12/20/2024 – Just in time for the holidays, the City’s new dredging program on Lake Houston finally launched this week, but with some changes.
The placement area for the spoils will now be near Luce Bayou, not Spanish Cove as previously reported.
This phase of dredging will be restricted to 181 acres on the West Fork. In a previous Town Hall meeting, presenters hinted it might also include East Fork sediment.
According to Dustin Hodges, Chief of Staff for District E City Council Member Fred Flickinger, delays earlier this year in the long-awaited dredging program had to do with the search for an optimal placement area.
DRC, the City’s contractor, and its sister company, Callan Marine, will dredge 876,672 cubic yards of West Fork sediment and pump it four miles to property they bought near Luce. Their objective: to restore the river to its pre-Harvey profile, thereby reducing the potential for flooding.
Depth of the dredged area will vary. But today, the contractor was working at an average depth of 7-8 feet when I visited the operation.
Funding Success Tied to Location
Funding for the program comes from FEMA via U.S. Congressman Dan Crenshaw. The City will use money left over from the West Fork Mouth Bar dredging. As a consequence, this phase of dredging will be limited to the West Fork to meet FEMA requirements.
However, an agreement to use property near Luce Bayou for placement of the spoils may be fortuitous for future East Fork dredging programs. The proximity of the disposal site to the East Fork could lower pumping costs and make dredging there more affordable.
Callan’s General Pershing Dredge working today on West Fork.Sediment will be pumped from the drill bit through this 18″ pipeline up Luce Bayou on the far side of the East Fork.
Mayor John Whitmire and City Council Members Fred Flickinger and Twila Carter have pushed this program since taking office.
Partially submerged drill bit at work.
When Whitmire was elected, he said he wouldn’t forget Kingwood. And he hasn’t.
Key to Reducing Flood Potential
The City’s new dredging program should reduce the potential for future flooding by increasing the conveyance of the river through this critical area.
It is here that water slows down as it meets the standing water in Lake Houston. That causes suspended sediment to drop out of suspension. When enough piles up as it did with the mouth bar, it can back water up into homes and businesses.
The West Fork Mouth Bar as it existed after Harvey. It has since been removed. The current dredging program will focus on areas beyond the mouth bar.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/20/24
2670 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241220-DSC_1432.jpg?fit=1100%2C733&ssl=17331100adminadmin2024-12-20 19:40:532024-12-22 09:41:08City’s New Dredging Program Launched
12/19/24 – Northpark and Loop 494 lane switches happen tonight to accommodate new construction. Two large lane switches will begin at 9PM.
One will be on the eastbound lanes between Kings Mill and the eastern end of the project at the Kingwood Diversion Ditch. The second will be on Loop 494 about a block north and south of the Northpark intersection.
In both areas, Harper Brothers Construction will switch traffic to new or temporary lanes to accommodate demolition of the old lanes, installation of drainage, and reconstruction of new lanes.
The project has two overall goals: accommodate increased traffic and create an all-weather evacuation route for 78,000 Kingwood residents when floods cut off other exits.
Eastbound NorthPark Drive Traffic Switch
Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority’s (LHRA’s) contractor, Harper Brothers Construction will shift east bound NorthPark Drive traffic from the existing eastbound lanes to the newly constructed center lanes. The shift of eastbound traffic to the center lanes will occur between Kings Mill Park Drive and the Kingwood diversion ditch, approximately 0.3 miles east of Russell Palmer Road.
No new changes to the westbound traffic will occur during this phase. The contractor will be installing new storm sewer pipes and inlets along the south side of NorthPark Drive along with new concrete roadway.
This shift is planned to last approximately 6 months.
For a printable map of the lane changes, see this PDF.
The pictures below may help you visualize the changes coming tonight.
Looking east from near Kings Mill Entrance. Lanes on right will be closed off and traffic diverted to center.Italianos is just out of frame on right.Eastbound traffic will continue in the center lanes past Russell Palmer Road.Eastbound traffic will merge back onto the existing lanes between the large dirt pile on left and Jiffy Lube, lower right.Kingwood Diversion Ditch parallels tree line at top of frame.
