West Fork Sand Mine illustrates need for vegetative controls to reduce erosion.
The idea: create a mile-wide, 20-mile long natural recreational area between I-45 and I-69 with lakes and ponds, all connected by hike-and-bike trails. It would be called the Montgomery County Lake District. And it would connect to the West Fork and Spring Creek Greenways.
Together, we could restore the natural beauty of the area, increase its recreational potential, improve water quality, reduce flooding, reduce erosion and attract responsible development. If successful, the plan would improve home values and also bring back wildlife.
Thousands of snow geese fill the sky near Galveston Bayduring their fall migration.
It could be a win-win for all parties involved. People would rather live near nature than an abandoned sand pit.
Of course, a vision is just the glue that guides the efforts of many different parties as they work together for years to achieve common goals. The first step in achieving such a vision is to identify and enroll stakeholders.
Collaborating with local communities, environmental organizations, and government agencies will ensure the project aligns with regional needs and regulations.
Who Are The Stakeholders?
Several different groups have a stake in the restoration of the San Jacinto West Fork. In addition to those who benefit directly, other groups could help with funding, permits and sweat equity.
Stakeholders That Benefit Directly
Sand Miners – They own or lease the land that needs restoration and they have the equipment onsite to do it. They have profited from the land. And they want to continue profiting from other natural resources in fast-growing Montgomery County.
City of Houston – Reducing sedimentation will improve water quality, reduce water treatment costs, reduce dredging costs, and help maintain the volume of Lake Houston.
Montgomery County – Wants to attract responsible development, increase its tax base, and provide a lasting legacy for future generations.
Residents – In surrounding communities, especially residents who flooded.
Permitting Authorities
The Army Corps of Engineers requires Clean Water Act Section 404 Permits for most work in wetlands or navigable waters, especially if filling or reshaping pits.
If federal funds are used, a National Environmental Policy Act assessment may be required.
TCEQ Water Quality Certification (401 Permit) often goes with the 404 permit, especially if water discharge or sediment transport is involved.
Sand and Gravel Reclamation Permit – If the mine was never officially closed, you may need to coordinate with the Railroad Commission of Texas or TCEQ for reclamation compliance.
Montgomery County Floodplain Development Permit – Required for any earthwork, construction, or grading in a floodplain area.
San Jacinto River Authority – May need to review plans that affect the river channel or hydrology.
State of Texas Agencies
Texas Parks and Wildlife provides local park grants for turning reclaimed land into public parks or recreation areas.
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) manages the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. It offers low-interest loans (and sometimes partial forgiveness) for water quality-related projects, like constructed wetlands or erosion control.
FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) For projects that reduce risk from natural disasters, especially flooding.
EPA Wetland Program Development Grants Supports planning, monitoring, and restoration of wetland areas.
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Offers funding for conservation easements or habitat restoration, especially on flood-prone or riparian land.
USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Great if you’re turning pits into wildlife habitat — offers funding and technical help.
Conservation Groups and Non-Profits
Bayou Land Conservancy – A powerful environmental group in this area that works with land owners and manages conservation easements. Several sand miners have already donated land to them.
Mitigation banking: You can restore floodplain/wetland habitat and sell credits to developers who need to offset their impact elsewhere.
Eco-tourism partnerships: Partner with outfitters, RV parks, or fishing shops to co-invest in recreation-focused sites.
Corporate sponsorships: Regional companies (e.g., energy or construction) might fund park or conservation work as part of their environmental and social commitments.
High Schools and Local Colleges
Restoration could involve outdoor classrooms for students from local high schools and colleges. Teachers could give natural science credit to students who helped on the project, i.e., with planting wildflowers and trees. Students also provide an efficient way to reach and motivate their parents.
Next Steps
Clearly, a wide range of people, companies, agencies and non-profits have an interest in working together to transform the San Jacinto wastelands to wetlands.
