3/18/25 – Five sand mines upstream from Lake Houston are wider than Lake Houston itself. But that’s not the only statistic that puts the area’s sand mining issues in perspective. The combined size of all upstream mines also exceeds the size of Lake Houston. Let’s look at how these statistics relate to a bill pending in the Texas House: HB-1163.
Width of Lake vs. Width of Upstream Mines
I used Google Earth Pro to measure the width of Lake Houston just above the dam. It’s almost a half mile wider than the FM1960 bridge.
FM1960 Bridge is 1.5 Miles WideJust above the dam, Lake Houston is 1.87 miles wide.
Now let’s look at five sand mine complexes upstream from Lake Houston.
Five Mine Complexes Exceed Width of Lake Houston
These complexes on the West Fork San Jacinto and Caney Creek in the East Fork watershed are even wider than the widest part of the lake. Some of these and other mine complexes contain abandoned mines that still contain exposed sediment and abandoned equipment – both things that pertain to HB-1163.
Let’s look at their size first. Starting at SH 242, heading southeast along the West Fork and then up into the East Fork watershed…
#1 is 2.13 miles wide.#2 is 2.46 miles wide.#3 is a little more than 2 miles wide.#4 is a little more than 3 miles wide. And #5 in Porter on Caney Creek, which enters the East Fork San Jacinto above Lake Houston, is 2.5 miles wide.
Dangers of Mining in Floodways
Virtually all of these areas sit in floodways or floodplains. #4 above looked like this during the May flood in 2024.
Looking NW at West Fork during the May 2024 flood. Water flows right to left.Notice all the sediment being carried downstream (left) toward Lake Houston.
I measured the speed of water through this area by tracking floating debris with a drone. The water moved between 5 and 6 MPH, which can easily suspend sand and even some gravel.
Texas Water Development Board estimated that Lake Houston has lost about 25% of its volume due to sedimentation. The dirt swept downstream from sand mines has displaced room for water.
This is one reason why we need State Representative Charles Cunningham’s HB-1163. The House Natural Resources Committee will discuss the bill on Wednesday 3/19/25.
Those mines are supposed to be surrounded by dikes that protect them from 100-year floods. But in the photo above, the river has broken through the dikes of four pits.
Mines 50% Larger than Lake that Holds Your Water
I have calculated the surface area of the mines shown below at about 21 square miles.
Orange outlines show sand mines currently upstream from Lake Houston area.Surface area calculated in Google Earth Proat 21 square miles.
But numerous sources, including the Texas Water Development Board, list the size of the lake at less than 20 square miles.
And the lake continues to lose volume, thanks in part to abandoned sand mines that have not been revegetated.
This abandoned East Fork mine was supposed to be replanted with native vegetation to reduce erosion.But, it wasn’t…
And during the an April 2023 flood, water swept through the mine and carried that sediment downstream.
Same mine on East Fork during a flood in April 2023. Stormwater breached the dikes and swept sediment downstream.
How HB-1163 Would Help
When mines play out, owners should remove equipment and revegetate the property to reduce erosion. But not all do. That means the public must bear the costs or suffer the consequences.
HB-1163 would help remedy excessive sedimentation…at least in part. It would require sand mines to develop an abandonment plan for when they finish mining. It would also require them to post a performance bond that guarantees they execute it.
If they don’t execute the plan, they would forfeit the bond. So the City or County doesn’t get stuck with the tab for cleaning up the mess at public expense.
Leaking abandoned equipment in abandoned sand mines can poison public water.
These are more examples of “life out of balance.” And they help explain why the confluence of the West Fork and Spring Creek usually looks like this after a rain.
20 square miles of sand mines upstream on West Fork (right).These are the headwaters of Lake Houston, the water supply for 2 million people.Have a cool refreshing glass of muck anyone?
How You Can Help
Texas residents who wish to electronically submit comments related to HB1163 can do so until the hearing is adjourned by visiting: https://comments.house.texas.gov/home?c=c390.