Loop 494 Traffic Switch:
Harper Brothers will also shift traffic from the east side of Loop 494 to the newly constructed concrete pavement on the west side. This shift of traffic to the newly constructed concrete lanes will occur between Northpines Drive and the east entrance to Kroger, approximately 0.2 Miles north of Northpark Drive.
This shift will last approximately four months while the contractor installs new storm sewer pipes and inlets along the east side of Loop 494, and new concrete roadway.
Here’s a second high-resolution, printable map of the lane changes on 494. See this PDF.
This photo may help you visualize the changes.
Looking S along Loop 494 across Northpark. Traffic on the gray, older roadbed on left will shift to the new concrete on right from the foreground, all the way to the top of the frame where road narrows.
One thing to note re: Loop 494. Southbound traffic turning west onto Northpark will have a dedicated right-hand turn lane separate from the southbound lanes. That was not there before.
Traffic will shift left/west to new lanes along the red line while existing lanes are reconstructed.
I would definitely avoid these areas tonight as contractors erect new traffic barriers. And use extra caution in coming days as drivers get used to the changes.
12/18/24 – Bayou Land Conservancy (BLC), one of the area’s leading environmental groups, gave me an inside peak at what it takes to keep natural flood control natural.Preserving land for flood control along Houston area bayous and creeks is more difficult than it seems.
Kevin Muraira is BLC’s Land Stewardship Manager. He inspects more than 15,000 acres of land each year for encroachments. But he also oversees the ongoing restoration of BLC’s 117-acre Arrowwood Preserve near Tomball.
Muraira works with funding partners and community volunteers who share his vision to make Arrowwood an example of the natural diversity that supports native wildlife.
Below are excerpts from an interview with Muraira about the difficulties of keeping natural flood control natural.
The banks of Spring Creek in Arrowwood Preserve.
More than Flood Control
Rehak: Simply by preserving the 117 acres in BLC’s Arrowwood Preserve, you’re giving floodwaters a large area in which to safely collect without flooding nearby homes. And when the land isn’t flooding, it provides homes for native wildlife.
Muraira: Yes, a large part of what I’m doing there is helping restore native species that support native wildlife.
Rehak: BLC just acquired Arrowwood in 2020. What’s the current focus of your work there?
Muraira: We’re focusing on removing invasive species, such as tallow and privet. They crowd out the native species because they have no natural competition here. By removing them, we help native plants and trees re-establish themselves.
Tons of tallow grow throughout the preserve. In some areas, they dominate 80% of the canopy. It’s pretty bad. My group of volunteers and I started the invasive project in April of this year. Of the 117 acres, we’ve positively impacted about four acres total so far.
Muraira working on tallow removal
It doesn’t sound like much, but people need to remember that this was done by four volunteers plus me. We only work at it for a couple hours a week.
Replacing Invasive Species with Natural Species
Rehak: How does tallow damage the other species?
Muraira: Tallow leaves have high levels of tannings. They alter soil chemistry in ways that make it difficult for other plants to take root.
Invasive species like tallow don’t really have predators here that control them. Neither are they impacted by the same viruses and diseases that affect native plants. Gradually, they dominate the native plant community and crowd out native species that support local wildlife.
So, we have to remove it. When the canopy starts opening up, we will go back in and start replanting and taking care of our existing native trees, so they can thrive on the property.
Rehak: Those tallow seeds are poisonous to some bird species, too, aren’t they?
Muraira: They are. Tallow don’t really provide much ecological benefit. They just really take up space where we could have native plants growing. Those native plants could provide ecological benefits like food and shelter for wildlife. They also have deeper, more resilient root systems that can help stabilize stream banks and reduce erosion, which can lead to flooding.
Rehak: What will you replace the tallow with?
Muraira: Bald cypress. Water Oaks. Sycamores. River birch.
Planning to Maintain Flood Resilience
Rehak: Will removing tallow reduce flood resilience before the native species re-establish themselves?
Muraira: It’s possible that removing the tallow could de-stabilize stream banks. But we aren’t removing that many all at once. And we have a plan in place to reinforce the banks with other, more desirable native species. That will be a more desirable outcome.
