May 19, 2024 – For the second time this month, the West and East Forks of the San Jacinto River are flooding. The East Fork crested last night about 1.5 feet below the prediction. However, the West Fork is still rising at US59. Parts of River Grove Park and the turnaround under US59 are already flooded. And the National Weather Service predicts floodwaters will go even higher.
Meanwhile, the West Fork continues to run through an old Hallett sand pit that was sold in January.
Here’s what you can expect if you live near the rivers.
East Fork Crest Moving Toward Lake Houston
Low-lying areas along the East Fork began flooding yesterday at FM1485. Earlier, the East Fork flooded near Cleveland and Plum Grove. As the crest moves downriver, it is affecting communities differently. Exactly how depends on many factors, such as the conveyance of the river at different points, sediment accumulations, proximity of homes to the river and more.
Yesterday, water was coming across part of FM1485 where it crosses the East Fork and parallels SH99. Today, the entire east bound section of FM1485 was blocked by floodwaters.
East Fork San Jacinto at approximately 4:30 PM on 5.16.24
As of 6 PM, May 19, floodwaters are declining in this reach of the river. The crest has moved downstream toward Lake Houston.
Farther upstream, at FM2090, the river has already returned to its banks.
All this is the result of another 3-5″ of rain falling earlier in the week upstream in the watershed on grounds that were already saturated from torrential rains and flooding earlier this month.
NWS Issues Flood Warning for West Fork until Tuesday Morning
While the East Fork is falling at this hour, the West Fork is still rising. At 1:34 PM Sunday, the National Weather Service issued a flood warning for the West Fork near Humble affecting Harris and Montgomery Counties.
NWS will issue its next statement Monday morning at 7:45 AM CDT.
The FLOOD WARNING WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL LATE TUESDAY MORNING.
IMPACTS: At 49.3 feet, minor lowland flooding begins in the vicinity of the gauge at US59. The north side turnaround at US 59 begins to flood. Low points in surrounding areas also begin to flood.
At 12:45 PM CDT Sunday, the river had risen to 49.2 feet.
Bankfull stage is 45.3 feet.
The river will crest at 49.7 feet just after midnight tonight. It will then fall below flood stage late tomorrow evening.
Flood stage is 49.3 feet.
This afternoon, the turnaround under US59 was just beginning to flood. The parking lots and part of the roadway were already underwater.
Far side of sandbar in middle is normally the river bank.
At 5 PM, the soccer fields, picnic area and boat launch at River Grove Park were also partially underwater. And water was rising quickly.
Picnic area and boat docks at River Grove underwater and going deepertonight.Soccer fields, also at around 5PMRiver still rising. Minor flooding expected through Tuesday.
Sand Mine Area Upstream
Farther upstream, the West Fork was still ripping a hole through an abandoned Hallett sand pit that the company sold to a real estate developer in January.
River is now flowing through the abandoned pit (right) instead of following the normal arc of the river (left) around the pit.Note trail of foam.It moved at around 5 mph.
This breach appears to have widened significantly in recent days. If it remains open and this pit becomes the new course of the river, it’s possible that the entire pit could become public property, just like the river is now.
On the other side of the river, Hallett filled in the trench that was releasing sludge from its settling pond last Friday afternoon.
Trench on perimeter of Hallett Mine that was releasing sludge into river on Friday afternoon has been filled in.
Lake Report
As of 7 PM, the SJRA is releasing 5,325 Cubic Feet per Second (CFS) from Lake Conroe. The lake is almost back to its normal level – within .67 feet of 201. And no rain is in sight. That’s good news. Releases should continue to go down.
Throughout this event, SJRA has balanced inflows and outflows to the degree that it can. The rate they show above is about half of what they released earlier in the weekend.
Lake Houston, however, is getting more, not less water. It is still about two feet above normal and discharging water via its gates and spillway. Total discharge is 34,015 CFS. Of that, the gates can release only 10,000 CFS. The other 24,000 CFS goes over the spillway.
