10/26/24 – Say goodbye to the old Northpark Drive.
Construction crews were hard at work all along Northpark Drive on this beautiful fall Saturday afternoon. One group focused on replacing the Northpark median at Russell Palmer Road.
Another focused on breaking up and carrying away pavement from the old westbound lanes.
Old Northpark westbound lanes being demolished west of Sherwin Williams. Photo 10/26/24.
A third group focused on Loop 494 expansion where it crosses Northpark.
Looking N across Northpark at Loop 494 expansion.
All this had Northpark traffic backed up for more than a half mile in each direction.
A Crawl Down Memory Lane
As I inched along in traffic, I felt somewhat nostalgic. I’ve lived in Kingwood for more than 40 years and had offices near or on Northpark for more than half that time.
Google Earth shows Northpark under construction back in 1978. It was a heavily wooded area back then. Google does not even have aerial imagery for the area west of the Diversion Ditch. And few homes existed beyond North Woodland Hills and Sherwood Trails.
Kingwood on 12/31/1977. Woodland Hills curves from bottom to near top of frame just left of center. Northpark intersects it at right angles near the top.
Kingwood Park high school didn’t exist. Neither did Kingwood High. And the Northpark Recreation Area had just been logged.
Northpark Drive served Kingwood well back then. It helped make Kingwood one of the finest master-planned communities in the Houston area, and one of the most unique in the country. To this day, Kingwood’s integration of homes and businesses with nature still astounds newcomers and sets a standard for the nation.
The vision appealed to so many, that now Northpark must expand from four lanes to six, with 10 at the widest point.
Photos Taken on 10/25/24
The gleaming, white, new concrete poured during the last three weeks stretches a half mile to where crews funneled westbound traffic onto the new lanes at the approximate location where they were tearing out the old westbound lanes.
Northpark Drive Expansion, looking west from Russell Palmer Road (bottom left).Lower shot shows concrete poured earlier this week is still drying.Saturday afternoon at 1:30 PM. Shot shows why we need more lanes.Father west, contractors are demolishing the old Westbound road.
This is the general area where a bridge will begin to carry traffic over Loop 494 and the UP Railroad Tracks. In addition to the three lanes of traffic in each direction going over the bridge, we will also have two surface lanes on each side of the bridge…in both directions. One of the lanes will be for left turns and the other for right turns.
Loop 494 Expansion
Contractors are also widening Loop 494 sound of Northpark. The extra lanes on 494 will help prevent traffic coming off Northpark from backing up into the new turn lanes.
Looking S across Northpark at where lanes will widen Loop 494.
The result of all this work: the first all-weather evacuation route from Kingwood. The widened road will also increase mobility, cut commute times, increase safety, and keep Kingwood a premier community for the next generation.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241026-DJI_20241026130233_0047_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2024-10-26 17:15:062024-10-26 17:22:03Say Goodbye to the Old Northpark Drive
U.S. Representative Dan Crenshaw helped secure another $3.2 million dollars for two crucial Kingwood flood-mitigation projects. The money is part of two EPA grants, each for $1.6 million. And they will cover final engineering for the Taylor Gully/Woodridge Village and Kingwood Diversion Ditch flood-mitigation projects.
U.S. Representative Dan Crenshaw addressing Kingwood Townhall Meeting on October 8, 2024.
80:20 Matching Grants from EPA
The EPA will pay 80% of each project’s costs and HCFCD will pay the remaining 20% ($400,000 each), according to transmittals to Harris County Commissioners Court for the 10/28/24 meeting.
Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) is asking Commissioners to approve acceptance of the grants, as they obligate the county to spend $800,000 from the 2018 Flood Bond.
Four years ago this week, the Kingwood Area Drainage Analysis identified these two projects as the two most important in the Kingwood Area. The projects will increase conveyance and reduce floodplains. In the meantime, HCFCD completed preliminary engineering plans on each project.
Projects’ Scope, Goals
Anticipated deliverables for both projects include final engineering plans and supporting documents for hydrologic and hydraulic (H&H) analyses.
