1/24/25 – Only hours remain to reduce your flood risk from sand mining.
The public comment period for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s (TCEQ) proposed new best management practices (BMPs) for sand mines closes tonight at 11:59 PM. As of this morning, fewer than 200 people statewide had left comments. That’s less than 1% of all the homes and businesses that flooded in the Lake Houston Area alone.
Small Response Says People No Longer Care About Flooding
And that’s a pathetically small number considering sand mining’s contributions to flooding in this area. Sediment released from the mines during floods accumulates at the mouths of rivers streams and ditches, blocking drainage. Accumulated sediment also reduces the conveyance of rivers and streams.
Blockages and reduced conveyance contributed to an estimated billion dollars in damages during Harvey. They have also cost almost $200 million to dredge in the last five years.
Yet the new BMPs do nothing to address this problem. They show the heavy hand of lobbyists on a state agency eager to create the appearance of public protection.
What We Need
In my opinion, the mines need to be on higher ground, farther from rivers. And the setbacks need to retain their natural vegetation. This will reduce the chances of:
Erosion at greater than natural rates
Rivers migrating into mines over time
Pit capture (That’s when a river starts flowing through a mine pit.)
Floodwaters inundating the mines and carrying off sediment
Downstream sediment accumulations that contribute to flooding homes and businesses.
Hallett and surrounding mines on the San Jacinto West Fork on May 3, 2024. This was during what amounted to a 2- to 10-year rainfall, according to HCFCD.However, flood levels downstream reached 100-year levels, a testament to the reduced conveyance of the West Fork.
The dikes around sand mines are supposed to protect them in a 100-year flood. But as you can see in the photo above, it doesn’t really work that way.
Submitting Your Comment Should Take Less Than 2 Minutes
Please help. Submit public comments to the TCEQ that urge them to include BMPs that address better sediment control.
Here’s how. It should only take a minute or two. Follow these simple steps.
Paste the text into their webform or use your own words.
RE: APO BMP List Proposal
TCEQ’s proposed list of Best Management Practices for Aggregate Production Operations completely ignores mining issues that contribute to flooding in the Houston area.
Most mines on the East and West Forks of the San Jacinto were inundated last year in what amounted to 2- to 10-year rainfall. Floodwaters swept industrial waste downstream into Lake Houston, the drinking water supply for two million people.
The rivers also broke through the dikes of at least six of those mines. The rivers now run through pits instead of around them. This flushes sand and sediment downstream, where it reduces conveyance, blocks drainage and contributes to flooding.
Addressing these issues requires building mines on higher ground, farther from rivers.
I recommend doubling the minimum setback from 100 to 200 feet for mines in the San Jacinto watershed. That will put the mines on higher ground, farther from the floodway.
I also recommend leaving forests undisturbed in the widened buffer zone. That will reduce the velocity of floodwater and, with it, the volume of sediment carried downstream. It will also decrease the likelihood of pit capture, by increasing the amount of time that it takes a river to migrate into a mine. The forest will also help capture sediment that may escape a mine.
Finally, the wider buffers will give rivers more room to spread out during floods. Right now, dikes are supposed to protect mines from a hundred-year flood. But when mines build tall dikes on one side of a river, they double the volume of water flooding the other side. And when they build tall dikes on both sides of a river, water has no room to spread out without invading the mines. The tall dikes effectively eliminate ALL floodplains and turn rivers into erosive firehoses.
I also support the concerns and list of alternative BMPs proposed by Texans for Responsible Aggregate Mining.
Hurry. There are only hours left. So please don’t put this off. Your voice could make a difference for thousands.
West Fork mouth bar formed during Harvey and was 8-10 feet above water line in place. Picture taken before dredging. This backed water up into the Humble/Kingwood/Atascocita Area.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/24/25
2705 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20240503-DJI_20240503180502_0197_D-1.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2025-01-24 15:11:102025-01-24 15:11:14Last Chance to Reduce Flood Risk from Sand Mining
1/23/25 – In an effort to build the first all-weather evacuation route from Kingwood along Northpark Drive, contractors this week took a brief break – for the weather. But today, they were back at it. Here’s where things stand in the last full week of January.