Comparing the two numbers on the right, shows us that the flood risk is shifting to the Lake Houston Area now.
Of the 11 watersheds that send water into Lake Houston, SJRA controls only Lake Conroe. The East Fork has no flood control. But that’s a story for another time.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/19/24 at 8PM
2455 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/2024/05/20240519-DJI_20240519152922_0708_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2024-05-19 20:02:452024-05-20 21:05:12West and East Forks of San Jacinto Flooding Again
Daniel and Kathleen Moore live with their 8-month old baby near the East Fork San Jacinto in Montgomery County. The young couple desperately wants a buyout after their house on Idle Glen in New Caney flooded three times in seven years. But no buyout is in sight.
When they bought the home, they were told it was in the 500-year floodplain. In fact, Montgomery County flood maps still show their home is in the 500-year (.2% annual chance) floodplain.
However, that determination is based on floodplain data from the 1980’s – before the Moores were even born. And since then, the area upstream from them has boomed with new development.
New Upstream Development Invalidates Old Data
For instance, Colony Ridge, just 2.5 miles to the northeast on the other side of the river, has grown 50% larger than Manhattan since 2010 – with virtually no flood mitigation measures on the East Fork side of the area.
In one seven year stretch (2017 to 2024), the Moores flooded three times. During Harvey, they flooded to nine feet. In Imelda, they got one foot. And in the no-name storm of May 2024, five feet of floodwater destroyed everything in the bottom floor of their home.
Said Daniel, “I figured Harvey was extreme. I didn’t worry too much about that. But the next two storms were different. We just can’t afford to rebuild every two or three years.” Daniel works as a mechanic. “The pay isn’t that great,” he says. “We need to move.”
Rebuilding Without Flood Insurance
After the first two floods, they rebuilt the home with money from their own pockets – without benefit of insurance. But with a new baby, they can no longer afford that.
The Moores’ story underscores how inexperience can hamstring young couples on technical issues, such as floodplain delineation and flood insurance.
The moral of this story: before you invest in a new home, consult with a professional hydrologist about the risk. Talk to neighbors about past flooding. Look for tell-tale signs like mold on neighbors’ homes, rotting wood, and elevated structures.
And buy flood insurance. It’s available through FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program. Not all agents feel the commission justifies the trouble of handling it, especially if the home has a history of flooding, so you may get mixed signals from them. Shop around.
Moore Photos During and After May 2024 Flood
Daniel tried to return home after spending the first night with his family in a motel. He couldn’t get onto the feeder road from SH99. This picture shows FM1485 totally flooded.
FM1485 on second day of flood.Raging waters reached the top of the street sign and nearly touched the power wires.Floodwater jumbled the living room furniture.Another room totaled.
Cleanup after the Flood
I took the following shots on 5/18/24. As Daniel worked to gut his uninhabitable home once again, his wife tended the baby at her mother’s home.
Living room of Daniel and Kathleen Moore destroyed by flooding in May 2024Daniel points to height of flood waters. For reference, he is 6’5″ tall.Possessions carted to curb and picked over by scavengers.
Scavengers feel, “What difference does it make? They’re throwing this out anyway.” But it makes flood victims feel victimized all over again. Daniel says he’s found people picking through his belongings every day since the flood.
Floodwater reached the top of Kathleen’s Tahoe. It floated during the flood and turned 90 degrees. No one knows where the phone pole came from.Daniel, tired, bewildered, and still a bit dazed.
But the Moores’ trials and tribulations are not over.
Buyout Chances
The Moores have had a hard time connecting with anyone in Montgomery County who will offer them a buyout.
Ironically, the fact that they are in a 500-year floodplain that hasn’t been updated in 40 years could hurt their buyout chances. FEMA scoring generally favors those with higher risk.
FEMA also favors homeowners with flood insurance. That’s because buying out the homeowners would likely save FEMA money on insurance reimbursements after multiple floods.
