5/17/25 – Contractors have finally started boring under UnionPacific Railroad (UPRR) tracks to connect Northpark drainage east and west of Loop 494. That crucial connection is a key to beginning many other parts of the Northpark expansion project.
Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority first contacted UPRR about running Northpark drainage under their tracks ten years ago. And for those keeping track, it was eight years ago that the two parties signed their first contract.
Fifth Contract is the Charm
If you’re wondering why it’s taken so long, the two parties are now working on their fifth contract. But all that is in the past. So are the special UPRR training sessions that contractors and LHRA staff had to attend. So is the years-long wait for UPRR to weld single 200-foot-long sections of track into place across the ten lanes of Northpark.
All energies are positive now and the project is moving forward.
Looking W along Northpark across Loop 494 toward US59. Location of starting point for bore circled. This and all pictures below taken on Friday, May 16, 2025.
One Pole Blocking Bore Must Move
Note, however, a CenterPoint pole is still in the way. See below.
Energized electric lines must be moved to adjacent pole on right.
CenterPoint needs to transfer the energized lines from the existing wood poles on each side of Northpark to the newly installed and adjacent fiberglass poles. Those are designed to route the electricity underground at that location – out of the way of the bridge. Once electricity is rerouted, the old pole blocking progress can be removed.
Yesterday, I received word from City Councilman Fred Flickinger’s District E office that CenterPoint and UPRR are close to signing a contract that will let CenterPoint enter UPRR’s right of way to move the pole. Good news!
A steel frame and steel plates locked together by those giant timbers in the foreground will protect the operation.
Steel, Not Concrete Pipe Needed
After completing the bore pit, contractors will run six-foot steel pipes under the tracks. The tolerance is exceedingly tight. The tracks cannot move more than one-quarter inch despite the weight and vibration of mile-long trains carrying heavy loads. Hence the steel.
Pipes that will eventually bore under tracks are being stockpiled for now on S side of Northpark.
Bore Pit Built Like Underground Fortress
From the ground, construction of the bore pit looked like this.
Steel I-beams and steel frame form perimeter of pit.Then giant steel plates were slotted between the I-beams.Looking E from over Loop 494. Steel pipe will connect to a giant junction box in the dirt area (bottom center).
Junction Boxes Will Tie Drainage Together
When this operation is complete, we will have two junction boxes on either side of the tracks.
Some time ago, a third junction box was placed underground near the Shell station on the opposite side of Loop 494. Before contractors paved the new southbound lanes on Loop 494, they already connected giant 8’x8′ reinforced concrete pipe under the paving. So now, all they have to do is connect that to the center junction box west of the tracks (foreground above).
Contingent Operations
Many subsequent operations rely on the successful completion of the bore under the tracks. They include:
5/16/2025 – Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) made several announcements about projects recently that will affect Kingwood and areas upstream.
Two Stormwater Detention Basins Now on Bid List
The District expects two major detention basin projects to go out for bids soon. The:
East TC Jester Basin on Cypress Creek will bid in the third quarter this year.
Woodridge Village Basin on Taylor Gully will bid in the first quarter next year.
The clearcutting of the Woodridge Village flooded hundreds of homes in Elm Grove, Sherwood Trails and Mills Branch twice in 2019. HCFCD started excavating an additional detention basin in 2021 to help address the risk of downstream flooding. But they were forced to discontinue the excavation in 2023 when they applied for a HUD grant to finish the project.
HCFCD also announced 10 more maintenance projects on area channels. They expect to start eight this year.
What Will Happen Where
The map below shows the location of the projects. It’s keyed to the numbers above in the first column.
The maintenance will help ensure the continued effectiveness of the area’s flood control systems.
HCFCD will repair or replace…
Existing damaged concrete channel linings
Slope paving
Outfall pipes
…for the following channels
G103-38-02-X005 (Kingwood Diversion Ditch)
G103-80-01-X012(Green Tree Ditch)
G103-41-00-X014 (Sand Branch)
G103-33-03-X003 (Hidden Pines to Bens Branch)
G103-38-01-X015 (Chestnut Ridge Rd. to Kingwood Diversion Ditch)
G103-38-01-X016 (Chestnut Ridge Rd. to Kingwood Diversion Ditch)
HCFCD will also remove sediment from:
G103-80-01-X013 (Green Tree Ditch)
G103-33-04-X007 (Kings Crossing Ditch)
G103-41-00-X013 (Sand Branch)
They will repair erosion on:
G103-33-01-X007 (North Park Dr. to Bens Branch)
G103-80-03.1-X037 (Taylor Gully)
Finally, HCFCD will reshape side channels on:
G103-33-04-X007 (Kings Crossing Ditch)
G103-41-00-X014 (Sand Branch)
During this time, residents in work areas may notice crews with large trucks and heavy equipment such as excavators and bulldozers. Stay well clear of the equipment.