Please let the committee know that you support Rep. Charles Cunningham’s HB1163 and why.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/18/25
2758 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250318-Hallett-Etc-Width.jpg?fit=1100%2C670&ssl=16701100adminadmin2025-03-18 17:18:142025-03-18 20:38:52Five Sand Mines Upstream from Lake Houston are Wider than Lake Houston
3/16/25 – The Bayou Land Conservancy recently hosted a gathering at which Ray Audas of Montgomery gave an inspiring talk. Audas discussed his family’s efforts to preserve their land – Cindy’s Redbud Nature Preserve – in a natural state.
The contrast could not have been greater. It reminded me of a brilliant 1982 documentary called Koyaanisqatsi. Godfrey Reggio directed the film. And Phillip Glass scored it.
The 90-minute film has not one word of dialog or narration. Yet it remains one of the most powerful, memorable, thought-provoking films I have ever seen in my life. See the trailer here.
Koyaanisqatsi includes two types of footage. It begins with long, languorous, pristine shots of undisturbed nature. They gradually transition to frenetic, fast-paced shots of a world devoid of nature. The editing is masterful. The film’s title comes from Hopi words that mean, “Life out of balance.”
As someone who researches and writes about flooding every day, I have reached the inescapable conclusion that our lives have lost balance. As in the film, we are devouring nature. And the loss is fundamentally changing us and our future safety.
Cindy’s Redbud Nature Preserve
That’s why I admire what Ray Audas, his wife Cindy Martin, and the Bayou Land Conservancy (BLC) are doing.
Ray Audas addressing BLC members on 3/9/25
BLC’s motto: “We preserve land along streams for flood control, clean water, and wildlife.” Their tools: dedicated people armed with tenacity and conservation easements.
BLC announced the permanent protection of Cindy’s Redbud Nature Preserve last December. The 176-acre conservation area south of Montgomery, TX, comprises one of the last remaining vestiges of Texas tallgrass prairies.
“This vital land not only protects native species, but also provides essential benefits to local communities by supporting clean water, reducing flooding, and creating wildlife corridors in a rapidly developing area,” said BLC.
See more than a dozen pictures below, used with permission of the photographers.
Ray Audas photo of Cindy’s Rebud Nature Preserve
Less Than 1% of Texas’ Tallgrass Prairies Remain
The landowner’s early roots go back to Texas’ first settlers. With less than 1% of Texas’ tallgrass prairie remaining, lands like Cindy’s Redbud Nature Preserve are more important than ever. As housing and commercial developments expand, the need to conserve natural spaces becomes critical to maintaining our region’s water quality.
This prairie serves as a buffer, filtering runoff and feeding the waterways that supply drinking water for millions across the Greater Houston area.
Ray Audas on Cindy’s Redbud Preserve
“This is about more than just saving land,” said Jill Boullion, Executive Director of Bayou Land Conservancy. “It’s about ensuring clean water, wildlife habitat, and a sustainable future for our community in the face of growing development pressures.”
As Audas spoke at the BLC meeting, he showed pictures of the 176 acres that he and his wife own. He talked about their special connection to the land; hunting and fishing with his wife’s father; and their struggles to preserve the land in its natural state.
Ray Audas photo of Cindy’s Rebud Nature Preserve
He also talked about the endangered Texas windmill grass on his property; a rare species of falcon called the cara cara; acres of bluebells; a 50-page inventory of natural wonders on the property; and the 25,000 pictures of nature he and his wife have taken.
Ray Audas photo of hatchlings on Cindy’s Rebud Nature Preserve
A naturalist from Texas Parks and Wildlife who visited the property said, “For this little bitty piece of property to have this type of diversity, it’s unbelievable.”
Ray Audas photo. Family values found on Cindy’s Redbud Preserve.
Below are six more photos of Cindy’s Preserve taken by BLC supporter Jeff Hodges.
And here are a couple taken by BLC employee Brooke Batchelor.
Help Wanted
Audas and Martin donated the conservation easement on their property. It is valued at $1.5 million. But the BLC could use help to protect the land and more properties like it.
Here’s how you can join the effort. And strike a blow for balance!
Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/16/25
2756 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20221114-IMG_0284.jpg?fit=1100%2C726&ssl=17261100adminadmin2025-03-16 19:14:122025-03-16 23:04:19Cindy’s Redbud Nature Preserve: Restoring Life Out of Balance
3/15/25 – Romerica, the company that was going to build a 50-story high rise and marina at the south end of Woodland Hills Drive in Kingwood, is back with a new proposal. Now, they want to build a $575 per night, luxury eco-resort around wetlands between two golf courses of the Kingwood Country Club.
The land lays between the Barrington and Kingwood Lakes, east of Deer Ridge Park and Trailwood.
Developer Presents Proposal to TIRZ Board
One of the Romerica partners, Gabriel Haddad, presented his more modest proposal to the board members of the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10 on 3/13/25.
The TIRZ does not have the ability to grant permit approval for the development; they are not a regulatory body.
But the TIRZ does have the ability to support the development by financing infrastructure that could favorably influence the economics of the proposal.
And any contribution the TIRZ makes gives the TIRZ a seat at the table and a chance to influence the nature of the development.
During his presentation and the Q&A that followed, Haddad did not articulate his “ask.” The purpose of the two-part presentation seemed to be to familiarize the board with the project and give members a chance to ask questions.
Here are two presentations that show the current plans for Phase I and Phase II of the development.
Phase I Plans
Haddad calls his resort “River Grove.” The northern 50 acres contains a 400-room Fairmont hotel, 90 condominiums and 21 acres of wetlands.
Phase I in white; Phase II outlined in purple. Barrington at bottom of frame. Woodland Hills Drive on left.
Haddad plans to build around, not over the wetlands.
The cross-hatched area represents wetlands.Side view of hotel and amenities
Phase II
A second, adjacent 54-acre parcel of land contains a second hotel with another 160 rooms and 37 “villas” built around 23 acres of wetlands.
Romerica would build these four to six years after Phase I. Phase II would have a much “higher level, more luxurious hotel than the Fairmont.” Haddad proclaimed there would be “nothing like it in Texas. Zero,” he said.
“Each of the villas would be 8,611 square feet.”
Hotel #2 and villa complexSide view of second hotelLooking east from over Woodland Hills Drive at Romerica land for proposed Eco-Resort Complex on left. Kingwood Lake in upper left, Barrington in upper right.
Phillip Ivy, Vice Chair of the TIRZ, said that the plans reminded him of a resort called South Hall in Franklin, Tennessee. He added, “They target a certain demographic and certain corporate demographics to come in for meetings and that sort of thing.”
Discussion of Traffic Impact
During the discussion of the ideas, board members asked about traffic and evacuation. To handle increased traffic, the intersection of Woodland Hills and Kingwood Drive would widen to accommodate turn lanes. They also discussed connecting Hamblen Road with Woodland Hills to alleviate Kingwood Drive traffic, but that is not financially feasible for decades given other TIRZ commitments.
They did not discuss what would happen if Hamblen went underwater during a flood. Nor did they discuss the increased traffic load on Kingwood Drive.
Tax-Increment Reinvestment Considerations
The City of Houston lets TIRZs (Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones) keep a certain percentage of tax revenue increases within their boundaries. The TIRZ can apply that percentage to projects that help residents (like the Northpark Expansion Project) or projects that help developers expand the tax base.
For instance, a developer might need financial help to bring water or sewer lines to an area.
Another common “ask” is for help with landscaping or building trails to blend in with the surrounding community.
Some of those things might go beyond the developer’s cash flow. In which case, he/she might ask for a percentage of the increment. If the TIRZ board agrees, they donate X% to the project and keep the balance of the increment for new roads, road repairs, signalization of intersections, paying down bond debt, etc.
Haddad did not discuss what he needed. But he did say, “I am absolutely certain that the only way to make things happen is to work together.”
He added, “Each room (in the hotel) costs $785,000.” Altogether, he projected the entire project would require $450 million of investment.