But that’s not all.
River Rising Again
Before leaving the Moores’ home, I put my drone up and saw this.
East Fork rising again. Out of banks and flooding FM1485 (right) near 1 PM on May 18, 2024. Looking E.Note river on middle right already had risen over one road in the neighborhood.Daniel says FM1485 is totally under water now.
As of 6 PM, the National Weather service shows the river is still rising. They predict it will crest tonight just under major flood stage near 69 feet.
NWS prediction as of 5:52 PM on 5/28/24 for gage within blocks of Moore home.
That should bring the water close to the Moores’ front door again.
As I drove around his neighborhood, I marveled at the number of abandoned and flooded homes. One can only wonder whether this neighborhood will survive.
Please pray for the safety of all who live there.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/18/24
2454 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 2 Weeks since the No-Name Flood of 2024
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/20240518-RJR_3527.jpg?fit=1100%2C733&ssl=17331100adminadmin2024-05-18 19:28:082024-05-18 20:51:01Flooded 3 Times in 7 Years in 500-Year Floodplain, But No Buyout
5/17/2024 – The Hallett sand mine on the San Jacinto West Fork appears to have dug a trench across the maintenance road of its settling pond to lower the pond’s level. Murky wastewater is draining into the West Fork while the SJRA is currently releasing 10,875 cubic feet per second (CFS) from Lake Conroe in the wake of yesterday’s heavy rains.
Sediment released from the mine is being picked up by the Lake Conroe water and carried downstream. Note below how sediment has discolored the West Fork.
Picture taken 5/17/24, at the confluence of the West Fork, Spring Creek and Cypress Creek. Cypress joins Spring slightly upstream on the left.The branch on the right is immediately downstream from 20 square miles of sand mines between US59 and I-45.
Where The Sludge is Coming From
In the last few weeks I’ve posted extensively about how the West Fork has breached the dikes of a pit formerly owned by Hallett. As of this afternoon, the river continues to run through that pit. No attempt has been made by the new owner to re-establish the dikes. And that certainly contributes to downstream sedimentation.
But this afternoon, I discovered an additional source of sedimentation thanks to a tip from a nearby fishermen who stumbled across a breach in Hallett’s settling pond. See video below.
Video supplied by fishermen.
It’s hard to get a sense of the location from the close up, so here’s the location of the breach in a satellite image from Google Earth.
General location of breach and path to river in red oval.
And here’s a more detailed look at the path the water took on its way to the river.
Looking N. Silty water leaves Hallett’s settling pond through a trench dug in the tree-line. From there it flows through an abandoned sand mine and then through another breach into the West Fork.Reverse angle shows silty water flowing out of Hallett settling pondinto abandoned neighboring mine.Detail cropped from shot above shows how heavy equipment worked the area.Looking S downstream. Abandoned mine on left, West Fork in middle and breach through another pit on right.
Timing of Release Should Raise Eyebrows
The timing of this release is suspect: Friday afternoon just before regulators headed home for the weekend.
I’ve documented a history of breaches from this pond dating back to 2019 and the fishermen say they’ve seen breaches before that.
Hallett flushed water from this and other ponds after the January floods in 2024 but via different routes.
Lest you think I’m picking on Hallett, it isn’t the only sand mine emptying its settling pond into the West Fork.
I also documented an instance when the West Fork ran white from a release at the LMI Moorhead Mine upstream from Hallett. TCEQ estimated they released 56 million gallons of sludge into the river. That pond dropped 3-4 feet according to the TCEQ.
Regular Occurrence
The montage below shows the confluence of the West Fork and Spring/Cypress Creeks from different angles on different days. In all cases, the polluted branch was the West Fork. I took these shots while photographing West Fork sand mines from a rented helicopter.
A former West Fork mine operator and a former water quality manager for the City of Houston tell me that releasing sediment-laden water under the cover of floods is standard operating procedure for many mines on the West Fork.