HCFCD estimates it will complete all this work by early 2026. The District and Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey who helped arrange the work stated that each specific effort will move on its own timeline.
5/15/25 – According to a new study by researchers at Columbia University, on average, Houston is subsiding faster than any major city in America. The study looked at the 28 most populous cities in America. Satellite measurements collected between 2015 and 2021 showed all are sinking to some degree. However, the sinking is not uniform.
Parts of Area Sinking at Different Rates
More than 40% of Houston’s area is subsiding more than 5 millimeters (about 1/5 inch) per year. 12% is sinking at twice that rate, according to the study.
“Subsidence-induced infrastructure damage can occur even with minor changes in land motion,” the study’s authors wrote in the journal Nature Cities on May 8, 2025. “One of the most harmful yet less visible effects of urban land subsidence is the potential damage to buildings, foundations and infrastructure, primarily caused by differential land motion,” they say.
Damage Caused by Subsidence
Imagine underground pipes, for instance, that reach the limit of the flexibility and then get pushed beyond it.
The Columbia study also showed high levels of subsidence elsewhere in Texas, including Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and Fort Worth.
Subsidence Linked to Groundwater Extraction Due to Growth
The primary cause: ground water extraction related to rapid growth. The study found that about 80% of all subsidence relates to groundwater extraction.
As if on cue, the Census Bureau released today updated population statistics. They showed that from 2023 to 2024, Houston gained more people than any other major city in America with the exception of New York.
The new census data also shows that Fulshear on Houston’s west side had the second highest percentage gain in population of any city in America in 2023. Fulshear, on Houston’s west side, grew an astonishing 26.9% from 2023 to 2024.
Subsidence Hotspots in Houston Area
Coincidentally, the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District released its 2024 Annual Groundwater Report today and an updated interactive subsidence map. They showed that the highest rate of subsidence in the Houston region was near Fulshear. That area is subsiding at a rate of 1.3 inches/year – more than a foot per decade!
One of the most visible signs of subsidence is cracks in pavement and parking lots.
The Subsidence District’s latest groundwater report shows that their efforts have almost halted subsidence where they have succeeded in shifting areas from ground to surface water. Those are the areas where the Subsidence District first started regulating groundwater 50 years ago.
However, the relentless growth of Houston, especially on the north and west sides, has created a belt of subsidence where new areas have largely not yet converted to surface water. See below.
Average annual subsidence from 2020 to 2024. Green = <.5 cm/yr. Dark red = > 2 cm/yr.
More on that in coming days. I’ll also discuss how differential subsidence can create bowls in the landscape that exacerbate flooding. And I’ll cover the largest water infrastructure project in the country. It will bring more surface water to those fast subsiding areas above.
Being the fastest subsiding city in America is one claim that I am sure Houston would be happy to relinquish.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/15/25
2816 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20250515-Subsidence-Belt.jpg?fit=1100%2C822&ssl=18221100adminadmin2025-05-15 18:43:522025-05-15 20:32:30New Study Finds Houston Is Fastest Subsiding City in Country
Northpark Contractors Start Boring Under Railroad Tracks
5/17/25 – Contractors have finally started boring under UnionPacific Railroad (UPRR) tracks to connect Northpark drainage east and west of Loop 494. That crucial connection is a key to beginning many other parts of the Northpark expansion project.
Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority first contacted UPRR about running Northpark drainage under their tracks ten years ago. And for those keeping track, it was eight years ago that the two parties signed their first contract.
Fifth Contract is the Charm
If you’re wondering why it’s taken so long, the two parties are now working on their fifth contract. But all that is in the past. So are the special UPRR training sessions that contractors and LHRA staff had to attend. So is the years-long wait for UPRR to weld single 200-foot-long sections of track into place across the ten lanes of Northpark.
All energies are positive now and the project is moving forward.
One Pole Blocking Bore Must Move
Note, however, a CenterPoint pole is still in the way. See below.
CenterPoint needs to transfer the energized lines from the existing wood poles on each side of Northpark to the newly installed and adjacent fiberglass poles. Those are designed to route the electricity underground at that location – out of the way of the bridge. Once electricity is rerouted, the old pole blocking progress can be removed.
Yesterday, I received word from City Councilman Fred Flickinger’s District E office that CenterPoint and UPRR are close to signing a contract that will let CenterPoint enter UPRR’s right of way to move the pole. Good news!
Steel, Not Concrete Pipe Needed
After completing the bore pit, contractors will run six-foot steel pipes under the tracks. The tolerance is exceedingly tight. The tracks cannot move more than one-quarter inch despite the weight and vibration of mile-long trains carrying heavy loads. Hence the steel.