The San Jacinto West Fork has been named one of America’s most endangered rivers because of sand mining. We need to fix it. And sooner, rather than later.
In my next Wasteland-to-Wetlands post, I will outline a plan for achieving the vision. We need an organization that can bring all of these groups together and a path to success.
Transforming sand to sanctuaries, and wastelands into wetlands, won’t be simple or quick. But we can and must restore the river. It will make a huge difference for our children and grandchildren.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/30/25
2770 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20081214-Snow-Geese-2972.jpg?fit=1100%2C731&ssl=17311100adminadmin2025-03-30 12:59:552025-03-30 12:59:56Wastelands to Wetlands, Part II: San Jacinto West Fork Stakeholders
3/29/25 – Every time I fly over the San Jacinto West Fork, I wonder, “What would it take to transform all the wastelands to wetlands again?”
Typical scene along banks of San Jacinto West Fork between I-69 and I-45.
That burning question has guided much of my research for the last eight years. I don’t have all the details worked out, but I would like to share a vision for restoring the area’s:
Natural beauty
Recreational potential
Ability to:
Reduce flooding and sedimentation
Attract economic development.
The restoration would be incremental and generational. It will not happen overnight. And the timing will, no doubt, depend on how much sand remains.
All the more reason for all parties to agree on a vision that can guide future restoration and redevelopment. So, let me propose a vision to start the debate and stimulate ideas. All of us are smarter than one of us.
The Vision
I would like to see a mile-wide, 20-mile long recreational area between I-45 and I-69 with lakes and ponds, all connected by hike-and-bike trails. It would be called the Montgomery County Lake District. And it would connect to the West Fork and Spring Creek Greenways.
Dense forests/wetlands in Lake Houston Park on East Fork represent potential of nature to reduce flooding and sedimentation.
Such an area would feature kayak launches and fishing piers. It would also feature covered pavilions, restrooms and parking lots in the higher elevations near the edges of the preserve.
Constructed wetlands would filter runoff from nearby developments.
Image of great egret in breeding plumage captured at High Island
The floodplains would be planted with native grasses, wildflowers, and flood-resilient trees such as willow and bald cypress.
Some of the pavilions might even have educational exhibits that explain about restoration efforts and the native wildlife.
To put this concept in perspective, Lake Houston Park – not far away on the East Fork – is already the largest urban nature park in North America. The area in the floodplains and floodway of the West Fork between 59 and 45 could be TWO TO THREE TIMES LARGER. Restoring and preserving it could draw national attention to Montgomery County and Houston as a role model.
What Would It Take?
From an exclusively physical point of view, turning old sand mines into sanctuaries would likely require the actions below. (I’ll discuss financial, permitting, legislative and other needs in future posts.)
With effort, the sand pits could be transformed into giant detention basins that hold hundreds, if not thousands, of acre feet of stormwater during floods. They could also intercept sediment carried downstream by the river during floods.
The design would likely incorporate overflow weirs to accommodate flood pulses.
For safety and flood resilience, we would need to regrade the pits. The edges should be shallow and gradual. Avoid sharp drop-offs that could challenge young swimmers or waders.
Gradual slopes also help with replanting native vegetation. We should use dense plantings of native trees and wildflowers to create visual buffers.
The area would also feature educational signage along trails to encourage outdoor activities, environmental awareness and collective action.
We should collectively buy and preserve any not-yet-spoiled land between the mines also, so trails can be continuous along the entire length of the river.
Make Miners Part of the Solution
Prior to a mine’s closing, miners should re-contour any high, steep pitwalls, overburden piles, or embankments. Slopes should not exceed a 2:1 (50%) grade, with gentler 3:1 slopes preferred to enhance stability and allow vegetation to take hold.
Avoid long, continuous slopes to reduce erosion and break them up with terraces to facilitate seeding and maintenance.
Where runoff concentrates, install lined channels or rock chutes to convey water safely downslope without gullying. Use riprap to protect outlets, dissipate energy and prevent scour.