Rehak: Certainly, if you’re doing four acres a year, it will minimize any impact on wetlands.
Muraira: Exactly.
Rehak: And it’s on a small enough scale that the rest of the preserve has a fighting chance to absorb the runoff.
Muraira: Exactly.
Building A Wildlife Sanctuary
Rehak: Are you planning other projects at Arrowwood?
Muraira: We plan on doing a wetland planting event in areas where the canopy opens up. Flowers, too. We plan on installing a native pollinator garden.
We’ve constructed a more robust trail system that enables better access. And our trail crew is working on installing benches along the trails and at scenic overlooks.
It’s a way to bring people out, like Lone Star students, and educate them about the value of wetlands.
Rehak: Aside from the trails, are you planning on letting Arrowwood revert back to nature as much as possible with the native species?
Photo at Arrowwood courtesy of Phil de Blanc
Muraira: That’s the goal. I would love for Arrowwood to become a sanctuary for wildlife. There’s a lot of development going on nearby. So protecting this land, and planting and maintaining the native species that wildlife utilize for shelter and sustenance, is important.
Main Value of Arrowwood Preserve
Rehak: What is the main value of this preserve in your mind?
Muraira: For me, the number one value is flood prevention or mitigation. Neighbors have told us that neighborhood has flooded a lot in the past. They were really concerned when they found out that a previous owner planned to turn the property into a quarry.
But they know that we’re not impacting them negatively. We’re providing a place that holds water and retains run off to help protect them.
Rehak: What percentage of the preserve is wetlands?
Muraira: 104 acres out of 117 are completely in the floodway – so, most of it. When we get big rains, all 104 acres are completely flooded. You cannot walk through it. Only a little more than 12 acres are accessible and that’s still pretty difficult.
Ways to Support BLC’s Long-Term Vision
Rehak: Do you have a long-term vision for Arrowwood?
Muraira: To have a place for wildlife to survive; we’re losing habitat at an astronomical rate. And to have an outdoor classroom, where we can bring people out and educate them about the importance of protecting habitat for wildlife and protecting neighbors from floodwater.
Rehak: If somebody wanted to help you, what’s the best way?
Muraira: Call me. We have a number of ways. One of the most popular is our ambassador program. It’s like a mini-Texas-Master-Naturalist crash course. But beyond that, it gives folks a chance to see what Bayou Land Conservancy is all about. We try to keep natural flood control natural.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/18/24based on an interview with Kevin Muraira of BLC
2668 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Spring-Creek-10-24-copy.jpg?fit=1100%2C825&ssl=18251100adminadmin2024-12-18 17:36:342024-12-18 17:39:56The Struggle to Keep Natural Flood Control Natural
City’s New Dredging Program Launched
12/20/2024 – Just in time for the holidays, the City’s new dredging program on Lake Houston finally launched this week, but with some changes.
According to Dustin Hodges, Chief of Staff for District E City Council Member Fred Flickinger, delays earlier this year in the long-awaited dredging program had to do with the search for an optimal placement area.
DRC, the City’s contractor, and its sister company, Callan Marine, will dredge 876,672 cubic yards of West Fork sediment and pump it four miles to property they bought near Luce. Their objective: to restore the river to its pre-Harvey profile, thereby reducing the potential for flooding.
Depth of the dredged area will vary. But today, the contractor was working at an average depth of 7-8 feet when I visited the operation.
Funding Success Tied to Location
Funding for the program comes from FEMA via U.S. Congressman Dan Crenshaw. The City will use money left over from the West Fork Mouth Bar dredging. As a consequence, this phase of dredging will be limited to the West Fork to meet FEMA requirements.
However, an agreement to use property near Luce Bayou for placement of the spoils may be fortuitous for future East Fork dredging programs. The proximity of the disposal site to the East Fork could lower pumping costs and make dredging there more affordable.
Mayor John Whitmire and City Council Members Fred Flickinger and Twila Carter have pushed this program since taking office.
When Whitmire was elected, he said he wouldn’t forget Kingwood. And he hasn’t.