Who Will Bear the Cost of Clean Up, Dredging?
Think this doesn’t affect you? It affects your water quality and the cost of cleaning it up. Lake Houston supplies drinking water for more than two million people.
And if you live between the mines and Lake Houston, it probably will affect you another way.
Most sediment moves during floods. During Harvey, the West Fork swept through 20 square miles of sand mines between I-45 and I-69. According to the Army Corps, deposited sediment blocked the West Fork by 90%. That reduced the conveyance of the river and caused water to rise into homes and businesses. Almost 20,000 flooded in the Humble/Kingwood area.
Since then, taxpayers have spent more than $200 million on dredging. And the City is getting ready to launch another $34 million dredging program.
However, that program won’t address the mouth of the Kingwood Diversion Ditch at the River Grove Park boat launch.
KSA has obtained bids north of $800,000 to dredge the blocked area. Spending that kind of money will be necessary to keep the KSA boat launch open. It has become badly blocked by sediment during two floods since the start of the year.
Here’s what that area looked like yesterday afternoon when the SJRA release rate was closer to 1500 CFS.Water level in river was still up about a footabove normal.
Living with sediment is all part of life on the river. But dredging intervals at River Grove have gone from 8 years before Harvey to 4 to 2 years since Harvey.
If this continues, KSA may be forced debate whether it can afford to keep the boat docks open.
Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey, PE is trying to work with upstream authorities to reduce sedimentation that can lead to flooding. But it’s an uphill slog. No pun intended.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/17/2024
2053 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.
West and East Forks of San Jacinto Flooding Again
May 19, 2024 – For the second time this month, the West and East Forks of the San Jacinto River are flooding. The East Fork crested last night about 1.5 feet below the prediction. However, the West Fork is still rising at US59. Parts of River Grove Park and the turnaround under US59 are already flooded. And the National Weather Service predicts floodwaters will go even higher.
Meanwhile, the West Fork continues to run through an old Hallett sand pit that was sold in January.
Here’s what you can expect if you live near the rivers.
East Fork Crest Moving Toward Lake Houston
Low-lying areas along the East Fork began flooding yesterday at FM1485. Earlier, the East Fork flooded near Cleveland and Plum Grove. As the crest moves downriver, it is affecting communities differently. Exactly how depends on many factors, such as the conveyance of the river at different points, sediment accumulations, proximity of homes to the river and more.
Yesterday, water was coming across part of FM1485 where it crosses the East Fork and parallels SH99. Today, the entire east bound section of FM1485 was blocked by floodwaters.
As of 6 PM, May 19, floodwaters are declining in this reach of the river. The crest has moved downstream toward Lake Houston.
Farther upstream, at FM2090, the river has already returned to its banks.
All this is the result of another 3-5″ of rain falling earlier in the week upstream in the watershed on grounds that were already saturated from torrential rains and flooding earlier this month.
NWS Issues Flood Warning for West Fork until Tuesday Morning
While the East Fork is falling at this hour, the West Fork is still rising. At 1:34 PM Sunday, the National Weather Service issued a flood warning for the West Fork near Humble affecting Harris and Montgomery Counties.
Communities affected include: Porter, Sendera Ranch Road, Conroe, Kingwood, Humble, Sheldon.
NWS will issue its next statement Monday morning at 7:45 AM CDT.
The FLOOD WARNING WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL LATE TUESDAY MORNING.
IMPACTS: At 49.3 feet, minor lowland flooding begins in the vicinity of the gauge at US59. The north side turnaround at US 59 begins to flood. Low points in surrounding areas also begin to flood.
At 12:45 PM CDT Sunday, the river had risen to 49.2 feet.
Bankfull stage is 45.3 feet.
The river will crest at 49.7 feet just after midnight tonight. It will then fall below flood stage late tomorrow evening.
Flood stage is 49.3 feet.