As mines near the end of their producing life, begin revegetating all areas not occupied by water bodies. Reclaim the land progressively in phases, as production ends in one part of the mine and continues elsewhere. Prompt reclamation prevents abandoned pits from becoming illegal dump sites.
Mines need to demobilize all equipment and remove industrial materials, fuel tanks, maintenance shops, debris piles, etc. The final land surface should be free of trash, waste and equipment.
Abandoned dredge, West Fork Sand Mine in Humble.
The goal: a stable site with self-sustaining vegetation, no significant sediment leaving the property, and no uncontrolled discharges into the West Fork or its tributaries.
All these recommendations are consistent with TCEQ Best Management Practices for Sand Mining in the San Jacinto Watershed and case studies from around the world.
Additional Efforts
A vision is just the glue that guides the efforts of many different parties as they work together to achieve common goals. Of course, creating such a transformation takes more than a vision. It takes sweat, money and leadership. So we also need to:
Identify and Enroll Stakeholders
Engage Engineers to Develop a Design
Obtain Permits from Multiple Levels of Government
Initiate Legislative Efforts to Create a Redevelopment Authority/District
Raise Funds and Apply for Grants
Provide for Ongoing Maintenance
I’ll discuss these additional topics in future posts to keep the length of this one manageable.
Please stay with me and share these posts with friends, families and neighbors. Also, please contribute your own ideas through the contact form of this website.
Together, we can turn sand into sanctuaries and wastelands into wetlands again.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/29/25
2769 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/2025/03/20140322-20140322-20140322-_RJR5665.jpg?fit=1100%2C732&ssl=17321100adminadmin2025-03-29 19:38:462025-03-30 12:03:06Wastelands to Wetlands: A Vision for Restoring the San Jacinto West Fork
The most cherished compliments come from the people you respect the most. Yesterday, I (and ReduceFlooding.com) received an award from the Lions Clubs International Foundation for Dedicated Humanitarian Services.
About Lions Clubs
You would be hard pressed to find a group of people more dedicated to community service than the 1.4 million members of 49,000 Lions Clubs in 200 countries around the world. They’re involved in causes as diverse as hunger, childhood cancer, disaster relief, the environment and more. They are the youngest major, global service organization, but have grown to be the largest.
Our local chapter, the Humble Noon Lions Club, focuses on pediatric eye screenings of pre-school children as young as six months. They also:
Collect used eyeglasses for people who can’t afford them
Support special needs children
Sponsor camps for disabled children
Assist HAAM with the distribution of Meals on Wheels to unsheltered clients
Support the Humble ISD Foundation with scholarships, teacher grants, and vision screening at their health fairs.
A Big ‘Thank You’ to Lions and Readers
So, it was quite an honor when the local Lion’s club honored my efforts with ReduceFlooding.com yesterday. My focus is on raising awareness of the causes of flooding and what people are doing to mitigate it…especially in the Houston region.
Award ceremony at what used to be Rehak Creative Services before I retired and is now the Creativity Shell.Tony Austin, presenting the award. I’m the suit. And the woman next to me is my wife of 50 years, Susan Davy.
I never really thought of myself as a humanitarian. I just wanted to make my community a safer place to live. But I will happily accept the award. And it will rest in a place of honor in my home.
Thank you, Lions for all you do. Thank you, Susan Davy, for all your help. And thank you, readers, for keeping the fight alive to make the Houston region a safer place to live. Together, we can do it.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/28/2025
2768 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250327-DSC_1901.jpg?fit=1100%2C733&ssl=17331100adminadmin2025-03-28 10:53:252025-03-28 10:58:50Lions Clubs Award
Wastelands to Wetlands, Part II: San Jacinto West Fork Stakeholders
3/30/25 – Yesterday, I outlined a vision for transforming the San Jacinto sand pits from wastelands to wetlands.
