12/11/2024 – One of the most popular parks in Kingwood is KSA’s East End Park. Tens of thousands of people visit this 158 acre, dog-friendly nature park each year. It’s spectacularly beautiful – filled with towering pines, tall-grass meadows, wetlands, boardwalks, wildlife, and miles of hiking trails.
Members of the Lake Houston Nature Club and the Houston Audubon Society have documented an incredible 141 species of birds in East End Park, many threatened or endangered. The list keeps growing thanks to KSA and community conservation efforts.
The park is especially popular for sunrise walks. The photo below shows why. The sunrises can be a deeply spiritual, rejuvenating experience.
Sunrise over Lake Houston from Kingwood’s East End Park at Otter Point. By Dr. Charles Campbell.
Recreational Wonderland That Doubles as Flood Protection
The recreational benefits of the park are undeniable. But not many people realize that East End Park also plays an important role in flood mitigation.
Friendswood Development Company originally had plans to develop a subdivision where the park is today. But back in 1988, the EPA issued a cease and desist order to help preserve the wetlands. To make the most of the situation, Friendswood donated the land to the Kingwood Service Association (KSA). Friendswood hoped that KSA would turn the land into a recreational facility benefitting all Kingwood residents.
The southern half of East End Park. Looking S toward Lake Houston in upper right. East Fork on left.The mowed meadow areas are where Friendswood brought in fill to raise foundations.
As the EPA intended, in their natural state, the wetlands help protect water quality in Lake Houston. They act as nature’s sponges, storing stormwater and eroded sediment before it reaches the lake.
But East End Park also turned into a buffer zone. And that’s the main way it reduces flooding – by keeping homes a safe distance away from floods.
Although a few surrounding residents flooded in Hurricane Harvey, keep in mind that the East Fork San Jacinto submerged the entire park. Harvey was an extreme case. But the buffer has worked for everything else.
Today, the biggest dangers come from occasional encounters with alligators, poison ivy and golden silk banana spiders. They are the largest non-tarantula spiders in North America. Many have leg spans more than five inches wide.
Golden silk banana spiders look ferocious. But they are gentle. And they are beneficial because of all the insect pests they eat including grasshoppers and locusts. However, a single female can spin a web across a ten-foot wide trail overnight. They are most prevalent in the late fall. Webs are usually 5 – 9 feet above ground. So, early morning joggers beware!
I wish the Houston area had more places like East End Park. We’d have healthier lifestyles and less flooding.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/11/2024
2661 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241211-DJI_20241211121644_0352_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2024-12-11 17:21:382024-12-11 17:30:55Kingwood’s East End Park: Beautiful Flood Protection
12/10/24 – Halfway between Christmas and New Year’s, Harper Brothers Construction is still making progress on Northpark Expansion. The pace appears to have slowed somewhat. But that’s because of the current focus on subsurface drainage. Installing reinforced concrete box culverts takes significantly longer than work above ground.
It appears that all of the old westbound road bed between Caliber Collision and the railroad tracks has been removed except for driveways.
Meanwhile, farther east, I spotted more concrete being poured in the middle in preparation for additional demolition of westbound lanes.
Pictures Taken 12/10/24
Looking east from just west of Russell Palmer. Note new concrete being poured in middle of frame.Closer shot of today’s pour near Shipley’s. Still looking east.Wider shot looking west shows significant progress where old drainage ditch used to be in center. Installation of box culverts in front of Caliber Collision. Notice: old road bed removed between here and railroad tracks.
The area above is where surface turn lanes will diverge from westbound traffic headed over an as-yet-unbuilt bridge over the railroad tracks.
Coffer dam protects workers from cave ins as they work underground.
Up Next
In other news, according to the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority website:
Waterline crews will continue transferring water services from the Porter SUD to the City of Houston waterline.
Dirt crews will backfill new paving on Loop 494 and excavate for the asphalt transition on each end to tie into the new concrete paving
Next week, project managers have scheduled atraffic switch on LP 494. They will move all traffic onto the new concrete paving, and close off the existing LP 494.
Another traffic switch during the week of 12/16 will occur just east of Kings Mill to the east end of the project. Traffic will detour into the middle closing off the existing eastbound lanes.
The next meeting of the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority Board will be Thursday morning at 8am at the Kingwood Community Center.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/10/24
2660 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241210-DJI_20241210160437_0328_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2024-12-10 18:14:242024-12-10 18:14:25Northpark Expansion Still Making Progress Despite Holidays
12/9/2024 – Testimony concluded today in the latest appeal of the Addicks-Barker lawsuits arising out of Hurricane Harvey.
During Harvey, homes both upstream and downstream of the Addicks and Barkers Reservoirs flooded. Residents allege that the Army Corps’ management of gates on the reservoirs contributed to flooding their homes. The cases have wended their way through the federal court system almost since the storm flooded large parts of Houston’s west side.
