9/11/25 – In the fight against flooding, success is not always defined by grand infrastructure projects costing tens or hundreds of millions of dollars. Sometimes flood risk can be reduced by simple maintenance. The ditch west of Kingwood High School that parallels Valley Manor Drive is an example.
Culverts under Kingwood Drive had become badly blocked with sediment and underbrush, reducing their conveyance.
To make residents safer, two Republican City Council members working with a Democratic Mayor mobilized the Houston Public Works Department and a private contractor.
Result: They reduced the flood risk of approximately 100 families living upstream from the blockages that flooded badly during Hurricane Harvey. People and homes are safer now. Because everyone worked together.
Before Photos
The photos below show what the ditch looked like before the project started.
Downstream exitLower angle showing scale of downstream blockageDitch had become totally overgrown in median.Aerial view of blocked ditch in median(below car)Public Works personnel survey the magnitude of the job from the upstream side of Kingwood Drive.
After Photos
Downstream exit now cleared.Median now clearedMedian from opposite directionAerial shot of cleared medianUpstream entrance now all clear
Results, Not Rhetoric
This won’t make national headlines. It won’t inspire millions of clicks or likes. But it is a great example of working together across the political divide to make people safer. As City Council Member Fred Flickinger, no stranger to the political arena, said, “We have a lot more that unites us than divides us.”
The job isn’t quite done yet. Flickinger said that the City intends to hydro-mulch this area to reduce erosion. However, Council will have to approve additional budget for that.
Credit goes to:
Houston City Council Members Flickinger and Twila Carter
Dustin Hodges, Flickinger’s Chief of Staff
Houston Mayor John Whitmire
Houston Public Works
Kingwood Flood Fighter and Activist Chris Bloch
Bloch, a member of the Bear Branch Trail Association board, helped document conditions before the job and arranged rights of entry for contractors.
Thanks to all involved!
Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/11/25
2935 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/20250812-DJI_20250812125304_0109_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2025-09-11 16:23:212025-09-11 16:23:22Small Success in the Fight Against Flooding Sets Good Example
9/10/25 – Ralph DeLeon, Northpark project manager, had good news to share this afternoon. Two out-of-place water lines that have slowed the Northpark expansion project for months are finally being moved out of the way.
Construction crews discovered the out-of-place pipelines during the boring operation under the UnionPacific Railroad tracks back in July. Contractors were trying to insert two 60″ steel pipelines under the tracks, in order to convey stormwater from the west side to the east and then onward to the Kingwood Diversion Ditch.
Abandoned Water Lines Had Cascading Effects
But the utility conflicts had cascading effects. Without the twin bores, surface lanes on top of them could not be built. And without the surface lanes traffic could not be rerouted to make way for other improvements.
The pictures below show removal of the first of the two lines.
Workers begin cutting into the first pipe.Pipe section being removed from pit and……lifted out of hole……and carried away.State of pit as of 3PM on 9/10/25. Note gap in pipe on right.
It’s unclear whether that small black line on a diagonal is the second water line or a brace for the pit walls. DeLeon was not available to clarify.
However, De Leon’s email did say, “The contractor removed the 18” abandoned water line underneath the rail tracks and expects to complete extraction of the second conflict by today. … They expect to resume boring and installing the 5′ steel pipes by Friday this week.
Traffic Switch Delayed
In other news, the traffic switch initially scheduled for today and tomorrow has been delayed by a week. De Leon said, “The contractor did not get enough concrete sections built to move forward with the traffic as initially scheduled.”
The Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority website now says, “Beginning September 17th at 9pm and thru September 18th, the Northpark Drive Project Contractor, Harper Brothers Construction, will shift westbound traffic, between NorthPark Christian Church and Loop 494 to the newly constructed westbound lanes. The existing east bound traffic lanes will also shift onto the previous westbound traffic lanes from Loop 494 to RecNation RV & Boat Storage.”
These traffic shifts are planned to last approximately four months.
Greatly reduced. For a full-size, high-res PDF with better readability, click here.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/10/2025
2934 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/20250909-IMG_5382.jpg?fit=825%2C1100&ssl=11100825adminadmin2025-09-10 16:55:222025-09-10 16:59:51Major Causes of Northpark Project Slowdown Being Removed
According to Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey, PE, “Exciting plans are in motion for Edgewater Park in Kingwood!” Ramsey’s most recent newsletter says that starting in 2026, visitors can look forward to:
New trail connections
Improved access
Additional parking
A brand-new restroom facility
“And that’s just the beginning,” says Ramsey. “This is only Phase One of a three-phase project!” Future improvements will bring:
Even more trails
A playground
A public boat/canoe launch
Plans to redevelop the park were first announced in 2018 back when Kingwood was still in Precinct 4. Redistricting, permitting, budget, and wetlands issues delayed construction and forced the Precinct 3 Parks Department to rethink its plans.
