3/11/25 at 5 PM and updated at 7 PM – This afternoon at 6 PM, ABC13’s Nick Natario aired a segment on the progress of Kingwood drainage projects since the passage of the 2018 flood bond.
The publication of a new interactive map by the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) sparked renewed interest in flood issues – for all the wrong reasons.
Natario (left) interviewing Rehak (right) next to Taylor Gully this afternoon.
The map marked the Woodridge Village and Taylor Gully Improvement Projects in Kingwood as “complete.”
It marked the project to add more floodgates to the Lake Houston Dam as “complete.”
Ditto for the TC Jester Detention Basin upstream on Cypress Creek – “complete.”
The Kingwood Diversion Ditch that hasn’t seen an excavator? They marked that “in progress.”
All of those assertions are false and misleading.
HCFCD may have completed parts of the projects, such as preliminary engineering reviews. But their map suggested entire projects were complete. However, in reality, absolutely no construction projects were completed to reduce flood risk on any of these projects.
In fairness, though, HCFCD did complete some maintenance projects after Harvey. And they did buy the Woodridge Village property from Perry Homes. But they have not completed any improvements to it.
Natario’s segment first aired at 4 this afternoon before I could get this post up. By the time it aired the second time at 6, HCFCD has agreed to remove the misleading information from their new map.
Suggestion for HCFCD
I talked with the flood control district this morning. They are using old databases that were not designed to do what they want to do. And so, they say, they are having translation issues with the data.
That’s fair. But please, HCFCD, work out the kinks before publishing the data. After you have proofed it, publish it then.
Don’t call a project complete because you completed a preliminary engineering study when you haven’t implemented any of the study’s recommendations.
That’s very misleading. Provide more detail and context.
People could buy homes based on your misleading information that later flood. Or the community could be denied a flood-mitigation grant because a bureaucrat a thousand miles away in Washington thinks the project is already complete.
I have invited HCFCD to publish a guest post on this issue to present their point of view. But they have not provided it yet.
Between the 4 and 6 PM airings, HCFCD removed the projects inappropriately labeled as “completed” from its map. The revised map now only shows work in progress.
HCFCD revised interactive map. All projects previously reported as “complete have been removed.
Thank you, ABC13! And thank you HCFCD.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/11/25and updated after the ABC segment aired
2751 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/2025/03/20250311-DSC_1889.jpg?fit=1100%2C733&ssl=17331100adminadmin2025-03-11 16:45:272025-03-12 06:12:53ABC13 Exposes Progress of Kingwood Drainage Projects
3/10/25 – In the last week, Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) launched a new interactive map at the bottom of its homepage. In it, HCFCD calls many projects complete that have not even started.
The map supposedly contains the status of each project in the county along with links to more project details.
However, the information is riddled with errors. The map also contains several usability issues that place barriers between people and information.
Together, the issues show a disturbing lack of attention to detail and quality control that undermines the credibility of HCFCD.
Examples of Incorrectly Coded Projects
For instance, you may be pleased to know that the project to add more floodgates to the Lake Houston Dam is “complete.” It’s not. Ask Houston City Council Member Fred Flickinger who just provided an update on the ongoing engineering of the gates.
This and all other screen captures below taken on 3/10/25. Note project status in lower right corner.
Neither are the projects complete to add stormwater-detention capacity to Woodridge Village and to improve Taylor Gully. However, the map shows them completed also.
HCFCD also marked the Kingwood Diversion Ditch Project “in progress.” It’s not.
“None of this information is true!”
– Bob Rehak
With the exception of the Woodridge project, the District has not turned one shovel of dirt on any of the projects above.
The District tabled the Woodridge project in November 2023 when it decided to seek HUD funding to complete it. Here’s how HCFCD left the site.
“Completed” Woodridge Village Detention Basin. Photo taken today, 3/10/25.
HCFCD even marked the TC Jester Detention Basins on Cypress Creek complete.
HCFCD did not respond to questions about the errors, nor did it take the error-ridden, interactive map down as of close of business today.
Usability Flaws, Too
In addition to the project-status errors, the map also contains some serious usability flaws.
For instance, clicking on the link for more information about a project sometimes takes one to a page that asks you to sign into “ArcGIS Online.”
But that requires HCFCD employee credentials.
However, take heart. If you wait several minutes, information may eventually load OFFSCREEN and ABOVE the sign-in prompt…where few would ever bother to look for it. Very clever!
A source familiar with Harris County Universal Services, the county’s IT department, attributed the bizarre performance of the map, in part, to incompetent coders and project managers with forged credentials working on H1-B visas.