The scope includes identification of proposed alternatives and recommendation of one for final design, based on a detailed alternative analysis.
The EPA says the plans should lead to:
Conveyance improvements
Budget refinements for future funding assistance requests
Reduction in floodplain impacts during severe weather events
Improved resilience.
Anticipated Taylor Gully Benefits
HCFCD expects the Taylor Gully improvements will reduce riverine flood risk for the residents of Elm Grove, Mills Branch, North Kingwood Forest and Woodstream Village. It could reduce the 100-year floodplain by 116 acres, remove 276 structures from the floodplain, and lower floodwaters for structures still in the floodplain.
Anticipated Diversion Ditch Benefits
HCFCD expects the project will benefit structures in the vicinity of Bens Branch with additional reduction in street flooding. The Flood Control District also expects that this project will reduce the 100-year floodplain by 223 acres, remove up to 69 structures from the floodplain, and lower flood levels for structures still in the floodplain.
The alternative to not applying for grant funding? Flood risks will remain in place or the project will need to be funded locally.
Supporting documents do not address deadlines, which could come into play here unless HCFCD makes changes in other grant applications.
The Woodridge Village project includes the creation of two detention basins to reduce floodwater entering Taylor Gully.
However, the Woodridge detention basins are currently part of a disaster relief (DR) application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. If they remain in the group of DR applications, there may not be time to complete the engineering study and construction before the construction deadline.
Rumor has it that HCFCD may be working on moving the Woodridge Project into the flood-mitigation category which has more time before construction must be completed.
Crenshaw’s Critical Role in Numerous Lake Houston Area Flood Projects
In the meantime, hats off to Congressman Dan Crenshaw. He has consistently succeeded in advocating for Kingwood and Lake Houston Area flood-mitigation projects. Among his other successes:
$8 million for Taylor Gully improvements
$8 million for Lake Houston Dam gates
$10 million for Woodridge Stormwater Improvements
$4 million for Walnut Lane Bridge Improvements over the Diversion Ditch
$12 million for Ford Road Improvements
$900 thousand for I-69 Southbound Frontage Road Drainage Improvements
$3.6 million for Highland, Huffman and Crosby roadway and drainage improvements
$1.12 million for FM1488 area street rehab and drainage improvements
$10 million for Cedar Bayou stormwater detention basin
$1.673 million for Huffman (Forest Manor) drainage improvements
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/25/24
2614 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008-DSC_0923-1.jpg?fit=1100%2C733&ssl=17331100adminadmin2024-10-25 20:51:372024-10-25 23:08:42Crenshaw Secures $3.2 Million for Final Engineering of Two Kingwood Flood-Mitigation Projects
10/24/24 – It may seem counterintuitive, but there is a well-recognized relationship between wildfires and floods. What is it?
Simple. Wildfires create conditions that increase the risk of future flooding. Specifically, they affect infiltration; runoff volume and speed; erosion; sedimentation; and more.
How Wildfires Increase Future Flood Risk
Here’s an outline of the the relationship between wildfires and floods:
Loss of Vegetation: Forest fires burn vegetation, which normally helps to hold soil in place and absorb rainfall. Fires leave soil exposed and unprotected.
Water-Repellent Soil: Intense fires can cause soil to repel water. This increases the amount of water running off the surface during rainstorms, rather than soaking into the ground.
Increased Runoff: Without vegetation, rainwater flows more quickly and in greater volumes over the landscape. This runoff can lead to flash flooding, particularly after heavy rains in areas recently affected by wildfires.
Erosion and Sediment: Post-fire floods tend to carry a lot of sediment and debris since the soil is no longer stabilized by plant roots. This sediment can settle downstream, reduce the carrying capacity of streams and worsen flooding.
In short, forest fires can create conditions that increase the likelihood of flooding and make flood events more severe in the affected areas. This relationship is particularly common in the period immediately following a wildfire when the landscape is most vulnerable to erosion and rapid runoff.
What the Experts Says
According to FEMA, “While some floods develop over time, flash floods—particularly common after wildfires—can occur within minutes after the onset of a rainstorm. Even areas that are not traditionally flood-prone are at risk, due to changes to the landscape caused by fire. … Flood risk remains significantly higher until vegetation is restored – up to 5 years after a wildfire.”
