12/14/24 – Contractors yesterday were busily preparing for major changes at both ends of the Northpark Drive expansion project. Weather permitting, they should take place on December 19th and 20th.
On the west end, they were prepping for a concrete pour between US59 and Loop 494 on the north side of Northpark.
On the east end, they were beginning to pave the middle between Russell Palmer Road and G&S Tire and Auto near the Kingwood Diversion Ditch in preparation for a major lane switch.
The project will ultimately accommodate increased traffic while providing an all-weather evacuation route for Kingwood residents.
West End of Northpark
The pictures below taken on 12/13/24 show what’s happening where.
Looking west at Northpark Drive from over US59. Note major changes to left side of road. Reverse angle looking west toward US59from over Loop 494
A crew will begin paving this area on 12/20/2024 in the early morning, according to the schedule posted on the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority’s website.
Why Use Tar as a Base Layer
According to ChatGPT, contractors often put tar (or more specifically, a liquid asphalt or bituminous layer) over dirt before pouring concrete or laying asphalt. There are several important reasons:
1. Moisture Barrier – Tar acts as a barrier to prevent moisture from the soil below from seeping into the concrete or asphalt layer above. Excess moisture can weaken the concrete over time, cause cracking.
2. Dust Control – Applying a tar layer helps control dust from the underlying dirt or aggregate base. This ensures a cleaner, more stable surface for the concrete or asphalt to adhere to.
3. Adhesion Enhancement – Tar is often used as a “tack coat” to create a bond between the road base and the concrete or asphalt layer. This helps prevent separation over time, which could lead to road failure.
4. Stabilization – Tar helps stabilize the soil or aggregate base beneath the road. This provides a consistent and uniform surface for pouring concrete, reducing the likelihood of uneven settlement.
5. Sealing the Base – Tar seals small cracks and voids in the base material, preventing water infiltration. Water infiltration can erode the base, leading to instability and potential road damage.
6. Improved Longevity – By addressing the issues of moisture, dust, and adhesion, the tar layer contributes to the overall durability and lifespan of the road.
Using tar as a base layer is especially common in areas where the soil composition or environmental conditions might otherwise compromise the road’s structural integrity.
East End – Russell Palmer to G&S Tire and Auto
I also took these pictures on 12/13/24. They show work at the eastern end of the Phase One project. This work will pave the way for a major traffic switch on December 19th.
Looking East toward Diversion Ditch from Over Russell Palmer IntersectionLooking west from eastern end of Phase One of Northpark expansion.Existing eastbound lanes (left) will soon be closed off.
On the night of Thursday December 19, 2024, contractors will switch traffic eastbound Northpark traffic from just east of Kings Mill to the area shown in the photo immediately above. Traffic will detour into the middle. They will then close off the existing eastbound lanes through that same stretch of Northpark in preparation for demolition and repaving.
Loop 494 Traffic Switch
That same night, December 19, 2024, contractors will move all traffic onto the new concrete paving on Loop 494. See below.
Looking south on Loop 494 across Northpark Drive and recently poured concrete.
They will then close off the existing lanes (on the left above) for demolition and repaving.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241213-DJI_20241213120604_0397_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2024-12-14 17:05:102024-12-14 17:30:22Major Changes Coming Soon At Both Ends of Northpark Expansion Project
12/13/24 – Proposed new Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Best Management Practices (BMPs) for sand mines ignore what miners are supposed to do in the case of pit captures. “Pit capture” happens when a river breaks through the dikes of a sand mine. It can have serious consequences including, but not limited to:
Increased erosion and river instability
Altered hydrology
Water quality degradation
Habitat loss and ecosystem disruption
Infrastructure risks
Channel realignment
Economic impacts (cost of mitigation)
Identifying Pit-Capture Pros and Cons
In some circumstances, pit capture can also produce benefits. The balance between benefits and risks depends on the specific geomorphological and ecological context of the river and the sand mine pit. To maximize benefits while mitigating risks, scientists recommend:
Performing a hydrological and ecological assessment before and after capture.
Using adaptive management strategies to guide the development of the captured pit.
Integrating the site into regional plans for flood control, habitat creation, or recreation.