The idea: create a mile-wide, 20-mile long natural recreational area between I-45 and I-69 with lakes and ponds, all connected by hike-and-bike trails. It would be called the Montgomery County Lake District. And it would connect to the West Fork and Spring Creek Greenways.
Together, we could restore the natural beauty of the area, increase its recreational potential, improve water quality, reduce flooding, reduce erosion and attract responsible development. If successful, the plan would improve home values and also bring back wildlife.
It could be a win-win for all parties involved. People would rather live near nature than an abandoned sand pit.
Of course, a vision is just the glue that guides the efforts of many different parties as they work together for years to achieve common goals. The first step in achieving such a vision is to identify and enroll stakeholders.
Collaborating with local communities, environmental organizations, and government agencies will ensure the project aligns with regional needs and regulations.
Who Are The Stakeholders?
Several different groups have a stake in the restoration of the San Jacinto West Fork. In addition to those who benefit directly, other groups could help with funding, permits and sweat equity.
Stakeholders That Benefit Directly
Permitting Authorities
State of Texas Agencies
Federal Government Grants and Programs
For projects that reduce risk from natural disasters, especially flooding.
Supports planning, monitoring, and restoration of wetland areas.
Offers funding for conservation easements or habitat restoration, especially on flood-prone or riparian land.
Great if you’re turning pits into wildlife habitat — offers funding and technical help.
Conservation Groups and Non-Profits
Private Sector
High Schools and Local Colleges
Restoration could involve outdoor classrooms for students from local high schools and colleges. Teachers could give natural science credit to students who helped on the project, i.e., with planting wildflowers and trees. Students also provide an efficient way to reach and motivate their parents.
Next Steps
Clearly, a wide range of people, companies, agencies and non-profits have an interest in working together to transform the San Jacinto wastelands to wetlands.
The San Jacinto West Fork has been named one of America’s most endangered rivers because of sand mining. We need to fix it. And sooner, rather than later.
In my next Wasteland-to-Wetlands post, I will outline a plan for achieving the vision. We need an organization that can bring all of these groups together and a path to success.
Transforming sand to sanctuaries, and wastelands into wetlands, won’t be simple or quick. But we can and must restore the river. It will make a huge difference for our children and grandchildren.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/30/25
2770 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Wastelands to Wetlands: A Vision for Restoring the San Jacinto West Fork
3/29/25 – Every time I fly over the San Jacinto West Fork, I wonder, “What would it take to transform all the wastelands to wetlands again?”
That burning question has guided much of my research for the last eight years. I don’t have all the details worked out, but I would like to share a vision for restoring the area’s:
The restoration would be incremental and generational. It will not happen overnight. And the timing will, no doubt, depend on how much sand remains.
All the more reason for all parties to agree on a vision that can guide future restoration and redevelopment. So, let me propose a vision to start the debate and stimulate ideas. All of us are smarter than one of us.
The Vision
I would like to see a mile-wide, 20-mile long recreational area between I-45 and I-69 with lakes and ponds, all connected by hike-and-bike trails. It would be called the Montgomery County Lake District. And it would connect to the West Fork and Spring Creek Greenways.
Such an area would feature kayak launches and fishing piers. It would also feature covered pavilions, restrooms and parking lots in the higher elevations near the edges of the preserve.
Constructed wetlands would filter runoff from nearby developments.
Islands in the larger lakes and ponds would attract birds and bird watchers, much like the Houston Audubon Society’s Smith Oaks Sanctuary in High Island.
The floodplains would be planted with native grasses, wildflowers, and flood-resilient trees such as willow and bald cypress.
Some of the pavilions might even have educational exhibits that explain about restoration efforts and the native wildlife.
To put this concept in perspective, Lake Houston Park – not far away on the East Fork – is already the largest urban nature park in North America. The area in the floodplains and floodway of the West Fork between 59 and 45 could be TWO TO THREE TIMES LARGER. Restoring and preserving it could draw national attention to Montgomery County and Houston as a role model.