The National Weather Service says, “Locations that are downhill and downstream from burned areas are highly susceptible to Flash Flooding and Debris Flows.”
The Army Corps of Engineers also warns of the relationship between vegetation loss and flash flooding. They say the risk of debris flows lasts two to five years.
The Corps, FEMA and Weather Service all recommend purchasing flood insurance within their discussions of wildfires.
Current Conditions in Southeast Texas: Growing Fire Risk
So how bad are current conditions?
I already have received an email from one reader who was seriously injured fighting a pasture fire in Liberty County.
No weather monitoring site in southeast Texas has recorded ANY rainfall for the month of October. “That’s impressive because October is usually our second wettest month behind May,” says Jeff Lindner, Harris County’s meteorologist.
October 2024 Rainfall and Departures from Normal
You can see the lack of recent rain in the statistics below:
College Station: 0.00, -3.49
BUSH IAH: 0.00, -3.82
Hobby: 0.00, -4.12
Galveston: 0.00, -3.66
Conroe: 0.00, -3.67
Sugarland: 0.00, -3.29
Drought Worsening
Moderate drought now covers more than half of Texas and severe drought covers more than a quarter of the state. All of Harris and surrounding counties are in moderate or severe drought, except for those along the coast.
Says Lindner, “While the recent dryness has been relatively short thus far compared to other dry spells, it has been intense – accompanied by much warmer than normal late summer and early fall temperatures. This has quickly resulted in drought degradation across the entire region and vegetation health quickly declining.”
Fire Activity Increasing
“The result has also been an increase in wildland fire activity in recent weeks – especially when drier air masses move over the region along with gusty winds,” Lindner continued.
“As the area moves deeper into the fall and winter months, more frequent and stronger cold fronts will bring stronger winds and much drier air masses across the area. Without any significant wetting rainfall, fire-weather conditions will quickly elevate,” he said.
Wildfire Risk Soaring
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KDBI) values indicate wildland fire risk. Currently, they show significant risk across the area. The scale is from 0 (completely saturated) to 800 (completely void of moisture to 8 inches deep). Values above 650 indicate an increased risk of wildland fire and values over 700 indicate a significant risk.
Current average KBDI values are:
Austin: 735
Brazoria: 630
Brazos: 744
Chambers: 693
Colorado: 705
Fort Bend: 706
Galveston: 620
Grimes: 730
Harris: 727
Liberty: 739
Matagorda: 615
Montgomery: 715
San Jacinto: 717
Walker: 691
Washington: 738
Wharton: 689
Looking Ahead: Higher than Average Temps/Lower Than Normal Rainfall
We are currently heading into La Niña conditions. “Such global oscillations tend to support southern plains drought,” says Lindner.
The National Weather Service indicates drought development and persistence across all of Texas into early 2025. See below:
Source: National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center
Be Careful with Outdoor Burning
Beryl left a lot of dead vegetative debris lying around last summer. It’s now turning into fuel. So be extremely careful with outdoor fires. It’s probably best not to burn those leaves you rake up this fall.
The fire you prevent now could help prevent flooding next spring.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/24/24
2613 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Wildland-Fire-Risk.png?fit=769%2C839&ssl=1839769adminadmin2024-10-24 20:29:282024-10-24 20:31:57Relationship Between Wildfires and Floods
Say Goodbye to the Old Northpark Drive
10/26/24 – Say goodbye to the old Northpark Drive.
Construction crews were hard at work all along Northpark Drive on this beautiful fall Saturday afternoon. One group focused on replacing the Northpark median at Russell Palmer Road.
Another focused on breaking up and carrying away pavement from the old westbound lanes.
A third group focused on Loop 494 expansion where it crosses Northpark.
All this had Northpark traffic backed up for more than a half mile in each direction.
A Crawl Down Memory Lane
As I inched along in traffic, I felt somewhat nostalgic. I’ve lived in Kingwood for more than 40 years and had offices near or on Northpark for more than half that time.