Key to Reducing Flood Potential
The City’s new dredging program should reduce the potential for future flooding by increasing the conveyance of the river through this critical area.
It is here that water slows down as it meets the standing water in Lake Houston. That causes suspended sediment to drop out of suspension. When enough piles up as it did with the mouth bar, it can back water up into homes and businesses.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/20/24
2670 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Northpark, Loop 494 Lane Switches Happen Tonight
12/19/24 – Northpark and Loop 494 lane switches happen tonight to accommodate new construction. Two large lane switches will begin at 9PM.
One will be on the eastbound lanes between Kings Mill and the eastern end of the project at the Kingwood Diversion Ditch. The second will be on Loop 494 about a block north and south of the Northpark intersection.
In both areas, Harper Brothers Construction will switch traffic to new or temporary lanes to accommodate demolition of the old lanes, installation of drainage, and reconstruction of new lanes.
The project has two overall goals: accommodate increased traffic and create an all-weather evacuation route for 78,000 Kingwood residents when floods cut off other exits.
Eastbound NorthPark Drive Traffic Switch
Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority’s (LHRA’s) contractor, Harper Brothers Construction will shift east bound NorthPark Drive traffic from the existing eastbound lanes to the newly constructed center lanes. The shift of eastbound traffic to the center lanes will occur between Kings Mill Park Drive and the Kingwood diversion ditch, approximately 0.3 miles east of Russell Palmer Road.
No new changes to the westbound traffic will occur during this phase. The contractor will be installing new storm sewer pipes and inlets along the south side of NorthPark Drive along with new concrete roadway.
This shift is planned to last approximately 6 months.
For a printable map of the lane changes, see this PDF.
The pictures below may help you visualize the changes coming tonight.
Loop 494 Traffic Switch:
Harper Brothers will also shift traffic from the east side of Loop 494 to the newly constructed concrete pavement on the west side. This shift of traffic to the newly constructed concrete lanes will occur between Northpines Drive and the east entrance to Kroger, approximately 0.2 Miles north of Northpark Drive.
This shift will last approximately four months while the contractor installs new storm sewer pipes and inlets along the east side of Loop 494, and new concrete roadway.
Here’s a second high-resolution, printable map of the lane changes on 494. See this PDF.
This photo may help you visualize the changes.
One thing to note re: Loop 494. Southbound traffic turning west onto Northpark will have a dedicated right-hand turn lane separate from the southbound lanes. That was not there before.
I would definitely avoid these areas tonight as contractors erect new traffic barriers. And use extra caution in coming days as drivers get used to the changes.
For More Information
The Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority offers a 3-week look-ahead schedule here.
For a history of the project, see these select ReduceFlooding posts.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/19/24 at 2PM
2669 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The Struggle to Keep Natural Flood Control Natural
12/18/24 – Bayou Land Conservancy (BLC), one of the area’s leading environmental groups, gave me an inside peak at what it takes to keep natural flood control natural. Preserving land for flood control along Houston area bayous and creeks is more difficult than it seems.
Kevin Muraira is BLC’s Land Stewardship Manager. He inspects more than 15,000 acres of land each year for encroachments. But he also oversees the ongoing restoration of BLC’s 117-acre Arrowwood Preserve near Tomball.
Muraira works with funding partners and community volunteers who share his vision to make Arrowwood an example of the natural diversity that supports native wildlife.
Below are excerpts from an interview with Muraira about the difficulties of keeping natural flood control natural.
More than Flood Control
Rehak: Simply by preserving the 117 acres in BLC’s Arrowwood Preserve, you’re giving floodwaters a large area in which to safely collect without flooding nearby homes. And when the land isn’t flooding, it provides homes for native wildlife.
Muraira: Yes, a large part of what I’m doing there is helping restore native species that support native wildlife.
Rehak: BLC just acquired Arrowwood in 2020. What’s the current focus of your work there?
Muraira: We’re focusing on removing invasive species, such as tallow and privet. They crowd out the native species because they have no natural competition here. By removing them, we help native plants and trees re-establish themselves.