Edgewater Park is located on the northeast corner of the San Jacinto West Fork and US59/Loop 494, just south of Hamblen Road.
Fourth Largest Urban Trail Network in North America
All of these upgrades are part of the Spring Creek Greenway connectivity plan. It will expand recreational opportunities across the region and create one of the largest urban trail networks in North America.
According to ChatGPT, the 40 miles of trails along Spring Creek and another 100+ miles in Kingwood would create the fourth largest urban trail network in North America. Only Calgary (600 miles), Philadelphia (400 miles) and Dallas (200 miles) have longer connected hike and bike trail networks.
Three Phases of Development Starting in Q4 2025
Edgewater Park will be developed in three phases:
Phase 1 – Regional Trail connecting under-crossing and Ross Road, parking lots and nature trail access, and a restroom. Ross Road is the westernmost road between Hamblen and the river.
Phase 2 – Additional Trail, Parking Lot, and Playground.
Phase 3 – Parking Lot and Public Boat Launch.
Heppen anticipates that Phase 1 will be bid in the 4th Quarter of this year with construction starting in the 1st Quarter of 2026.
Heppen provided this PDF showing the current plans.
Note that the plan contains four detention basins, two on each side of the utility corridor that bisects the park.
Heppen says that the ponds be shallow and have dry bottoms. The goal: let nature and the coastal grasses start to take over the bottoms to provide more of a natural feel.
Trails will wind around and over the basins and through the woods.
Heppen says that Phase 1 will form the backbone that enables future phases. It will create the final connection between the West Fork and Spring Creek Greenways. Once complete, residents will be able to use the Spring Creek Greenway from any point in Kingwood without going onto busy Hamblen Road.
Northern Parcel Will Remain Wetlands
The County owns some land north of Hamblen, too. However, at this time, Eric Heppen, PE, PMP, Precinct 3’s Director of Engineering, says the County has no plans for it at present.
Specifically, Heppen is referring to the area between Loop 494, the Laurel Springs RV Resort, Laurel Springs Lane, and Hamblen, which is dotted with cypress ponds.
Evidently, wetland considerations restrict development of that area.
Dog Park No Longer Part of Edgewater Plans
The county also originally had plans for a dog park in Edgewater. However, that has changed, too. Heppen says the county is now working with the City of Houston to find an alternate location in Kingwood.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/9/2025
2933 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/20250909-Edgewater-2026-Plans.jpg?fit=1100%2C719&ssl=17191100adminadmin2025-09-09 16:51:022025-09-09 19:00:51Development of Edgewater Park Restarting
Small Success in the Fight Against Flooding Sets Good Example
9/11/25 – In the fight against flooding, success is not always defined by grand infrastructure projects costing tens or hundreds of millions of dollars. Sometimes flood risk can be reduced by simple maintenance. The ditch west of Kingwood High School that parallels Valley Manor Drive is an example.
Culverts under Kingwood Drive had become badly blocked with sediment and underbrush, reducing their conveyance.
To make residents safer, two Republican City Council members working with a Democratic Mayor mobilized the Houston Public Works Department and a private contractor.
Result: They reduced the flood risk of approximately 100 families living upstream from the blockages that flooded badly during Hurricane Harvey. People and homes are safer now. Because everyone worked together.
Before Photos
The photos below show what the ditch looked like before the project started.
After Photos
Results, Not Rhetoric
This won’t make national headlines. It won’t inspire millions of clicks or likes. But it is a great example of working together across the political divide to make people safer. As City Council Member Fred Flickinger, no stranger to the political arena, said, “We have a lot more that unites us than divides us.”
The job isn’t quite done yet. Flickinger said that the City intends to hydro-mulch this area to reduce erosion. However, Council will have to approve additional budget for that.
Credit goes to:
Bloch, a member of the Bear Branch Trail Association board, helped document conditions before the job and arranged rights of entry for contractors.
Thanks to all involved!
Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/11/25
2935 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Major Causes of Northpark Project Slowdown Being Removed
9/10/25 – Ralph DeLeon, Northpark project manager, had good news to share this afternoon. Two out-of-place water lines that have slowed the Northpark expansion project for months are finally being moved out of the way.
Construction crews discovered the out-of-place pipelines during the boring operation under the UnionPacific Railroad tracks back in July. Contractors were trying to insert two 60″ steel pipelines under the tracks, in order to convey stormwater from the west side to the east and then onward to the Kingwood Diversion Ditch.
Abandoned Water Lines Had Cascading Effects
But the utility conflicts had cascading effects. Without the twin bores, surface lanes on top of them could not be built. And without the surface lanes traffic could not be rerouted to make way for other improvements.
The pictures below show removal of the first of the two lines.
It’s unclear whether that small black line on a diagonal is the second water line or a brace for the pit walls. DeLeon was not available to clarify.
However, De Leon’s email did say, “The contractor removed the 18” abandoned water line underneath the rail tracks and expects to complete extraction of the second conflict by today. … They expect to resume boring and installing the 5′ steel pipes by Friday this week.
Traffic Switch Delayed
In other news, the traffic switch initially scheduled for today and tomorrow has been delayed by a week. De Leon said, “The contractor did not get enough concrete sections built to move forward with the traffic as initially scheduled.”
The Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority website now says, “Beginning September 17th at 9pm and thru September 18th, the Northpark Drive Project Contractor, Harper Brothers Construction, will shift westbound traffic, between NorthPark Christian Church and Loop 494 to the newly constructed westbound lanes. The existing east bound traffic lanes will also shift onto the previous westbound traffic lanes from Loop 494 to RecNation RV & Boat Storage.”
These traffic shifts are planned to last approximately four months.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/10/2025
2934 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Development of Edgewater Park Restarting
According to Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey, PE, “Exciting plans are in motion for Edgewater Park in Kingwood!” Ramsey’s most recent newsletter says that starting in 2026, visitors can look forward to:
“And that’s just the beginning,” says Ramsey. “This is only Phase One of a three-phase project!” Future improvements will bring:
Plans to redevelop the park were first announced in 2018 back when Kingwood was still in Precinct 4. Redistricting, permitting, budget, and wetlands issues delayed construction and forced the Precinct 3 Parks Department to rethink its plans.
Edgewater Park is located on the northeast corner of the San Jacinto West Fork and US59/Loop 494, just south of Hamblen Road.
Fourth Largest Urban Trail Network in North America
All of these upgrades are part of the Spring Creek Greenway connectivity plan. It will expand recreational opportunities across the region and create one of the largest urban trail networks in North America.
According to ChatGPT, the 40 miles of trails along Spring Creek and another 100+ miles in Kingwood would create the fourth largest urban trail network in North America. Only Calgary (600 miles), Philadelphia (400 miles) and Dallas (200 miles) have longer connected hike and bike trail networks.
Three Phases of Development Starting in Q4 2025
Edgewater Park will be developed in three phases:
Heppen anticipates that Phase 1 will be bid in the 4th Quarter of this year with construction starting in the 1st Quarter of 2026.
Heppen provided this PDF showing the current plans.
Natural Feel
Note that the plan contains four detention basins, two on each side of the utility corridor that bisects the park.
Heppen says that the ponds be shallow and have dry bottoms. The goal: let nature and the coastal grasses start to take over the bottoms to provide more of a natural feel.
Trails will wind around and over the basins and through the woods.
Heppen says that Phase 1 will form the backbone that enables future phases. It will create the final connection between the West Fork and Spring Creek Greenways. Once complete, residents will be able to use the Spring Creek Greenway from any point in Kingwood without going onto busy Hamblen Road.
Northern Parcel Will Remain Wetlands
The County owns some land north of Hamblen, too. However, at this time, Eric Heppen, PE, PMP, Precinct 3’s Director of Engineering, says the County has no plans for it at present.
Specifically, Heppen is referring to the area between Loop 494, the Laurel Springs RV Resort, Laurel Springs Lane, and Hamblen, which is dotted with cypress ponds.
Evidently, wetland considerations restrict development of that area.
Dog Park No Longer Part of Edgewater Plans
The county also originally had plans for a dog park in Edgewater. However, that has changed, too. Heppen says the county is now working with the City of Houston to find an alternate location in Kingwood.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/9/2025
2933 Days since Hurricane Harvey