That may be an even bigger problem! If you think Elon Musk rummaging through IRS data is an issue, imagine foreign nationals rummaging through your Harris County tax information. But I digress.
In the meeting, Commissioners adopted several measures to limit the financial impact to the county in case DOGE rescinds $1.1 billion of previously promised HUD disaster-relief and flood-mitigation funding.
In the same meeting, Commissioners also demanded an update from HCFCD Executive Director Tina Petersen about the status of every project. The reason: so they could make sure so-called “equity projects” were completed in low-to-moderate income areas before those in more affluent areas.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis said he didn’t want to wait “until all the money was gone.” He added, “I know there’s not enough money to do all the projects we talked about and everybody else knows it.”
I hope Ms. Petersen provides better information to her bosses than to the public. She just received a $90,000 raise. You could hire several proofreaders for that!
No telling how many errors are embedded in the interactive HCFCD map; I am not familiar with every project in the county. If you know of other errors in projects near you, please send me a note through the contact form on this website.
Posted Bob Rehak on 3/10/25
2750 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/2025/03/20230812-RJR_2246.jpg?fit=1100%2C733&ssl=17331100adminadmin2025-03-10 20:29:092025-03-10 23:38:55HCFCD Calls Projects Complete that Have Not Even Started
3/9/25 – Last week, contractors began transplantation of more Northpark trees. Residents said they wanted to save the trees. And early on, the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority committed to saving as many as possible, especially those with ornamental value. They budgeted $700,000 for the effort.
From Loop 494/Northpark to South Entry Pond
The trees transplanted last week moved from in front of the dry cleaners on the SW corner of Northpark and Loop 494 to areas around the south entry pond on Northpark at US 59.
I wasn’t able to photograph the transplantation since it happened at night. But comparing previous and current photos shows where they moved from and to.
January 2025 photo.Trees circled in red moved.Photo taken today. That same area photographed from a different angle this afternoon shows trees are gone.File photo from 2023 of equipment used to transplant first trees in Northpark program.Contractors moved trees to the south entry pond. The most beautiful occupies a place of prominence in center of this trio. Contractors transplanted the other two trees earlier.They scattered other transplanted trees around what will become the south entry pond.
Most people will notice the trees missing from in front of the dry cleaners. But they won’t realize where they went to.
Keep Finished Design in Mind
Construction never feels pretty.
However, rest assured that the directors of the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10 heard residents and are acting to save the trees. It’s just hard to see with all the visual noise of construction.
When complete, the entry ponds at Northpark should look as good as those at Kingwood Drive. And that is another thing residents have requested for years.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250309-DJI_20250309152749_0215_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2025-03-09 19:06:112025-03-09 19:08:26Transplantation of More Northpark Trees
ABC13 Exposes Progress of Kingwood Drainage Projects
3/11/25 at 5 PM and updated at 7 PM – This afternoon at 6 PM, ABC13’s Nick Natario aired a segment on the progress of Kingwood drainage projects since the passage of the 2018 flood bond.
The publication of a new interactive map by the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) sparked renewed interest in flood issues – for all the wrong reasons.
Map Misleads
The map showed the status of all flood-mitigation projects in the county. It also showed a lot of misleading information. Specifically, it called projects complete that were not.
HCFCD may have completed parts of the projects, such as preliminary engineering reviews. But their map suggested entire projects were complete. However, in reality, absolutely no construction projects were completed to reduce flood risk on any of these projects.
In fairness, though, HCFCD did complete some maintenance projects after Harvey. And they did buy the Woodridge Village property from Perry Homes. But they have not completed any improvements to it.
Natario’s segment first aired at 4 this afternoon before I could get this post up. By the time it aired the second time at 6, HCFCD has agreed to remove the misleading information from their new map.
Suggestion for HCFCD
I talked with the flood control district this morning. They are using old databases that were not designed to do what they want to do. And so, they say, they are having translation issues with the data.
That’s fair. But please, HCFCD, work out the kinks before publishing the data. After you have proofed it, publish it then.
Don’t call a project complete because you completed a preliminary engineering study when you haven’t implemented any of the study’s recommendations.
That’s very misleading. Provide more detail and context.
People could buy homes based on your misleading information that later flood. Or the community could be denied a flood-mitigation grant because a bureaucrat a thousand miles away in Washington thinks the project is already complete.
I have invited HCFCD to publish a guest post on this issue to present their point of view. But they have not provided it yet.
If you are concerned about flood mitigation in the Lake Houston area, here is a link to the ABC13 segment by Natario that aired at 4 PM before I could get this post up.