Bore Pit Built Like Underground Fortress
From the ground, construction of the bore pit looked like this.
Junction Boxes Will Tie Drainage Together
When this operation is complete, we will have two junction boxes on either side of the tracks.
Some time ago, a third junction box was placed underground near the Shell station on the opposite side of Loop 494. Before contractors paved the new southbound lanes on Loop 494, they already connected giant 8’x8′ reinforced concrete pipe under the paving. So now, all they have to do is connect that to the center junction box west of the tracks (foreground above).
Contingent Operations
Many subsequent operations rely on the successful completion of the bore under the tracks. They include:
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/17/25
2818 Days since Hurricane Harvey
HCFCD Announces Kingwood Projects
5/16/2025 – Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) made several announcements about projects recently that will affect Kingwood and areas upstream.
Two Stormwater Detention Basins Now on Bid List
The District expects two major detention basin projects to go out for bids soon. The:
The clearcutting of the Woodridge Village flooded hundreds of homes in Elm Grove, Sherwood Trails and Mills Branch twice in 2019. HCFCD started excavating an additional detention basin in 2021 to help address the risk of downstream flooding. But they were forced to discontinue the excavation in 2023 when they applied for a HUD grant to finish the project.
HCFCD held a press conference about funding availability at the TC Jester property in 2022.
Ten More Maintenance Projects in Kingwood
HCFCD also announced 10 more maintenance projects on area channels. They expect to start eight this year.
What Will Happen Where
The map below shows the location of the projects. It’s keyed to the numbers above in the first column.
The maintenance will help ensure the continued effectiveness of the area’s flood control systems.
HCFCD will repair or replace…
…for the following channels
HCFCD will also remove sediment from:
They will repair erosion on:
Finally, HCFCD will reshape side channels on:
During this time, residents in work areas may notice crews with large trucks and heavy equipment such as excavators and bulldozers. Stay well clear of the equipment.
HCFCD estimates it will complete all this work by early 2026. The District and Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey who helped arrange the work stated that each specific effort will move on its own timeline.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/16/2026
2817 Days since Hurricane Harvey
New Study Finds Houston Is Fastest Subsiding City in Country
5/15/25 – According to a new study by researchers at Columbia University, on average, Houston is subsiding faster than any major city in America. The study looked at the 28 most populous cities in America. Satellite measurements collected between 2015 and 2021 showed all are sinking to some degree. However, the sinking is not uniform.
Parts of Area Sinking at Different Rates
More than 40% of Houston’s area is subsiding more than 5 millimeters (about 1/5 inch) per year. 12% is sinking at twice that rate, according to the study.
“Subsidence-induced infrastructure damage can occur even with minor changes in land motion,” the study’s authors wrote in the journal Nature Cities on May 8, 2025. “One of the most harmful yet less visible effects of urban land subsidence is the potential damage to buildings, foundations and infrastructure, primarily caused by differential land motion,” they say.
Damage Caused by Subsidence
Imagine underground pipes, for instance, that reach the limit of the flexibility and then get pushed beyond it.
Other subsidence studies have shown that subsidence can trigger geologic faults and exacerbate flooding.
The Columbia study also showed high levels of subsidence elsewhere in Texas, including Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and Fort Worth.
Subsidence Linked to Groundwater Extraction Due to Growth
The primary cause: ground water extraction related to rapid growth. The study found that about 80% of all subsidence relates to groundwater extraction.
As if on cue, the Census Bureau released today updated population statistics. They showed that from 2023 to 2024, Houston gained more people than any other major city in America with the exception of New York.
The new census data also shows that Fulshear on Houston’s west side had the second highest percentage gain in population of any city in America in 2023. Fulshear, on Houston’s west side, grew an astonishing 26.9% from 2023 to 2024.
Subsidence Hotspots in Houston Area
Coincidentally, the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District released its 2024 Annual Groundwater Report today and an updated interactive subsidence map. They showed that the highest rate of subsidence in the Houston region was near Fulshear. That area is subsiding at a rate of 1.3 inches/year – more than a foot per decade!
One of the most visible signs of subsidence is cracks in pavement and parking lots.
The Subsidence District’s latest groundwater report shows that their efforts have almost halted subsidence where they have succeeded in shifting areas from ground to surface water. Those are the areas where the Subsidence District first started regulating groundwater 50 years ago.
However, the relentless growth of Houston, especially on the north and west sides, has created a belt of subsidence where new areas have largely not yet converted to surface water. See below.
More on that in coming days. I’ll also discuss how differential subsidence can create bowls in the landscape that exacerbate flooding. And I’ll cover the largest water infrastructure project in the country. It will bring more surface water to those fast subsiding areas above.
Being the fastest subsiding city in America is one claim that I am sure Houston would be happy to relinquish.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/15/25
2816 Days since Hurricane Harvey