
2024/12/20 City’s New Dredging Program Launched
Posted by Bob Rehak on 4/12/25
2783 Days since Hurricane Harvey