Demolition, Drainage and Weather Delay
The Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10 has resumed demolishing more of the old Northpark Drive pavement. Contractors already demolished and removed the old northbound lanes on Loop 494 south of Northpark. This afternoon, they were busy scraping away the old eastbound lanes on Northpark itself between the entrance to Kings Mill and Russell Palmer Road.
In other news:
Installation of culverts on the north side of Northpark has almost reached the UnionPacific Railroad tracks.
A concrete pour between Loop 494 and US59 was only partially completed before the big freeze. It was paused, but rebar is ready when the temperature becomes warm enough to pour concrete again. The ideal temperature for safely pouring concrete is typically between 50°F and 70°F.
Pictures Taken 1/23/25
Here are pictures of the progress taken this afternoon.
Looking east from in front of Northpark Christian Church. Old lanes have been demolished and removed all the way to Russell Palmer Road.Reverse angle from same location. Demolition extends to Kings Mill entrance.Drainage on outbound Northpark now extends almost to UPRR tracks visible at top of frame.Looking South at Loop 494 northbound lanes, also demolished.
Only one of two westbound lanes were poured before cold weather set in.
But another is ready to go when temperatures improve.
Coming Soon
In the next couple weeks, the look-ahead schedule posted on the LHRA website shows that, weather permitting:
As soon as the main drainage reaches the UPRR, crews will drop back and begin working on laterals to businesses.
After the eastbound roadway is removed, a small storm sewer crew will begin the installation of laterals to the new inlets at the new curb line.
Paving crews will continue westbound work between 59 and Loop 494.
Crews will demolish the Northbound lanes on Loop 494 north of Northpark.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250123-DJI_20250123152027_0774_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2025-01-23 18:33:482025-01-23 19:00:40More of Old Northpark Drive Disappears
1/22/25 – The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has proposed new Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Sand Mines. But they do nothing to address flood risk from sand mining here in the Lake Houston Area.
Sediment pollution from upstream sand mines has contributed to flooding more than 13,000 homes and businesses in the Lake Houston Area. Yet despite more than a billion dollars in damages and almost $200 million spent on dredging in the last five years, fewer than 100 people have protested the new, but ineffective BMPs as of noon today.
To encourage more people to get involved, below I’ve summarized the problems and suggested solutions that you can submit verbatim. The process should take less than two minutes.
The Problem
Local sand-mining practices accelerate and add to the rate of natural erosion. That helps create sediment blockages that reduce conveyance of rivers, back water up, and build higher flood peaks.
Sand deposited during Hurricane Harvey was 8-10 feet above the water line in places. It backed water up into Kingwood, Atascocita and Humble, and stretched 3,400 feet.East Fork Mouth Bar after Imelda grew 3,700 feet.
Both of these blockages have since been dredged. But more sand continues coming with each new flood due to questionable management practices at upstream sand mines. See suggestions below.
Be Part of The Solution
Please add your voice to those protesting the omission of BMPs that address our issues. Providing public comment. Only three days remain before the deadline Friday night.
It should only take a minute or two. Follow these simple steps.
TCEQ’s attempt to create a helpful list of Best Management Practices for Aggregate Production Operations is an exercise in willful blindness. It completely ignores issues mandated by the legislature, as well as others that reduce water quality and increase flood risk.
The issues you do address are addressed in a vague and/or self-evident manner that render them inadequate.
In addition to more specificity, I would like to see BMPs that help mines in the Houston region avoid inundation and pit capture.
Most mines on the East and West Forks of the San Jacinto were inundated last year. Floodwaters swept industrial waste downstream into Lake Houston, the drinking water supply for two million people.
The rivers also broke through the dikes of at least six of those mines. The rivers now run through pits instead of around them. This flushes sand and sediment downstream, where it reduces conveyance, blocks drainage and contributes to flooding.
Addressing these issues requires building mines on higher ground, farther from rivers.
I recommend doubling the minimum setback from 100 to 200 feet for mines in the San Jacinto watershed. That will put the mines on higher ground, farther from the floodway.
I also recommend leaving forests undisturbed in the widened buffer zone. That will reduce the velocity of floodwater and, with it, the volume of sediment carried downstream. It will also decrease the likelihood of pit capture, by increasing the amount of time that it takes a river to migrate into a mine. The forest will also help capture sediment that may escape a mine.