This afternoon, the turnaround under US59 was just beginning to flood. The parking lots and part of the roadway were already underwater.
At 5 PM, the soccer fields, picnic area and boat launch at River Grove Park were also partially underwater. And water was rising quickly.
Sand Mine Area Upstream
Farther upstream, the West Fork was still ripping a hole through an abandoned Hallett sand pit that the company sold to a real estate developer in January.
This breach appears to have widened significantly in recent days. If it remains open and this pit becomes the new course of the river, it’s possible that the entire pit could become public property, just like the river is now.
On the other side of the river, Hallett filled in the trench that was releasing sludge from its settling pond last Friday afternoon.
Lake Report
As of 7 PM, the SJRA is releasing 5,325 Cubic Feet per Second (CFS) from Lake Conroe. The lake is almost back to its normal level – within .67 feet of 201. And no rain is in sight. That’s good news. Releases should continue to go down.
Throughout this event, SJRA has balanced inflows and outflows to the degree that it can. The rate they show above is about half of what they released earlier in the weekend.
Lake Houston, however, is getting more, not less water. It is still about two feet above normal and discharging water via its gates and spillway. Total discharge is 34,015 CFS. Of that, the gates can release only 10,000 CFS. The other 24,000 CFS goes over the spillway.
Comparing the two numbers on the right, shows us that the flood risk is shifting to the Lake Houston Area now.
Of the 11 watersheds that send water into Lake Houston, SJRA controls only Lake Conroe. The East Fork has no flood control. But that’s a story for another time.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/19/24 at 8PM
2455 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.
Flooded 3 Times in 7 Years in 500-Year Floodplain, But No Buyout
Daniel and Kathleen Moore live with their 8-month old baby near the East Fork San Jacinto in Montgomery County. The young couple desperately wants a buyout after their house on Idle Glen in New Caney flooded three times in seven years. But no buyout is in sight.
When they bought the home, they were told it was in the 500-year floodplain. In fact, Montgomery County flood maps still show their home is in the 500-year (.2% annual chance) floodplain.
However, that determination is based on floodplain data from the 1980’s – before the Moores were even born. And since then, the area upstream from them has boomed with new development.
New Upstream Development Invalidates Old Data
For instance, Colony Ridge, just 2.5 miles to the northeast on the other side of the river, has grown 50% larger than Manhattan since 2010 – with virtually no flood mitigation measures on the East Fork side of the area.
In one seven year stretch (2017 to 2024), the Moores flooded three times. During Harvey, they flooded to nine feet. In Imelda, they got one foot. And in the no-name storm of May 2024, five feet of floodwater destroyed everything in the bottom floor of their home.
Said Daniel, “I figured Harvey was extreme. I didn’t worry too much about that. But the next two storms were different. We just can’t afford to rebuild every two or three years.” Daniel works as a mechanic. “The pay isn’t that great,” he says. “We need to move.”
Rebuilding Without Flood Insurance
After the first two floods, they rebuilt the home with money from their own pockets – without benefit of insurance. But with a new baby, they can no longer afford that.
The Moores’ story underscores how inexperience can hamstring young couples on technical issues, such as floodplain delineation and flood insurance.
The moral of this story: before you invest in a new home, consult with a professional hydrologist about the risk. Talk to neighbors about past flooding. Look for tell-tale signs like mold on neighbors’ homes, rotting wood, and elevated structures.
And buy flood insurance. It’s available through FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program. Not all agents feel the commission justifies the trouble of handling it, especially if the home has a history of flooding, so you may get mixed signals from them. Shop around.
Moore Photos During and After May 2024 Flood
Daniel tried to return home after spending the first night with his family in a motel. He couldn’t get onto the feeder road from SH99. This picture shows FM1485 totally flooded.
Cleanup after the Flood
I took the following shots on 5/18/24. As Daniel worked to gut his uninhabitable home once again, his wife tended the baby at her mother’s home.