Wetlands Preservation
“We’re not going to impact the flooding problem,” said Haddad. “We actually help it a little bit by improving the flow of the water.”
“We know that there’s a lot of wetlands. We’re not going to touch any of them.”
Because they don’t want to obstruct the flow of water, everything would be built on pylons. And building above Harvey-levels would “add cost pressure,” said Haddad.
Area to be developed (left) on May 3, 2024 before flood peak. Looking E from over Woodland Hills.One day later looking W from Kingwood County Club. Peak of May 2024 flood.
According to Harris County Flood Control District, rainfall for that time period was between a 2-year and 10-year flood on the nearby San Jacinto West Fork.
Move your Maserati to higher ground! Romerica is back.
Next Steps
In the end, the Board asked Haddad for examples of comparable resorts and made no decisions. To be continued.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/15/25
2755 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250315-Northern-50-acre-layout.jpg?fit=1100%2C765&ssl=17651100adminadmin2025-03-15 16:58:272025-03-15 23:29:09Romerica is Back!
Five Sand Mines Upstream from Lake Houston are Wider than Lake Houston
3/18/25 – Five sand mines upstream from Lake Houston are wider than Lake Houston itself. But that’s not the only statistic that puts the area’s sand mining issues in perspective. The combined size of all upstream mines also exceeds the size of Lake Houston. Let’s look at how these statistics relate to a bill pending in the Texas House: HB-1163.
Width of Lake vs. Width of Upstream Mines
I used Google Earth Pro to measure the width of Lake Houston just above the dam. It’s almost a half mile wider than the FM1960 bridge.
Now let’s look at five sand mine complexes upstream from Lake Houston.
Five Mine Complexes Exceed Width of Lake Houston
These complexes on the West Fork San Jacinto and Caney Creek in the East Fork watershed are even wider than the widest part of the lake. Some of these and other mine complexes contain abandoned mines that still contain exposed sediment and abandoned equipment – both things that pertain to HB-1163.
Let’s look at their size first. Starting at SH 242, heading southeast along the West Fork and then up into the East Fork watershed…
Dangers of Mining in Floodways
Virtually all of these areas sit in floodways or floodplains. #4 above looked like this during the May flood in 2024.
I measured the speed of water through this area by tracking floating debris with a drone. The water moved between 5 and 6 MPH, which can easily suspend sand and even some gravel.
Texas Water Development Board estimated that Lake Houston has lost about 25% of its volume due to sedimentation. The dirt swept downstream from sand mines has displaced room for water.
This is one reason why we need State Representative Charles Cunningham’s HB-1163. The House Natural Resources Committee will discuss the bill on Wednesday 3/19/25.
Those mines are supposed to be surrounded by dikes that protect them from 100-year floods. But in the photo above, the river has broken through the dikes of four pits.
Mines 50% Larger than Lake that Holds Your Water
I have calculated the surface area of the mines shown below at about 21 square miles.
But numerous sources, including the Texas Water Development Board, list the size of the lake at less than 20 square miles.
And the lake continues to lose volume, thanks in part to abandoned sand mines that have not been revegetated.
And during the an April 2023 flood, water swept through the mine and carried that sediment downstream.
How HB-1163 Would Help
When mines play out, owners should remove equipment and revegetate the property to reduce erosion. But not all do. That means the public must bear the costs or suffer the consequences.
HB-1163 would help remedy excessive sedimentation…at least in part. It would require sand mines to develop an abandonment plan for when they finish mining. It would also require them to post a performance bond that guarantees they execute it.
If they don’t execute the plan, they would forfeit the bond. So the City or County doesn’t get stuck with the tab for cleaning up the mess at public expense.
These are more examples of “life out of balance.” And they help explain why the confluence of the West Fork and Spring Creek usually looks like this after a rain.
How You Can Help
Texas residents who wish to electronically submit comments related to HB1163 can do so until
the hearing is adjourned by visiting: https://comments.house.texas.gov/home?c=c390.