What Would It Take?
From an exclusively physical point of view, turning old sand mines into sanctuaries would likely require the actions below. (I’ll discuss financial, permitting, legislative and other needs in future posts.)
With effort, the sand pits could be transformed into giant detention basins that hold hundreds, if not thousands, of acre feet of stormwater during floods. They could also intercept sediment carried downstream by the river during floods.
The design would likely incorporate overflow weirs to accommodate flood pulses.
For safety and flood resilience, we would need to regrade the pits. The edges should be shallow and gradual. Avoid sharp drop-offs that could challenge young swimmers or waders.
Gradual slopes also help with replanting native vegetation. We should use dense plantings of native trees and wildflowers to create visual buffers.
The area would also feature educational signage along trails to encourage outdoor activities, environmental awareness and collective action.
We should collectively buy and preserve any not-yet-spoiled land between the mines also, so trails can be continuous along the entire length of the river.
Make Miners Part of the Solution
Prior to a mine’s closing, miners should re-contour any high, steep pitwalls, overburden piles, or embankments. Slopes should not exceed a 2:1 (50%) grade, with gentler 3:1 slopes preferred to enhance stability and allow vegetation to take hold.
Avoid long, continuous slopes to reduce erosion and break them up with terraces to facilitate seeding and maintenance.
Where runoff concentrates, install lined channels or rock chutes to convey water safely downslope without gullying. Use riprap to protect outlets, dissipate energy and prevent scour.
As mines near the end of their producing life, begin revegetating all areas not occupied by water bodies. Reclaim the land progressively in phases, as production ends in one part of the mine and continues elsewhere. Prompt reclamation prevents abandoned pits from becoming illegal dump sites.
Mines need to demobilize all equipment and remove industrial materials, fuel tanks, maintenance shops, debris piles, etc. The final land surface should be free of trash, waste and equipment.
The goal: a stable site with self-sustaining vegetation, no significant sediment leaving the property, and no uncontrolled discharges into the West Fork or its tributaries.
All these recommendations are consistent with TCEQ Best Management Practices for Sand Mining in the San Jacinto Watershed and case studies from around the world.
Additional Efforts
A vision is just the glue that guides the efforts of many different parties as they work together to achieve common goals. Of course, creating such a transformation takes more than a vision. It takes sweat, money and leadership. So we also need to:
I’ll discuss these additional topics in future posts to keep the length of this one manageable.
Please stay with me and share these posts with friends, families and neighbors. Also, please contribute your own ideas through the contact form of this website.
Together, we can turn sand into sanctuaries and wastelands into wetlands again.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/29/25
2769 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.
Lions Clubs Award
The most cherished compliments come from the people you respect the most. Yesterday, I (and ReduceFlooding.com) received an award from the Lions Clubs International Foundation for Dedicated Humanitarian Services.
About Lions Clubs
You would be hard pressed to find a group of people more dedicated to community service than the 1.4 million members of 49,000 Lions Clubs in 200 countries around the world. They’re involved in causes as diverse as hunger, childhood cancer, disaster relief, the environment and more. They are the youngest major, global service organization, but have grown to be the largest.
Our local chapter, the Humble Noon Lions Club, focuses on pediatric eye screenings of pre-school children as young as six months. They also:
A Big ‘Thank You’ to Lions and Readers
So, it was quite an honor when the local Lion’s club honored my efforts with ReduceFlooding.com yesterday. My focus is on raising awareness of the causes of flooding and what people are doing to mitigate it…especially in the Houston region.
I never really thought of myself as a humanitarian. I just wanted to make my community a safer place to live. But I will happily accept the award. And it will rest in a place of honor in my home.
Thank you, Lions for all you do. Thank you, Susan Davy, for all your help. And thank you, readers, for keeping the fight alive to make the Houston region a safer place to live. Together, we can do it.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/28/2025
2768 Days since Hurricane Harvey