3/10/25 – In the last week, Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) launched a new interactive map at the bottom of its homepage. In it, HCFCD calls many projects complete that have not even started.
The map supposedly contains the status of each project in the county along with links to more project details.
However, the information is riddled with errors. The map also contains several usability issues that place barriers between people and information.
Together, the issues show a disturbing lack of attention to detail and quality control that undermines the credibility of HCFCD.
Examples of Incorrectly Coded Projects
For instance, you may be pleased to know that the project to add more floodgates to the Lake Houston Dam is “complete.” It’s not. Ask Houston City Council Member Fred Flickinger who just provided an update on the ongoing engineering of the gates.
This and all other screen captures below taken on 3/10/25. Note project status in lower right corner.
Neither are the projects complete to add stormwater-detention capacity to Woodridge Village and to improve Taylor Gully. However, the map shows them completed also.
HCFCD also marked the Kingwood Diversion Ditch Project “in progress.” It’s not.
“None of this information is true!”
– Bob Rehak
With the exception of the Woodridge project, the District has not turned one shovel of dirt on any of the projects above.
The District tabled the Woodridge project in November 2023 when it decided to seek HUD funding to complete it. Here’s how HCFCD left the site.
“Completed” Woodridge Village Detention Basin. Photo taken today, 3/10/25.
HCFCD even marked the TC Jester Detention Basins on Cypress Creek complete.
HCFCD did not respond to questions about the errors, nor did it take the error-ridden, interactive map down as of close of business today.
Usability Flaws, Too
In addition to the project-status errors, the map also contains some serious usability flaws.
For instance, clicking on the link for more information about a project sometimes takes one to a page that asks you to sign into “ArcGIS Online.”
But that requires HCFCD employee credentials.
However, take heart. If you wait several minutes, information may eventually load OFFSCREEN and ABOVE the sign-in prompt…where few would ever bother to look for it. Very clever!
A source familiar with Harris County Universal Services, the county’s IT department, attributed the bizarre performance of the map, in part, to incompetent coders and project managers with forged credentials working on H1-B visas.
That may be an even bigger problem! If you think Elon Musk rummaging through IRS data is an issue, imagine foreign nationals rummaging through your Harris County tax information. But I digress.
In the meeting, Commissioners adopted several measures to limit the financial impact to the county in case DOGE rescinds $1.1 billion of previously promised HUD disaster-relief and flood-mitigation funding.
In the same meeting, Commissioners also demanded an update from HCFCD Executive Director Tina Petersen about the status of every project. The reason: so they could make sure so-called “equity projects” were completed in low-to-moderate income areas before those in more affluent areas.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis said he didn’t want to wait “until all the money was gone.” He added, “I know there’s not enough money to do all the projects we talked about and everybody else knows it.”
I hope Ms. Petersen provides better information to her bosses than to the public. She just received a $90,000 raise. You could hire several proofreaders for that!
No telling how many errors are embedded in the interactive HCFCD map; I am not familiar with every project in the county. If you know of other errors in projects near you, please send me a note through the contact form on this website.
Posted Bob Rehak on 3/10/25
2750 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20230812-RJR_2246.jpg?fit=1100%2C733&ssl=17331100adminadmin2025-03-10 20:29:092025-03-10 23:38:55HCFCD Calls Projects Complete that Have Not Even Started
3/9/25 – Last week, contractors began transplantation of more Northpark trees. Residents said they wanted to save the trees. And early on, the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority committed to saving as many as possible, especially those with ornamental value. They budgeted $700,000 for the effort.
From Loop 494/Northpark to South Entry Pond
The trees transplanted last week moved from in front of the dry cleaners on the SW corner of Northpark and Loop 494 to areas around the south entry pond on Northpark at US 59.
I wasn’t able to photograph the transplantation since it happened at night. But comparing previous and current photos shows where they moved from and to.
January 2025 photo.Trees circled in red moved.Photo taken today. That same area photographed from a different angle this afternoon shows trees are gone.File photo from 2023 of equipment used to transplant first trees in Northpark program.Contractors moved trees to the south entry pond. The most beautiful occupies a place of prominence in center of this trio. Contractors transplanted the other two trees earlier.They scattered other transplanted trees around what will become the south entry pond.
Most people will notice the trees missing from in front of the dry cleaners. But they won’t realize where they went to.
Keep Finished Design in Mind
Construction never feels pretty.
However, rest assured that the directors of the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10 heard residents and are acting to save the trees. It’s just hard to see with all the visual noise of construction.
When complete, the entry ponds at Northpark should look as good as those at Kingwood Drive. And that is another thing residents have requested for years.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250309-DJI_20250309152749_0215_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2025-03-09 19:06:112025-03-09 19:08:26Transplantation of More Northpark Trees
3/8/25 – Houston District E City Council Member Fred Flickinger’s March newsletter contained updates on several Lake Houston Dam projects.
Floodgate Update
Adding more and bigger floodgates to the Lake Houston Dam will let the City lower lake levels faster in advance of major storms to reduce flood risk.