For those persons who will be testifying, information for in-person witness registration, can be found here: https://mytxlegis.capitol.texas.gov/HWRSPublic/About.aspx
A live video broadcast of this hearing will be available here: https://house.texas.gov/video-audio/. It starts at 8AM on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
Instructions related to public access to the meeting location are available at: https://house.texas.gov/committees/public-access-house-committee-meetings/.
Please let the committee know that you support Rep. Charles Cunningham’s HB1163 and why.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/18/25
2758 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Cindy’s Redbud Nature Preserve: Restoring Life Out of Balance
3/16/25 – The Bayou Land Conservancy recently hosted a gathering at which Ray Audas of Montgomery gave an inspiring talk. Audas discussed his family’s efforts to preserve their land – Cindy’s Redbud Nature Preserve – in a natural state.
A few days later, I attended another meeting. There, a developer talked about building a luxury resort with a Fairmont Hotel among wetlands in a floodplain of the San Jacinto West Fork.
Life Out of Balance
The contrast could not have been greater. It reminded me of a brilliant 1982 documentary called Koyaanisqatsi. Godfrey Reggio directed the film. And Phillip Glass scored it.
The 90-minute film has not one word of dialog or narration. Yet it remains one of the most powerful, memorable, thought-provoking films I have ever seen in my life. See the trailer here.
Koyaanisqatsi includes two types of footage. It begins with long, languorous, pristine shots of undisturbed nature. They gradually transition to frenetic, fast-paced shots of a world devoid of nature. The editing is masterful. The film’s title comes from Hopi words that mean, “Life out of balance.”
As someone who researches and writes about flooding every day, I have reached the inescapable conclusion that our lives have lost balance. As in the film, we are devouring nature. And the loss is fundamentally changing us and our future safety.
Cindy’s Redbud Nature Preserve
That’s why I admire what Ray Audas, his wife Cindy Martin, and the Bayou Land Conservancy (BLC) are doing.
BLC’s motto: “We preserve land along streams for flood control, clean water, and wildlife.” Their tools: dedicated people armed with tenacity and conservation easements.
BLC announced the permanent protection of Cindy’s Redbud Nature Preserve last December. The 176-acre conservation area south of Montgomery, TX, comprises one of the last remaining vestiges of Texas tallgrass prairies.
“This vital land not only protects native species, but also provides essential benefits to local communities by supporting clean water, reducing flooding, and creating wildlife corridors in a rapidly developing area,” said BLC.
See more than a dozen pictures below, used with permission of the photographers.
Less Than 1% of Texas’ Tallgrass Prairies Remain
The landowner’s early roots go back to Texas’ first settlers. With less than 1% of Texas’ tallgrass prairie remaining, lands like Cindy’s Redbud Nature Preserve are more important than ever. As housing and commercial developments expand, the need to conserve natural spaces becomes critical to maintaining our region’s water quality.
This prairie serves as a buffer, filtering runoff and feeding the waterways that supply drinking water for millions across the Greater Houston area.
“This is about more than just saving land,” said Jill Boullion, Executive Director of Bayou Land Conservancy. “It’s about ensuring clean water, wildlife habitat, and a sustainable future for our community in the face of growing development pressures.”
As Audas spoke at the BLC meeting, he showed pictures of the 176 acres that he and his wife own. He talked about their special connection to the land; hunting and fishing with his wife’s father; and their struggles to preserve the land in its natural state.
He also talked about the endangered Texas windmill grass on his property; a rare species of falcon called the cara cara; acres of bluebells; a 50-page inventory of natural wonders on the property; and the 25,000 pictures of nature he and his wife have taken.
A naturalist from Texas Parks and Wildlife who visited the property said, “For this little bitty piece of property to have this type of diversity, it’s unbelievable.”
Below are six more photos of Cindy’s Preserve taken by BLC supporter Jeff Hodges.
And here are a couple taken by BLC employee Brooke Batchelor.
Help Wanted
Audas and Martin donated the conservation easement on their property. It is valued at $1.5 million. But the BLC could use help to protect the land and more properties like it.
Here’s how you can join the effort. And strike a blow for balance!
Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/16/25
2756 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Romerica is Back!