Google Earth shows Northpark under construction back in 1978. It was a heavily wooded area back then. Google does not even have aerial imagery for the area west of the Diversion Ditch. And few homes existed beyond North Woodland Hills and Sherwood Trails.
Kingwood Park high school didn’t exist. Neither did Kingwood High. And the Northpark Recreation Area had just been logged.
Northpark Drive served Kingwood well back then. It helped make Kingwood one of the finest master-planned communities in the Houston area, and one of the most unique in the country. To this day, Kingwood’s integration of homes and businesses with nature still astounds newcomers and sets a standard for the nation.
The vision appealed to so many, that now Northpark must expand from four lanes to six, with 10 at the widest point.
Photos Taken on 10/25/24
The gleaming, white, new concrete poured during the last three weeks stretches a half mile to where crews funneled westbound traffic onto the new lanes at the approximate location where they were tearing out the old westbound lanes.
This is the general area where a bridge will begin to carry traffic over Loop 494 and the UP Railroad Tracks. In addition to the three lanes of traffic in each direction going over the bridge, we will also have two surface lanes on each side of the bridge…in both directions. One of the lanes will be for left turns and the other for right turns.
Loop 494 Expansion
Contractors are also widening Loop 494 sound of Northpark. The extra lanes on 494 will help prevent traffic coming off Northpark from backing up into the new turn lanes.
The result of all this work: the first all-weather evacuation route from Kingwood. The widened road will also increase mobility, cut commute times, increase safety, and keep Kingwood a premier community for the next generation.
For More Information
Consult the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority project pages. Or see these ReduceFlooding posts:
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/26/24
2615 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Crenshaw Secures $3.2 Million for Final Engineering of Two Kingwood Flood-Mitigation Projects
U.S. Representative Dan Crenshaw helped secure another $3.2 million dollars for two crucial Kingwood flood-mitigation projects. The money is part of two EPA grants, each for $1.6 million. And they will cover final engineering for the Taylor Gully/Woodridge Village and Kingwood Diversion Ditch flood-mitigation projects.
80:20 Matching Grants from EPA
The EPA will pay 80% of each project’s costs and HCFCD will pay the remaining 20% ($400,000 each), according to transmittals to Harris County Commissioners Court for the 10/28/24 meeting.
Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) is asking Commissioners to approve acceptance of the grants, as they obligate the county to spend $800,000 from the 2018 Flood Bond.
Four years ago this week, the Kingwood Area Drainage Analysis identified these two projects as the two most important in the Kingwood Area. The projects will increase conveyance and reduce floodplains. In the meantime, HCFCD completed preliminary engineering plans on each project.
Projects’ Scope, Goals
Anticipated deliverables for both projects include final engineering plans and supporting documents for hydrologic and hydraulic (H&H) analyses.
The scope includes identification of proposed alternatives and recommendation of one for final design, based on a detailed alternative analysis.
The EPA says the plans should lead to:
Anticipated Taylor Gully Benefits
HCFCD expects the Taylor Gully improvements will reduce riverine flood risk for the residents of Elm Grove, Mills Branch, North Kingwood Forest and Woodstream Village. It could reduce the 100-year floodplain by 116 acres, remove 276 structures from the floodplain, and lower floodwaters for structures still in the floodplain.
Anticipated Diversion Ditch Benefits
HCFCD expects the project will benefit structures in the vicinity of Bens Branch with additional reduction in street flooding. The Flood Control District also expects that this project will reduce the 100-year floodplain by 223 acres, remove up to 69 structures from the floodplain, and lower flood levels for structures still in the floodplain.
The alternative to not applying for grant funding? Flood risks will remain in place or the project will need to be funded locally.
The grants are items #256 and #257 on Tuesday’s Commissioners Court agenda.
Deadlines
Supporting documents do not address deadlines, which could come into play here unless HCFCD makes changes in other grant applications.
The Woodridge Village project includes the creation of two detention basins to reduce floodwater entering Taylor Gully.
However, the Woodridge detention basins are currently part of a disaster relief (DR) application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. If they remain in the group of DR applications, there may not be time to complete the engineering study and construction before the construction deadline.