However, the new TCEQ sand mine BMPs mention no such studies, despite the fact that at least six pits were captured on the East and West Forks of the San Jacinto during floods this year. Plus, consider this. The City is getting ready to spend another $34 million to dredge another million cubic yards of sand from the confluence of the two forks.
Instead, the new TCEQ BMPs emphasize concepts under headings such as “Be a Good Neighbor,” “Practice Good Housekeeping,” and “Select Appropriate Equipment.” This is stuff most guys learned in a middle school shop class. Under “Good Housekeeping,” one recommendation urges miners to adequately maintain sanitary facilities. But they forgot the “Wash hands after using a port-a-potty” requirement.
My overwhelming impression after reading the new BMPs was a yawn. Why bother?
The new BMPs are more notable for what they don’t include than what they do include.
And they don’t include anything about the B-52 sized elephant in the broom closet – pit capture.
River now cuts through Hallett Pit on West Fork and has abandoned its original channel (right).Pit containing wastewater now has a more direct route to river when it breaches. Note repair by maintenance road.The pit above is just one of many at the Hallett West Fork Mine which spans several square miles.
I discovered the pit capture above in June of this year. It likely occurred in the May flood. And Hallett has done nothing to mitigate it since.
Perhaps they and the TCEQ feel the benefits outweigh the consequences. But of course, they aren’t footing the $34 million dredging bill.
In August of this year, TCEQ issued a report on another pit capture slightly downstream from here. It didn’t mention this pit even though it was open at the time and multiple people filed complaints. Nor did it mention the term “pit capture.” And the report made several other mistakes. For instance, Hallett claimed the expert witness TCEQ identified works for them, the but the TCEQ listed the employee as working for a Hallett competitor. No wonder the Texas Sunset Commission called TCEQ a reluctant regulator.
Leave a Public Comment
So what’s a mere citizen who enjoys clean water to do?
The TCEQ is soliciting public comment on their new BMPs for sand mines. I know what my comment will be about. If you wish to leave a public comment:
Feedback or comment must be provided to Jess Robinson, MC 175, Office of Legal Services, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087. Comments may also be submitted electronically. To be considered for this project, input must be received by 11:59 p.m. on January 24, 2025, and should reference “APO BMP List Proposal.”
12/12/24 – Karastin Katusin gets people to see, touch, and experience a healthy floodplain environment, so they will want to protect such places.
Katusin is a geologist and educator by training. She is also the Community Conservation Manager for the Bayou Land Conservancy, one of the leading environmental organizations in southeast Texas. Her mission: connecting people to nature and educating them about floodplains.
I interviewed Katusin recently about the Bayou Land Conservancy’s Arrowwood Preserve along Spring Creek. It’s one of her favorite places to teach. She frequently guides students and faculty from Lone Star College as well as community groups through this fragile ecosystem so they can experience the many ways nature can make us all healthier and safer from floods.
Giving Water a Safe Place to Go
Rehak: When you teach people how a healthy floodplain can help reduce flooding, what key points do you make?
Katusin: First, in order to have a healthy floodplain, you have to have a floodplain. I’ve lived in Texas now for eight years, and I still am amazed at how you can just build anything anywhere. So, I always try to point out to people that Arrowood, for example, is a great opportunity for us to not develop. The ecosystem is not yet as healthy as we want it to be, but it still gives water a safe place to go.
A two-inch rain along Spring Creek can produce flooding over your head in Arrowwood.
Karastin Katusin
During Hurricane Harvey, water in Spring Creek rose 26.5 feet! As development continues, we need to leave natural places for that water to go, so it doesn’t go into people’s living rooms.
Group going down the main entry trail to Arrowwoodto learn about floodplains.
Same entry trail in winter after a small rain.Where did that hill go?
Teaching and Applying the Fundamentals
Rehak: What do you tell people to help keep them safe from flooding?
Katusin: The number one thing is “get educated.” Learn flooding concepts. A lot of people don’t understand the difference between a floodway and a floodplain. Or a one-year flood, a 10-year flood and a 100-year flood?
I often hear people say, “We just had a 100-year flood. So, how can we have another?” They don’t understand that it’s a statistical estimate that means you have a one-percent chance of flooding EVERY year. So, educating yourself is Step One.
And then Step Two is, “Do the work.” Figure out how these flooding concepts apply to your situation. For instance, people sometimes say, “Oh well. So what if I’m in the 50 year floodplain?”