3/15/25 – Romerica, the company that was going to build a 50-story high rise and marina at the south end of Woodland Hills Drive in Kingwood, is back with a new proposal. Now, they want to build a $575 per night, luxury eco-resort around wetlands between two golf courses of the Kingwood Country Club.
The land lays between the Barrington and Kingwood Lakes, east of Deer Ridge Park and Trailwood.
Developer Presents Proposal to TIRZ Board
One of the Romerica partners, Gabriel Haddad, presented his more modest proposal to the board members of the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10 on 3/13/25.
The TIRZ does not have the ability to grant permit approval for the development; they are not a regulatory body.
But the TIRZ does have the ability to support the development by financing infrastructure that could favorably influence the economics of the proposal.
And any contribution the TIRZ makes gives the TIRZ a seat at the table and a chance to influence the nature of the development.
During his presentation and the Q&A that followed, Haddad did not articulate his “ask.” The purpose of the two-part presentation seemed to be to familiarize the board with the project and give members a chance to ask questions.
Here are two presentations that show the current plans for Phase I and Phase II of the development.
Phase I Plans
Haddad calls his resort “River Grove.” The northern 50 acres contains a 400-room Fairmont hotel, 90 condominiums and 21 acres of wetlands.
Haddad plans to build around, not over the wetlands.
Phase II
A second, adjacent 54-acre parcel of land contains a second hotel with another 160 rooms and 37 “villas” built around 23 acres of wetlands.
Romerica would build these four to six years after Phase I. Phase II would have a much “higher level, more luxurious hotel than the Fairmont.” Haddad proclaimed there would be “nothing like it in Texas. Zero,” he said.
“Each of the villas would be 8,611 square feet.”
Phillip Ivy, Vice Chair of the TIRZ, said that the plans reminded him of a resort called South Hall in Franklin, Tennessee. He added, “They target a certain demographic and certain corporate demographics to come in for meetings and that sort of thing.”
Discussion of Traffic Impact
During the discussion of the ideas, board members asked about traffic and evacuation. To handle increased traffic, the intersection of Woodland Hills and Kingwood Drive would widen to accommodate turn lanes. They also discussed connecting Hamblen Road with Woodland Hills to alleviate Kingwood Drive traffic, but that is not financially feasible for decades given other TIRZ commitments.
They did not discuss what would happen if Hamblen went underwater during a flood. Nor did they discuss the increased traffic load on Kingwood Drive.
Tax-Increment Reinvestment Considerations
The City of Houston lets TIRZs (Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones) keep a certain percentage of tax revenue increases within their boundaries. The TIRZ can apply that percentage to projects that help residents (like the Northpark Expansion Project) or projects that help developers expand the tax base.
For instance, a developer might need financial help to bring water or sewer lines to an area.
Another common “ask” is for help with landscaping or building trails to blend in with the surrounding community.
Some of those things might go beyond the developer’s cash flow. In which case, he/she might ask for a percentage of the increment. If the TIRZ board agrees, they donate X% to the project and keep the balance of the increment for new roads, road repairs, signalization of intersections, paying down bond debt, etc.
Haddad did not discuss what he needed. But he did say, “I am absolutely certain that the only way to make things happen is to work together.”
He added, “Each room (in the hotel) costs $785,000.” Altogether, he projected the entire project would require $450 million of investment.
Wetlands Preservation
“We’re not going to impact the flooding problem,” said Haddad. “We actually help it a little bit by improving the flow of the water.”
“We know that there’s a lot of wetlands. We’re not going to touch any of them.”
Because they don’t want to obstruct the flow of water, everything would be built on pylons. And building above Harvey-levels would “add cost pressure,” said Haddad.
According to Harris County Flood Control District, rainfall for that time period was between a 2-year and 10-year flood on the nearby San Jacinto West Fork.
Move your Maserati to higher ground! Romerica is back.
Next Steps
In the end, the Board asked Haddad for examples of comparable resorts and made no decisions. To be continued.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/15/25
2755 Days since Hurricane Harvey