Flooded Homes in Addicks Reservoir during Harvey
Downstream Case
Previously, a trial court ruled against the downstream plaintiffs. The U.S. Court of Federal Claims held that plaintiffs did not have “a cognizable property interest in perfect flood control.” An appeals court disagreed. It sent the case back to the lower court for further proceedings.
The new downstream trial began on Friday October 25 at the Federal Courthouse in downtown Houston. It is a limited trial aimed at answering two questions from the judge:
(1) Was there an emergency that necessitated the United States Army Corps of Engineers (the “Corps”) opening the Addicks and Barker reservoir gates, or were the gates opened as a matter of ordinary operating procedure; and
(2) What would have happened if the gates had remained closed?
McGehee ☆ Chang, Landgraf, Feiler, attorneys for the plaintiffs in the Addicks-Barker cases, reported that they examined one expert witness and three fact witnesses on October 31, 2024. The witnesses included the former district commander of the Army Corps and the Corp’s chief of engineering for the district.
An expert witness for the plaintiff testified that: (1) There was no emergency involved in opening the flood gates. And (2) If the gates were closed, most of the downstream properties would not have flooded; and the duration and extent of flooding would have been reduced for those who would have inevitably flooded.
After testimony by two more expert witnesses, the next phase of the trial concluded today in Washington DC.
The plaintiffs’ attorney’s report that Corps’ staff “admitted that no emergency was ever declared by the Corps (during Harvey).” Also, plaintiffs’ attorneys say that “the Corps’ own expert witness had largely agreed that the majority of downstream properties would not have flooded if the gates had remained closed.”
Next Steps in Downstream Case
Plaintiffs will submit their post-trial brief summarizing their case to the Court on or before January 31, 2025. The government must submit its brief on or before February 25, 2025. Closing arguments are scheduled to take place in Houston on March 6, 2025, at 3:00 p.m.
There is no indication when the judge will make a final ruling.
Upstream Case
The upstream trial concluded in 2022. The government appealed on December 29th that year. On June 21, 2023, the government filed a 168 page brief, contending that:
The upstream flooding was caused by the unprecedented nature of Harvey rainfall – and not by the government’s actions
The government was trying to save life and private property – and that private properties are subject to the government’s “police power” (to protect public safety)
That the home owners are not entitled to recover certain categories of “damages” (such as lost profits and leasehold, displacement costs, personal property…etc).
Plaintiffs then responded to those claims in October 2023.
The court heard oral arguments from both sides on November 8, 2024. The government continued to claim that Harvey was a disaster that was a once in one-thousand-year occurrence, and that the government should not be penalized for this extremely rare event.
Plaintiffs contended that while Harvey was a significant rain event, it was not as infrequent as the government claimed.
Plaintiffs’ attorneys expect the court to issue its decision within another five months or so. That would ring the bell for the next round sometime in April or May of 2025.
Editorial Comment
We’re already more than seven years beyond Harvey, the event that triggered these lawsuits. Delays underscore the need for flood insurance; many homeowners will have likely died before the courts resolve these cases.
But flood insurance costs are rising rapidly. To help combat those rising costs, visit FloodSmart.gov. This FEMA-sponsored site gives you flood insurance quotes, connects you with agents, explains your flood risk, and discusses what to do before and after a flood. It also contains links to flood maps.
Kingwood’s East End Park: Beautiful Flood Protection
12/11/2024 – One of the most popular parks in Kingwood is KSA’s East End Park. Tens of thousands of people visit this 158 acre, dog-friendly nature park each year. It’s spectacularly beautiful – filled with towering pines, tall-grass meadows, wetlands, boardwalks, wildlife, and miles of hiking trails.
Members of the Lake Houston Nature Club and the Houston Audubon Society have documented an incredible 141 species of birds in East End Park, many threatened or endangered. The list keeps growing thanks to KSA and community conservation efforts.
The park is especially popular for sunrise walks. The photo below shows why. The sunrises can be a deeply spiritual, rejuvenating experience.
Recreational Wonderland That Doubles as Flood Protection
The recreational benefits of the park are undeniable. But not many people realize that East End Park also plays an important role in flood mitigation.
Friendswood Development Company originally had plans to develop a subdivision where the park is today. But back in 1988, the EPA issued a cease and desist order to help preserve the wetlands. To make the most of the situation, Friendswood donated the land to the Kingwood Service Association (KSA). Friendswood hoped that KSA would turn the land into a recreational facility benefitting all Kingwood residents.
As the EPA intended, in their natural state, the wetlands help protect water quality in Lake Houston. They act as nature’s sponges, storing stormwater and eroded sediment before it reaches the lake.
But East End Park also turned into a buffer zone. And that’s the main way it reduces flooding – by keeping homes a safe distance away from floods.
Although a few surrounding residents flooded in Hurricane Harvey, keep in mind that the East Fork San Jacinto submerged the entire park. Harvey was an extreme case. But the buffer has worked for everything else.