Rehak: So what! Someone in a 50-year floodplain has a 44.5% chance of flooding during the life of a 30-year mortgage! That’s almost like betting your home on a coin toss.
Katusin: Absolutely. I don’t think they understand how dangerous that is. There’s a related concept called system capacity. Can the stream hold a rain of a certain intensity without coming out of its banks? For instance, a stream that has a 50-year system capacity can hold a 50-year rain without flooding.
Rehak: The Spring Creek watershed seems to be a land of extremes.
Katusin: Some parts have a 500-year system capacity. Others out there by 290, right where all the development is happening, have less than a 25-year system capacity.
How BLC Helps Protect People from Flooding
Rehak: So, how does Bayou Land Conservancy help protect people from flooding?
Katusin: Most people want land preserved for wildlife, water and flood control. But they don’t know how that happens. That’s where we can help. We work with landowners to reduce development on property they own. But we do it in a way that lets them still use their land in a productive way, keep it in the family, and save money.
The Value of Conservation Agreements
Katusin: Sometimes people donate land to us outright. But more often, they retain ownership of their land and we put conservation easements on it. The easements restrict the land from being used for development. But they still let the landowner use their land in other ways. For instance, agriculture, forests, hunting, camping, etc.
The agreement stipulates what each party can and can’t do. For instance, we won’t clearcut the land or put in a shopping center. Instead, we will try to create a pocket of land that ideally becomes a sponge for floodwater.
Preserving wetlands helps store stormwater that would otherwise add to flood peaks downstream.
It’s great when the public can access the land. But remember, in most cases, we just have a conservation easement. The original owner may still own the land and keep it in their family. That may limit public accessibility.
Rehak: How does the family make money off the agreement? How do they benefit?
Katusin: Often, landowners get some sort of tax break.
Rehak: Why?
Katusin: Because the land has lost some of its development potential, typically the tax valuation decreases.
Rehak: Like on the portion of the land along a creek in a floodplain?
Katusin: Exactly. It doesn’t make any difference to us if it floods. By preserving the land in a natural state, we’re giving water a safe place to go. Wildlife has a safe place to live. And hopefully, the land soaks up excess rainwater. That helps reduce flooding downstream.
Rehak: What do you like most about your job?
Katusin: I love explaining these concepts to groups … in a natural setting. I lead tours of our preserves when groups request them. It’s fun watching people connect all the dots and understand why it’s important to protect land along rivers and streams.
Karastin (kneeling on left) with a BLC trail crew restoring Arrowwood Preserve.
For More Information
To learn about the many ways you can support the mission of the Bayou Land Conservancy, visit their website.
Posted by Bob Rehak and Karastin Katusin on 12/12/24
2662 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241212-Unknown-1.jpg?fit=1100%2C397&ssl=13971100adminadmin2024-12-12 17:11:032024-12-12 17:32:04Educating People About a Healthy Floodplain Environment
Major Changes Coming Soon At Both Ends of Northpark Expansion Project
12/14/24 – Contractors yesterday were busily preparing for major changes at both ends of the Northpark Drive expansion project. Weather permitting, they should take place on December 19th and 20th.
The project will ultimately accommodate increased traffic while providing an all-weather evacuation route for Kingwood residents.
West End of Northpark
The pictures below taken on 12/13/24 show what’s happening where.
A crew will begin paving this area on 12/20/2024 in the early morning, according to the schedule posted on the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority’s website.
Why Use Tar as a Base Layer
According to ChatGPT, contractors often put tar (or more specifically, a liquid asphalt or bituminous layer) over dirt before pouring concrete or laying asphalt. There are several important reasons:
1. Moisture Barrier – Tar acts as a barrier to prevent moisture from the soil below from seeping into the concrete or asphalt layer above. Excess moisture can weaken the concrete over time, cause cracking.
2. Dust Control – Applying a tar layer helps control dust from the underlying dirt or aggregate base. This ensures a cleaner, more stable surface for the concrete or asphalt to adhere to.
3. Adhesion Enhancement – Tar is often used as a “tack coat” to create a bond between the road base and the concrete or asphalt layer. This helps prevent separation over time, which could lead to road failure.