Finally, the wider buffers will give rivers more room to spread out during floods. Right now, dikes are supposed to protect mines from a hundred-year flood. But when mines build tall dikes on one side of a river, they double the volume of water flooding the other side. And when they build tall dikes on both sides of a river, water has no room to spread out without invading the mines. The tall dikes effectively eliminate ALL floodplains and turn rivers into erosive firehoses.
I have attached a PDF that shows visual proof of the need for BMPs that address our main sand-mining concerns in the San Jacinto Watershed.
I also support the concerns and list of alternative BMPs supported by Texans for Responsible Aggregate Mining.
Send a message to Austin that you want the protection you pay taxes for. Get all your friends, neighbors and relatives to submit comments, too.
For more information about sand mining in the Houston region as it relates to the Proposed BMPs, consult these posts.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Harvey-SanJac_437-Mouth-Bar-Cropped.jpg?fit=1988%2C853&ssl=18531988adminadmin2025-01-22 15:55:152025-01-22 16:44:40Reduce Flood Risk from Sand Mining in Two Minutes
Last Chance to Reduce Flood Risk from Sand Mining
1/24/25 – Only hours remain to reduce your flood risk from sand mining.
The public comment period for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s (TCEQ) proposed new best management practices (BMPs) for sand mines closes tonight at 11:59 PM. As of this morning, fewer than 200 people statewide had left comments. That’s less than 1% of all the homes and businesses that flooded in the Lake Houston Area alone.
Small Response Says People No Longer Care About Flooding
And that’s a pathetically small number considering sand mining’s contributions to flooding in this area. Sediment released from the mines during floods accumulates at the mouths of rivers streams and ditches, blocking drainage. Accumulated sediment also reduces the conveyance of rivers and streams.
Blockages and reduced conveyance contributed to an estimated billion dollars in damages during Harvey. They have also cost almost $200 million to dredge in the last five years.
Yet the new BMPs do nothing to address this problem. They show the heavy hand of lobbyists on a state agency eager to create the appearance of public protection.
What We Need
In my opinion, the mines need to be on higher ground, farther from rivers. And the setbacks need to retain their natural vegetation. This will reduce the chances of:
The dikes around sand mines are supposed to protect them in a 100-year flood. But as you can see in the photo above, it doesn’t really work that way.
Submitting Your Comment Should Take Less Than 2 Minutes
Please help. Submit public comments to the TCEQ that urge them to include BMPs that address better sediment control.
Here’s how. It should only take a minute or two. Follow these simple steps.
RE: APO BMP List Proposal
TCEQ’s proposed list of Best Management Practices for Aggregate Production Operations completely ignores mining issues that contribute to flooding in the Houston area.
Most mines on the East and West Forks of the San Jacinto were inundated last year in what amounted to 2- to 10-year rainfall. Floodwaters swept industrial waste downstream into Lake Houston, the drinking water supply for two million people.
The rivers also broke through the dikes of at least six of those mines. The rivers now run through pits instead of around them. This flushes sand and sediment downstream, where it reduces conveyance, blocks drainage and contributes to flooding.
Addressing these issues requires building mines on higher ground, farther from rivers.
I recommend doubling the minimum setback from 100 to 200 feet for mines in the San Jacinto watershed. That will put the mines on higher ground, farther from the floodway.
I also recommend leaving forests undisturbed in the widened buffer zone. That will reduce the velocity of floodwater and, with it, the volume of sediment carried downstream. It will also decrease the likelihood of pit capture, by increasing the amount of time that it takes a river to migrate into a mine. The forest will also help capture sediment that may escape a mine.
Finally, the wider buffers will give rivers more room to spread out during floods. Right now, dikes are supposed to protect mines from a hundred-year flood. But when mines build tall dikes on one side of a river, they double the volume of water flooding the other side. And when they build tall dikes on both sides of a river, water has no room to spread out without invading the mines. The tall dikes effectively eliminate ALL floodplains and turn rivers into erosive firehoses.
I also support the concerns and list of alternative BMPs proposed by Texans for Responsible Aggregate Mining.