Today, the biggest dangers come from occasional encounters with alligators, poison ivy and golden silk banana spiders. They are the largest non-tarantula spiders in North America. Many have leg spans more than five inches wide.
Golden silk banana spiders look ferocious. But they are gentle. And they are beneficial because of all the insect pests they eat including grasshoppers and locusts. However, a single female can spin a web across a ten-foot wide trail overnight. They are most prevalent in the late fall. Webs are usually 5 – 9 feet above ground. So, early morning joggers beware!
I wish the Houston area had more places like East End Park. We’d have healthier lifestyles and less flooding.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/11/2024
2661 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Northpark Expansion Still Making Progress Despite Holidays
12/10/24 – Halfway between Christmas and New Year’s, Harper Brothers Construction is still making progress on Northpark Expansion. The pace appears to have slowed somewhat. But that’s because of the current focus on subsurface drainage. Installing reinforced concrete box culverts takes significantly longer than work above ground.
It appears that all of the old westbound road bed between Caliber Collision and the railroad tracks has been removed except for driveways.
Meanwhile, farther east, I spotted more concrete being poured in the middle in preparation for additional demolition of westbound lanes.
Pictures Taken 12/10/24
The area above is where surface turn lanes will diverge from westbound traffic headed over an as-yet-unbuilt bridge over the railroad tracks.
Up Next
In other news, according to the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority website:
To see what happens when, consult the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority project pages or the schedule below.
For More Information
To learn more about the project history, consult these ReduceFlooding.com posts:
The next meeting of the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority Board will be Thursday morning at 8am at the Kingwood Community Center.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/10/24
2660 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Addicks-Barker Litigation Update
12/9/2024 – Testimony concluded today in the latest appeal of the Addicks-Barker lawsuits arising out of Hurricane Harvey.
During Harvey, homes both upstream and downstream of the Addicks and Barkers Reservoirs flooded. Residents allege that the Army Corps’ management of gates on the reservoirs contributed to flooding their homes. The cases have wended their way through the federal court system almost since the storm flooded large parts of Houston’s west side.
Downstream Case
Previously, a trial court ruled against the downstream plaintiffs. The U.S. Court of Federal Claims held that plaintiffs did not have “a cognizable property interest in perfect flood control.” An appeals court disagreed. It sent the case back to the lower court for further proceedings.
The new downstream trial began on Friday October 25 at the Federal Courthouse in downtown Houston. It is a limited trial aimed at answering two questions from the judge:
(1) Was there an emergency that necessitated the United States Army Corps of Engineers (the “Corps”) opening the Addicks and Barker reservoir gates, or were the gates opened as a matter of ordinary operating procedure; and
(2) What would have happened if the gates had remained closed?
McGehee ☆ Chang, Landgraf, Feiler, attorneys for the plaintiffs in the Addicks-Barker cases, reported that they examined one expert witness and three fact witnesses on October 31, 2024. The witnesses included the former district commander of the Army Corps and the Corp’s chief of engineering for the district.
An expert witness for the plaintiff testified that: (1) There was no emergency involved in opening the flood gates. And (2) If the gates were closed, most of the downstream properties would not have flooded; and the duration and extent of flooding would have been reduced for those who would have inevitably flooded.
After testimony by two more expert witnesses, the next phase of the trial concluded today in Washington DC.
The plaintiffs’ attorney’s report that Corps’ staff “admitted that no emergency was ever declared by the Corps (during Harvey).” Also, plaintiffs’ attorneys say that “the Corps’ own expert witness had largely agreed that the majority of downstream properties would not have flooded if the gates had remained closed.”
Next Steps in Downstream Case
Plaintiffs will submit their post-trial brief summarizing their case to the Court on or before January 31, 2025. The government must submit its brief on or before February 25, 2025. Closing arguments are scheduled to take place in Houston on March 6, 2025, at 3:00 p.m.
There is no indication when the judge will make a final ruling.
Upstream Case
The upstream trial concluded in 2022. The government appealed on December 29th that year. On June 21, 2023, the government filed a 168 page brief, contending that:
Plaintiffs then responded to those claims in October 2023.
The court heard oral arguments from both sides on November 8, 2024. The government continued to claim that Harvey was a disaster that was a once in one-thousand-year occurrence, and that the government should not be penalized for this extremely rare event.
Plaintiffs contended that while Harvey was a significant rain event, it was not as infrequent as the government claimed.
Plaintiffs’ attorneys expect the court to issue its decision within another five months or so. That would ring the bell for the next round sometime in April or May of 2025.
Editorial Comment
We’re already more than seven years beyond Harvey, the event that triggered these lawsuits. Delays underscore the need for flood insurance; many homeowners will have likely died before the courts resolve these cases.
But flood insurance costs are rising rapidly. To help combat those rising costs, visit FloodSmart.gov. This FEMA-sponsored site gives you flood insurance quotes, connects you with agents, explains your flood risk, and discusses what to do before and after a flood. It also contains links to flood maps.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/8/2024
2659 Days since Hurricane Harvey