4. Stabilization – Tar helps stabilize the soil or aggregate base beneath the road. This provides a consistent and uniform surface for pouring concrete, reducing the likelihood of uneven settlement.
5. Sealing the Base – Tar seals small cracks and voids in the base material, preventing water infiltration. Water infiltration can erode the base, leading to instability and potential road damage.
6. Improved Longevity – By addressing the issues of moisture, dust, and adhesion, the tar layer contributes to the overall durability and lifespan of the road.
Using tar as a base layer is especially common in areas where the soil composition or environmental conditions might otherwise compromise the road’s structural integrity.
East End – Russell Palmer to G&S Tire and Auto
I also took these pictures on 12/13/24. They show work at the eastern end of the Phase One project. This work will pave the way for a major traffic switch on December 19th.
On the night of Thursday December 19, 2024, contractors will switch traffic eastbound Northpark traffic from just east of Kings Mill to the area shown in the photo immediately above. Traffic will detour into the middle. They will then close off the existing eastbound lanes through that same stretch of Northpark in preparation for demolition and repaving.
Loop 494 Traffic Switch
That same night, December 19, 2024, contractors will move all traffic onto the new concrete paving on Loop 494. See below.
They will then close off the existing lanes (on the left above) for demolition and repaving.
See the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority web page for Phase One of the Northpark Expansion Project for additional upcoming work.
For a Project History
To learn more about the project history and its purpose, consult these ReduceFlooding.com posts:
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/14/24
2664 Days since Hurricane Harvey
New TCEQ Sand Mining BMPs Ignore Pit Captures
12/13/24 – Proposed new Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Best Management Practices (BMPs) for sand mines ignore what miners are supposed to do in the case of pit captures. “Pit capture” happens when a river breaks through the dikes of a sand mine. It can have serious consequences including, but not limited to:
Identifying Pit-Capture Pros and Cons
In some circumstances, pit capture can also produce benefits. The balance between benefits and risks depends on the specific geomorphological and ecological context of the river and the sand mine pit. To maximize benefits while mitigating risks, scientists recommend:
However, the new TCEQ sand mine BMPs mention no such studies, despite the fact that at least six pits were captured on the East and West Forks of the San Jacinto during floods this year. Plus, consider this. The City is getting ready to spend another $34 million to dredge another million cubic yards of sand from the confluence of the two forks.
Instead, the new TCEQ BMPs emphasize concepts under headings such as “Be a Good Neighbor,” “Practice Good Housekeeping,” and “Select Appropriate Equipment.” This is stuff most guys learned in a middle school shop class. Under “Good Housekeeping,” one recommendation urges miners to adequately maintain sanitary facilities. But they forgot the “Wash hands after using a port-a-potty” requirement.
My overwhelming impression after reading the new BMPs was a yawn. Why bother?
And they don’t include anything about the B-52 sized elephant in the broom closet – pit capture.
I discovered the pit capture above in June of this year. It likely occurred in the May flood. And Hallett has done nothing to mitigate it since.
Perhaps they and the TCEQ feel the benefits outweigh the consequences. But of course, they aren’t footing the $34 million dredging bill.
In August of this year, TCEQ issued a report on another pit capture slightly downstream from here. It didn’t mention this pit even though it was open at the time and multiple people filed complaints. Nor did it mention the term “pit capture.” And the report made several other mistakes. For instance, Hallett claimed the expert witness TCEQ identified works for them, the but the TCEQ listed the employee as working for a Hallett competitor. No wonder the Texas Sunset Commission called TCEQ a reluctant regulator.
Leave a Public Comment
So what’s a mere citizen who enjoys clean water to do?
The TCEQ is soliciting public comment on their new BMPs for sand mines. I know what my comment will be about. If you wish to leave a public comment:
Feedback or comment must be provided to Jess Robinson, MC 175, Office of Legal Services, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087. Comments may also be submitted electronically. To be considered for this project, input must be received by 11:59 p.m. on January 24, 2025, and should reference “APO BMP List Proposal.”
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/13/24
2663 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Educating People About a Healthy Floodplain Environment
12/12/24 – Karastin Katusin gets people to see, touch, and experience a healthy floodplain environment, so they will want to protect such places.
Katusin is a geologist and educator by training. She is also the Community Conservation Manager for the Bayou Land Conservancy, one of the leading environmental organizations in southeast Texas. Her mission: connecting people to nature and educating them about floodplains.