Hurry. There are only hours left. So please don’t put this off. Your voice could make a difference for thousands.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/24/25
2705 Days since Hurricane Harvey
More of Old Northpark Drive Disappears
1/23/25 – In an effort to build the first all-weather evacuation route from Kingwood along Northpark Drive, contractors this week took a brief break – for the weather. But today, they were back at it. Here’s where things stand in the last full week of January.
Demolition, Drainage and Weather Delay
The Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10 has resumed demolishing more of the old Northpark Drive pavement. Contractors already demolished and removed the old northbound lanes on Loop 494 south of Northpark. This afternoon, they were busy scraping away the old eastbound lanes on Northpark itself between the entrance to Kings Mill and Russell Palmer Road.
In other news:
Pictures Taken 1/23/25
Here are pictures of the progress taken this afternoon.
Only one of two westbound lanes were poured before cold weather set in.
Coming Soon
In the next couple weeks, the look-ahead schedule posted on the LHRA website shows that, weather permitting:
For More Information
See the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority project web pages. For a history of the project, see these select posts on ReduceFlooding.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/23/25
2704 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Reduce Flood Risk from Sand Mining in Two Minutes
1/22/25 – The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has proposed new Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Sand Mines. But they do nothing to address flood risk from sand mining here in the Lake Houston Area.
Sediment pollution from upstream sand mines has contributed to flooding more than 13,000 homes and businesses in the Lake Houston Area. Yet despite more than a billion dollars in damages and almost $200 million spent on dredging in the last five years, fewer than 100 people have protested the new, but ineffective BMPs as of noon today.
To encourage more people to get involved, below I’ve summarized the problems and suggested solutions that you can submit verbatim. The process should take less than two minutes.
The Problem
Local sand-mining practices accelerate and add to the rate of natural erosion. That helps create sediment blockages that reduce conveyance of rivers, back water up, and build higher flood peaks.
Both of these blockages have since been dredged. But more sand continues coming with each new flood due to questionable management practices at upstream sand mines. See suggestions below.
Be Part of The Solution
Please add your voice to those protesting the omission of BMPs that address our issues. Providing public comment. Only three days remain before the deadline Friday night.
It should only take a minute or two. Follow these simple steps.
RE: APO BMP List Proposal
TCEQ’s attempt to create a helpful list of Best Management Practices for Aggregate Production Operations is an exercise in willful blindness. It completely ignores issues mandated by the legislature, as well as others that reduce water quality and increase flood risk.
The issues you do address are addressed in a vague and/or self-evident manner that render them inadequate.
In addition to more specificity, I would like to see BMPs that help mines in the Houston region avoid inundation and pit capture.
Most mines on the East and West Forks of the San Jacinto were inundated last year. Floodwaters swept industrial waste downstream into Lake Houston, the drinking water supply for two million people.
The rivers also broke through the dikes of at least six of those mines. The rivers now run through pits instead of around them. This flushes sand and sediment downstream, where it reduces conveyance, blocks drainage and contributes to flooding.
Addressing these issues requires building mines on higher ground, farther from rivers.
I recommend doubling the minimum setback from 100 to 200 feet for mines in the San Jacinto watershed. That will put the mines on higher ground, farther from the floodway.
I also recommend leaving forests undisturbed in the widened buffer zone. That will reduce the velocity of floodwater and, with it, the volume of sediment carried downstream. It will also decrease the likelihood of pit capture, by increasing the amount of time that it takes a river to migrate into a mine. The forest will also help capture sediment that may escape a mine.
Finally, the wider buffers will give rivers more room to spread out during floods. Right now, dikes are supposed to protect mines from a hundred-year flood. But when mines build tall dikes on one side of a river, they double the volume of water flooding the other side. And when they build tall dikes on both sides of a river, water has no room to spread out without invading the mines. The tall dikes effectively eliminate ALL floodplains and turn rivers into erosive firehoses.
I have attached a PDF that shows visual proof of the need for BMPs that address our main sand-mining concerns in the San Jacinto Watershed.
I also support the concerns and list of alternative BMPs supported by Texans for Responsible Aggregate Mining.
Send a message to Austin that you want the protection you pay taxes for. Get all your friends, neighbors and relatives to submit comments, too.
For more information about sand mining in the Houston region as it relates to the Proposed BMPs, consult these posts.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/22/25
2703 Days since Hurricane Harvey