Rumor has it that HCFCD may be working on moving the Woodridge Project into the flood-mitigation category which has more time before construction must be completed.
However, I saw no mention of that on next week’s commissioner’s court agenda. Let’s hope they lock that down quickly.
Crenshaw’s Critical Role in Numerous Lake Houston Area Flood Projects
In the meantime, hats off to Congressman Dan Crenshaw. He has consistently succeeded in advocating for Kingwood and Lake Houston Area flood-mitigation projects. Among his other successes:
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/25/24
2614 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Relationship Between Wildfires and Floods
10/24/24 – It may seem counterintuitive, but there is a well-recognized relationship between wildfires and floods. What is it?
Simple. Wildfires create conditions that increase the risk of future flooding. Specifically, they affect infiltration; runoff volume and speed; erosion; sedimentation; and more.
How Wildfires Increase Future Flood Risk
Here’s an outline of the the relationship between wildfires and floods:
In short, forest fires can create conditions that increase the likelihood of flooding and make flood events more severe in the affected areas. This relationship is particularly common in the period immediately following a wildfire when the landscape is most vulnerable to erosion and rapid runoff.
What the Experts Says
According to FEMA, “While some floods develop over time, flash floods—particularly common after wildfires—can occur within minutes after the onset of a rainstorm. Even areas that are not traditionally flood-prone are at risk, due to changes to the landscape caused by fire. … Flood risk remains significantly higher until vegetation is restored – up to 5 years after a wildfire.”
The National Weather Service says, “Locations that are downhill and downstream from burned areas are highly susceptible to Flash Flooding and Debris Flows.”
The Army Corps of Engineers also warns of the relationship between vegetation loss and flash flooding. They say the risk of debris flows lasts two to five years.
The Corps, FEMA and Weather Service all recommend purchasing flood insurance within their discussions of wildfires.
Current Conditions in Southeast Texas: Growing Fire Risk
So how bad are current conditions?
I already have received an email from one reader who was seriously injured fighting a pasture fire in Liberty County.
No weather monitoring site in southeast Texas has recorded ANY rainfall for the month of October. “That’s impressive because October is usually our second wettest month behind May,” says Jeff Lindner, Harris County’s meteorologist.
October 2024 Rainfall and Departures from Normal
You can see the lack of recent rain in the statistics below:
Drought Worsening
Moderate drought now covers more than half of Texas and severe drought covers more than a quarter of the state. All of Harris and surrounding counties are in moderate or severe drought, except for those along the coast.
Says Lindner, “While the recent dryness has been relatively short thus far compared to other dry spells, it has been intense – accompanied by much warmer than normal late summer and early fall temperatures. This has quickly resulted in drought degradation across the entire region and vegetation health quickly declining.”
Fire Activity Increasing
“The result has also been an increase in wildland fire activity in recent weeks – especially when drier air masses move over the region along with gusty winds,” Lindner continued.
“As the area moves deeper into the fall and winter months, more frequent and stronger cold fronts will bring stronger winds and much drier air masses across the area. Without any significant wetting rainfall, fire-weather conditions will quickly elevate,” he said.
Wildfire Risk Soaring
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KDBI) values indicate wildland fire risk. Currently, they show significant risk across the area. The scale is from 0 (completely saturated) to 800 (completely void of moisture to 8 inches deep). Values above 650 indicate an increased risk of wildland fire and values over 700 indicate a significant risk.
Current average KBDI values are:
Looking Ahead: Higher than Average Temps/Lower Than Normal Rainfall
We are currently heading into La Niña conditions. “Such global oscillations tend to support southern plains drought,” says Lindner.
The National Weather Service indicates drought development and persistence across all of Texas into early 2025. See below:
Be Careful with Outdoor Burning
Beryl left a lot of dead vegetative debris lying around last summer. It’s now turning into fuel. So be extremely careful with outdoor fires. It’s probably best not to burn those leaves you rake up this fall.
The fire you prevent now could help prevent flooding next spring.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/24/24
2613 Days since Hurricane Harvey