According to Flickinger, Phase II of the Lake Houston Dam Spillway Improvement Project is well underway. This phase focuses adding eleven new tainter gates. Together, they will increase discharge capacity by 79,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). And that matches the peak release rate of Lake Conroe during Harvey.
Looking west across Lake Houston Dam. The current plan to add more floodgates focuses on the earthen embankment in the foreground.
Engineering firm Black & Veatch has completed the 30% design plans. Also field activities, such as ground surveys, bathymetric surveys and geotechnical soil borings are underway. Environmental investigations including wetlands assessments, endangered species studies, and archaeological site evaluations begin next week.
In parallel, engineers are working with regulatory agencies. They include the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), United States Army Corps of Engineers, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). Together, they hope to streamline permitting.
The Coastal Water Authority (CWA) also met with TCEQ in December. CWA continues to work closely with the Corps and TPWD to speed approvals.
Future Lake Houston Dam Replacement Study
Recognizing the long-term needs of the region, planning is also underway for a larger project to replace the existing 75-year-old Lake Houston Dam. CWA has engaged Black & Veatch to initiate a high-level Lake Houston Dam Replacement Study in 2025.
Lake Houston Dam Repair Project – Immediate
In addition to expansion and long-term replacement planning, immediate repairs are being implemented through the $10 million Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Project, made possible with the support of Congressman Dan Crenshaw. This project includes:
Grouting voids below and around the dam structure
Repairing spalled concrete on spillway buttress walls
“Spalled concrete” refers to a condition where concrete begins to crack, chip, or flake away from its surface. This can expose the aggregate or reinforcing steel underneath.
Essentially, it’s a form of concrete deterioration where pieces of the surface break off, leaving pitted areas. Spalling can weaken the structural integrity of concrete and lead to further damage if left unaddressed.
CWA is finalizing the scope and fee for additional field investigations and engineering design work. These efforts will define the exact repair locations and methodologies for construction. The engineering should take six to eight months. And construction should last another six to nine months after that.
Lake Levels Lowered for Fieldwork
Houston Public Works has lowered Lake Houston to approximately 41.0 feet. Lake Houston has a normal pool elevation of 42.4 feet.
The lower level will keep water from going over the spillway, so that another CWA engineering firm, Freese & Nichols, can perform surveys of the concrete hearth structure on the downstream side of the spillway.
Lake Level has been lowered so engineers can survey the concrete on the downstream side of the 3,100 foot spillway in the foreground.
After completion of the surveys during the week of March 14th, the levels in Lake Houston will naturally return to 42.4 feet, through rain events.
Flickinger says the District E office remains actively involved in this project. His team participates in bi-weekly coordination meetings to ensure progress continues efficiently and transparently.
Property owners along the lake should secure all belongings located at the shoreline, boat docks, and piers. Be prepared for changing lake levels, as advance notice may not be possible.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/8/25
2748 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20230812-RJR_2246.jpg?fit=1100%2C733&ssl=17331100adminadmin2025-03-08 17:25:492025-03-08 18:26:05Flickinger Issues Updates on Multiple Lake Houston Dam Issues
HCFCD Calls Projects Complete that Have Not Even Started
3/10/25 – In the last week, Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) launched a new interactive map at the bottom of its homepage. In it, HCFCD calls many projects complete that have not even started.
The map supposedly contains the status of each project in the county along with links to more project details.
However, the information is riddled with errors. The map also contains several usability issues that place barriers between people and information.
Together, the issues show a disturbing lack of attention to detail and quality control that undermines the credibility of HCFCD.
Examples of Incorrectly Coded Projects
For instance, you may be pleased to know that the project to add more floodgates to the Lake Houston Dam is “complete.” It’s not. Ask Houston City Council Member Fred Flickinger who just provided an update on the ongoing engineering of the gates.
Neither are the projects complete to add stormwater-detention capacity to Woodridge Village and to improve Taylor Gully. However, the map shows them completed also.
HCFCD also marked the Kingwood Diversion Ditch Project “in progress.” It’s not.
With the exception of the Woodridge project, the District has not turned one shovel of dirt on any of the projects above.
The District tabled the Woodridge project in November 2023 when it decided to seek HUD funding to complete it. Here’s how HCFCD left the site.
HCFCD even marked the TC Jester Detention Basins on Cypress Creek complete.
However, that project won’t even go out for bid until the fourth quarter of this year.
HCFCD did not respond to questions about the errors, nor did it take the error-ridden, interactive map down as of close of business today.
Usability Flaws, Too
In addition to the project-status errors, the map also contains some serious usability flaws.
For instance, clicking on the link for more information about a project sometimes takes one to a page that asks you to sign into “ArcGIS Online.”
But that requires HCFCD employee credentials.
However, take heart. If you wait several minutes, information may eventually load OFFSCREEN and ABOVE the sign-in prompt…where few would ever bother to look for it. Very clever!
A source familiar with Harris County Universal Services, the county’s IT department, attributed the bizarre performance of the map, in part, to incompetent coders and project managers with forged credentials working on H1-B visas.