Between the 4 and 6 PM airings, HCFCD removed the projects inappropriately labeled as “completed” from its map. The revised map now only shows work in progress.
Thank you, ABC13! And thank you HCFCD.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/11/25 and updated after the ABC segment aired
2751 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.
HCFCD Calls Projects Complete that Have Not Even Started
3/10/25 – In the last week, Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) launched a new interactive map at the bottom of its homepage. In it, HCFCD calls many projects complete that have not even started.
The map supposedly contains the status of each project in the county along with links to more project details.
However, the information is riddled with errors. The map also contains several usability issues that place barriers between people and information.
Together, the issues show a disturbing lack of attention to detail and quality control that undermines the credibility of HCFCD.
Examples of Incorrectly Coded Projects
For instance, you may be pleased to know that the project to add more floodgates to the Lake Houston Dam is “complete.” It’s not. Ask Houston City Council Member Fred Flickinger who just provided an update on the ongoing engineering of the gates.
Neither are the projects complete to add stormwater-detention capacity to Woodridge Village and to improve Taylor Gully. However, the map shows them completed also.
HCFCD also marked the Kingwood Diversion Ditch Project “in progress.” It’s not.
With the exception of the Woodridge project, the District has not turned one shovel of dirt on any of the projects above.
The District tabled the Woodridge project in November 2023 when it decided to seek HUD funding to complete it. Here’s how HCFCD left the site.
HCFCD even marked the TC Jester Detention Basins on Cypress Creek complete.
However, that project won’t even go out for bid until the fourth quarter of this year.
HCFCD did not respond to questions about the errors, nor did it take the error-ridden, interactive map down as of close of business today.
Usability Flaws, Too
In addition to the project-status errors, the map also contains some serious usability flaws.
For instance, clicking on the link for more information about a project sometimes takes one to a page that asks you to sign into “ArcGIS Online.”
But that requires HCFCD employee credentials.
However, take heart. If you wait several minutes, information may eventually load OFFSCREEN and ABOVE the sign-in prompt…where few would ever bother to look for it. Very clever!
A source familiar with Harris County Universal Services, the county’s IT department, attributed the bizarre performance of the map, in part, to incompetent coders and project managers with forged credentials working on H1-B visas.
That may be an even bigger problem! If you think Elon Musk rummaging through IRS data is an issue, imagine foreign nationals rummaging through your Harris County tax information. But I digress.
Why An Untested Map?
The sudden appearance of the map follows fast on the heels of the Harris County Commissioners Court meeting on February 27, 2025.
In the meeting, Commissioners adopted several measures to limit the financial impact to the county in case DOGE rescinds $1.1 billion of previously promised HUD disaster-relief and flood-mitigation funding.
In the same meeting, Commissioners also demanded an update from HCFCD Executive Director Tina Petersen about the status of every project. The reason: so they could make sure so-called “equity projects” were completed in low-to-moderate income areas before those in more affluent areas.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis said he didn’t want to wait “until all the money was gone.” He added, “I know there’s not enough money to do all the projects we talked about and everybody else knows it.”
I hope Ms. Petersen provides better information to her bosses than to the public. She just received a $90,000 raise. You could hire several proofreaders for that!
No telling how many errors are embedded in the interactive HCFCD map; I am not familiar with every project in the county. If you know of other errors in projects near you, please send me a note through the contact form on this website.
Posted Bob Rehak on 3/10/25
2750 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.
Transplantation of More Northpark Trees
3/9/25 – Last week, contractors began transplantation of more Northpark trees. Residents said they wanted to save the trees. And early on, the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority committed to saving as many as possible, especially those with ornamental value. They budgeted $700,000 for the effort.
From Loop 494/Northpark to South Entry Pond
The trees transplanted last week moved from in front of the dry cleaners on the SW corner of Northpark and Loop 494 to areas around the south entry pond on Northpark at US 59.
I wasn’t able to photograph the transplantation since it happened at night. But comparing previous and current photos shows where they moved from and to.
Most people will notice the trees missing from in front of the dry cleaners. But they won’t realize where they went to.
Keep Finished Design in Mind
Construction never feels pretty.
However, rest assured that the directors of the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10 heard residents and are acting to save the trees. It’s just hard to see with all the visual noise of construction.
When complete, the entry ponds at Northpark should look as good as those at Kingwood Drive. And that is another thing residents have requested for years.
For More Information
See the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority website or consult the related posts below.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/9/25
2749 Days since Hurricane Harvey