I interviewed Katusin recently about the Bayou Land Conservancy’s Arrowwood Preserve along Spring Creek. It’s one of her favorite places to teach. She frequently guides students and faculty from Lone Star College as well as community groups through this fragile ecosystem so they can experience the many ways nature can make us all healthier and safer from floods.
Giving Water a Safe Place to Go
Rehak: When you teach people how a healthy floodplain can help reduce flooding, what key points do you make?
Katusin: First, in order to have a healthy floodplain, you have to have a floodplain. I’ve lived in Texas now for eight years, and I still am amazed at how you can just build anything anywhere. So, I always try to point out to people that Arrowood, for example, is a great opportunity for us to not develop. The ecosystem is not yet as healthy as we want it to be, but it still gives water a safe place to go.
During Hurricane Harvey, water in Spring Creek rose 26.5 feet! As development continues, we need to leave natural places for that water to go, so it doesn’t go into people’s living rooms.
Same entry trail in winter after a small rain. Where did that hill go?
Teaching and Applying the Fundamentals
Rehak: What do you tell people to help keep them safe from flooding?
Katusin: The number one thing is “get educated.” Learn flooding concepts. A lot of people don’t understand the difference between a floodway and a floodplain. Or a one-year flood, a 10-year flood and a 100-year flood?
I often hear people say, “We just had a 100-year flood. So, how can we have another?” They don’t understand that it’s a statistical estimate that means you have a one-percent chance of flooding EVERY year. So, educating yourself is Step One.
And then Step Two is, “Do the work.” Figure out how these flooding concepts apply to your situation. For instance, people sometimes say, “Oh well. So what if I’m in the 50 year floodplain?”
Rehak: So what! Someone in a 50-year floodplain has a 44.5% chance of flooding during the life of a 30-year mortgage! That’s almost like betting your home on a coin toss.
Katusin: Absolutely. I don’t think they understand how dangerous that is. There’s a related concept called system capacity. Can the stream hold a rain of a certain intensity without coming out of its banks? For instance, a stream that has a 50-year system capacity can hold a 50-year rain without flooding.
Rehak: The Spring Creek watershed seems to be a land of extremes.
Katusin: Some parts have a 500-year system capacity. Others out there by 290, right where all the development is happening, have less than a 25-year system capacity.
How BLC Helps Protect People from Flooding
Rehak: So, how does Bayou Land Conservancy help protect people from flooding?
Katusin: Most people want land preserved for wildlife, water and flood control. But they don’t know how that happens. That’s where we can help. We work with landowners to reduce development on property they own. But we do it in a way that lets them still use their land in a productive way, keep it in the family, and save money.
The Value of Conservation Agreements
Katusin: Sometimes people donate land to us outright. But more often, they retain ownership of their land and we put conservation easements on it. The easements restrict the land from being used for development. But they still let the landowner use their land in other ways. For instance, agriculture, forests, hunting, camping, etc.
The agreement stipulates what each party can and can’t do. For instance, we won’t clearcut the land or put in a shopping center. Instead, we will try to create a pocket of land that ideally becomes a sponge for floodwater.
It’s great when the public can access the land. But remember, in most cases, we just have a conservation easement. The original owner may still own the land and keep it in their family. That may limit public accessibility.
Rehak: How does the family make money off the agreement? How do they benefit?
Katusin: Often, landowners get some sort of tax break.
Rehak: Why?
Katusin: Because the land has lost some of its development potential, typically the tax valuation decreases.
Rehak: Like on the portion of the land along a creek in a floodplain?
Katusin: Exactly. It doesn’t make any difference to us if it floods. By preserving the land in a natural state, we’re giving water a safe place to go. Wildlife has a safe place to live. And hopefully, the land soaks up excess rainwater. That helps reduce flooding downstream.
Rehak: What do you like most about your job?
Katusin: I love explaining these concepts to groups … in a natural setting. I lead tours of our preserves when groups request them. It’s fun watching people connect all the dots and understand why it’s important to protect land along rivers and streams.
For More Information
To learn about the many ways you can support the mission of the Bayou Land Conservancy, visit their website.
Posted by Bob Rehak and Karastin Katusin on 12/12/24
2662 Days since Hurricane Harvey