That may be an even bigger problem! If you think Elon Musk rummaging through IRS data is an issue, imagine foreign nationals rummaging through your Harris County tax information. But I digress.
Why An Untested Map?
The sudden appearance of the map follows fast on the heels of the Harris County Commissioners Court meeting on February 27, 2025.
In the meeting, Commissioners adopted several measures to limit the financial impact to the county in case DOGE rescinds $1.1 billion of previously promised HUD disaster-relief and flood-mitigation funding.
In the same meeting, Commissioners also demanded an update from HCFCD Executive Director Tina Petersen about the status of every project. The reason: so they could make sure so-called “equity projects” were completed in low-to-moderate income areas before those in more affluent areas.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis said he didn’t want to wait “until all the money was gone.” He added, “I know there’s not enough money to do all the projects we talked about and everybody else knows it.”
I hope Ms. Petersen provides better information to her bosses than to the public. She just received a $90,000 raise. You could hire several proofreaders for that!
No telling how many errors are embedded in the interactive HCFCD map; I am not familiar with every project in the county. If you know of other errors in projects near you, please send me a note through the contact form on this website.
Posted Bob Rehak on 3/10/25
2750 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
Transplantation of More Northpark Trees
3/9/25 – Last week, contractors began transplantation of more Northpark trees. Residents said they wanted to save the trees. And early on, the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority committed to saving as many as possible, especially those with ornamental value. They budgeted $700,000 for the effort.
From Loop 494/Northpark to South Entry Pond
The trees transplanted last week moved from in front of the dry cleaners on the SW corner of Northpark and Loop 494 to areas around the south entry pond on Northpark at US 59.
I wasn’t able to photograph the transplantation since it happened at night. But comparing previous and current photos shows where they moved from and to.
Most people will notice the trees missing from in front of the dry cleaners. But they won’t realize where they went to.
Keep Finished Design in Mind
Construction never feels pretty.
However, rest assured that the directors of the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10 heard residents and are acting to save the trees. It’s just hard to see with all the visual noise of construction.
When complete, the entry ponds at Northpark should look as good as those at Kingwood Drive. And that is another thing residents have requested for years.
For More Information
See the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority website or consult the related posts below.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/9/25
2749 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Flickinger Issues Updates on Multiple Lake Houston Dam Issues
3/8/25 – Houston District E City Council Member Fred Flickinger’s March newsletter contained updates on several Lake Houston Dam projects.
Floodgate Update
Adding more and bigger floodgates to the Lake Houston Dam will let the City lower lake levels faster in advance of major storms to reduce flood risk.
According to Flickinger, Phase II of the Lake Houston Dam Spillway Improvement Project is well underway. This phase focuses adding eleven new tainter gates. Together, they will increase discharge capacity by 79,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). And that matches the peak release rate of Lake Conroe during Harvey.
Engineering firm Black & Veatch has completed the 30% design plans. Also field activities, such as ground surveys, bathymetric surveys and geotechnical soil borings are underway. Environmental investigations including wetlands assessments, endangered species studies, and archaeological site evaluations begin next week.
In parallel, engineers are working with regulatory agencies. They include the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), United States Army Corps of Engineers, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). Together, they hope to streamline permitting.
The Coastal Water Authority (CWA) also met with TCEQ in December. CWA continues to work closely with the Corps and TPWD to speed approvals.
Future Lake Houston Dam Replacement Study
Recognizing the long-term needs of the region, planning is also underway for a larger project to replace the existing 75-year-old Lake Houston Dam. CWA has engaged Black & Veatch to initiate a high-level Lake Houston Dam Replacement Study in 2025.
Lake Houston Dam Repair Project – Immediate
In addition to expansion and long-term replacement planning, immediate repairs are being implemented through the $10 million Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Project, made possible with the support of Congressman Dan Crenshaw. This project includes:
“Spalled concrete” refers to a condition where concrete begins to crack, chip, or flake away from its surface. This can expose the aggregate or reinforcing steel underneath.
Essentially, it’s a form of concrete deterioration where pieces of the surface break off, leaving pitted areas. Spalling can weaken the structural integrity of concrete and lead to further damage if left unaddressed.
CWA is finalizing the scope and fee for additional field investigations and engineering design work. These efforts will define the exact repair locations and methodologies for construction. The engineering should take six to eight months. And construction should last another six to nine months after that.
Lake Levels Lowered for Fieldwork
Houston Public Works has lowered Lake Houston to approximately 41.0 feet. Lake Houston has a normal pool elevation of 42.4 feet.
The lower level will keep water from going over the spillway, so that another CWA engineering firm, Freese & Nichols, can perform surveys of the concrete hearth structure on the downstream side of the spillway.
After completion of the surveys during the week of March 14th, the levels in Lake Houston will naturally return to 42.4 feet, through rain events.
Flickinger says the District E office remains actively involved in this project. His team participates in bi-weekly coordination meetings to ensure progress continues efficiently and transparently.
Property owners along the lake should secure all belongings located at the shoreline, boat docks, and piers. Be prepared for changing lake levels, as advance notice may not be possible.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/8/25
2748 Days since Hurricane Harvey