Tons of tallow grow throughout the preserve. In some areas, they dominate 80% of the canopy. It’s pretty bad. My group of volunteers and I started the invasive project in April of this year. Of the 117 acres, we’ve positively impacted about four acres total so far.
It doesn’t sound like much, but people need to remember that this was done by four volunteers plus me. We only work at it for a couple hours a week.
Replacing Invasive Species with Natural Species
Rehak: How does tallow damage the other species?
Muraira: Tallow leaves have high levels of tannings. They alter soil chemistry in ways that make it difficult for other plants to take root.
Invasive species like tallow don’t really have predators here that control them. Neither are they impacted by the same viruses and diseases that affect native plants. Gradually, they dominate the native plant community and crowd out native species that support local wildlife.
So, we have to remove it. When the canopy starts opening up, we will go back in and start replanting and taking care of our existing native trees, so they can thrive on the property.
Rehak: Those tallow seeds are poisonous to some bird species, too, aren’t they?
Muraira: They are. Tallow don’t really provide much ecological benefit. They just really take up space where we could have native plants growing. Those native plants could provide ecological benefits like food and shelter for wildlife. They also have deeper, more resilient root systems that can help stabilize stream banks and reduce erosion, which can lead to flooding.
Rehak: What will you replace the tallow with?
Muraira: Bald cypress. Water Oaks. Sycamores. River birch.
Planning to Maintain Flood Resilience
Rehak: Will removing tallow reduce flood resilience before the native species re-establish themselves?
Muraira: It’s possible that removing the tallow could de-stabilize stream banks. But we aren’t removing that many all at once. And we have a plan in place to reinforce the banks with other, more desirable native species. That will be a more desirable outcome.
Rehak: Certainly, if you’re doing four acres a year, it will minimize any impact on wetlands.
Muraira: Exactly.
Rehak: And it’s on a small enough scale that the rest of the preserve has a fighting chance to absorb the runoff.
Muraira: Exactly.
Building A Wildlife Sanctuary
Rehak: Are you planning other projects at Arrowwood?
Muraira: We plan on doing a wetland planting event in areas where the canopy opens up. Flowers, too. We plan on installing a native pollinator garden.
We’ve constructed a more robust trail system that enables better access. And our trail crew is working on installing benches along the trails and at scenic overlooks.
It’s a way to bring people out, like Lone Star students, and educate them about the value of wetlands.
Rehak: Aside from the trails, are you planning on letting Arrowwood revert back to nature as much as possible with the native species?
Muraira: That’s the goal. I would love for Arrowwood to become a sanctuary for wildlife. There’s a lot of development going on nearby. So protecting this land, and planting and maintaining the native species that wildlife utilize for shelter and sustenance, is important.
Main Value of Arrowwood Preserve
Rehak: What is the main value of this preserve in your mind?
Muraira: For me, the number one value is flood prevention or mitigation. Neighbors have told us that neighborhood has flooded a lot in the past. They were really concerned when they found out that a previous owner planned to turn the property into a quarry.
But they know that we’re not impacting them negatively. We’re providing a place that holds water and retains run off to help protect them.
Rehak: What percentage of the preserve is wetlands?
Muraira: 104 acres out of 117 are completely in the floodway – so, most of it. When we get big rains, all 104 acres are completely flooded. You cannot walk through it. Only a little more than 12 acres are accessible and that’s still pretty difficult.
Ways to Support BLC’s Long-Term Vision
Rehak: Do you have a long-term vision for Arrowwood?
Muraira: To have a place for wildlife to survive; we’re losing habitat at an astronomical rate. And to have an outdoor classroom, where we can bring people out and educate them about the importance of protecting habitat for wildlife and protecting neighbors from floodwater.
Rehak: If somebody wanted to help you, what’s the best way?
Muraira: Call me. We have a number of ways. One of the most popular is our ambassador program. It’s like a mini-Texas-Master-Naturalist crash course. But beyond that, it gives folks a chance to see what Bayou Land Conservancy is all about. We try to keep natural flood control natural.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/18/24 based on an interview with Kevin Muraira of BLC
2668 Days since Hurricane Harvey