Scavengers feel, “What difference does it make? They’re throwing this out anyway.” But it makes flood victims feel victimized all over again. Daniel says he’s found people picking through his belongings every day since the flood.
But the Moores’ trials and tribulations are not over.
Buyout Chances
The Moores have had a hard time connecting with anyone in Montgomery County who will offer them a buyout.
Ironically, the fact that they are in a 500-year floodplain that hasn’t been updated in 40 years could hurt their buyout chances. FEMA scoring generally favors those with higher risk.
FEMA also favors homeowners with flood insurance. That’s because buying out the homeowners would likely save FEMA money on insurance reimbursements after multiple floods.
But that’s not all.
River Rising Again
Before leaving the Moores’ home, I put my drone up and saw this.
As of 6 PM, the National Weather service shows the river is still rising. They predict it will crest tonight just under major flood stage near 69 feet.
That should bring the water close to the Moores’ front door again.
As I drove around his neighborhood, I marveled at the number of abandoned and flooded homes. One can only wonder whether this neighborhood will survive.
Please pray for the safety of all who live there.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/18/24
2454 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 2 Weeks since the No-Name Flood of 2024
West Fork Sand Mine Sending Sediment Downstream from Settling Pond
5/17/2024 – The Hallett sand mine on the San Jacinto West Fork appears to have dug a trench across the maintenance road of its settling pond to lower the pond’s level. Murky wastewater is draining into the West Fork while the SJRA is currently releasing 10,875 cubic feet per second (CFS) from Lake Conroe in the wake of yesterday’s heavy rains.
Sediment released from the mine is being picked up by the Lake Conroe water and carried downstream. Note below how sediment has discolored the West Fork.
Where The Sludge is Coming From
In the last few weeks I’ve posted extensively about how the West Fork has breached the dikes of a pit formerly owned by Hallett. As of this afternoon, the river continues to run through that pit. No attempt has been made by the new owner to re-establish the dikes. And that certainly contributes to downstream sedimentation.
But this afternoon, I discovered an additional source of sedimentation thanks to a tip from a nearby fishermen who stumbled across a breach in Hallett’s settling pond. See video below.
It’s hard to get a sense of the location from the close up, so here’s the location of the breach in a satellite image from Google Earth.
And here’s a more detailed look at the path the water took on its way to the river.
Timing of Release Should Raise Eyebrows
The timing of this release is suspect: Friday afternoon just before regulators headed home for the weekend.
I’ve documented a history of breaches from this pond dating back to 2019 and the fishermen say they’ve seen breaches before that.
Hallett flushed water from this and other ponds after the January floods in 2024 but via different routes.
Lest you think I’m picking on Hallett, it isn’t the only sand mine emptying its settling pond into the West Fork.
I also documented an instance when the West Fork ran white from a release at the LMI Moorhead Mine upstream from Hallett. TCEQ estimated they released 56 million gallons of sludge into the river. That pond dropped 3-4 feet according to the TCEQ.
Regular Occurrence
The montage below shows the confluence of the West Fork and Spring/Cypress Creeks from different angles on different days. In all cases, the polluted branch was the West Fork. I took these shots while photographing West Fork sand mines from a rented helicopter.
A former West Fork mine operator and a former water quality manager for the City of Houston tell me that releasing sediment-laden water under the cover of floods is standard operating procedure for many mines on the West Fork.
Who Will Bear the Cost of Clean Up, Dredging?
Think this doesn’t affect you? It affects your water quality and the cost of cleaning it up. Lake Houston supplies drinking water for more than two million people.
And if you live between the mines and Lake Houston, it probably will affect you another way.
Most sediment moves during floods. During Harvey, the West Fork swept through 20 square miles of sand mines between I-45 and I-69. According to the Army Corps, deposited sediment blocked the West Fork by 90%. That reduced the conveyance of the river and caused water to rise into homes and businesses. Almost 20,000 flooded in the Humble/Kingwood area.
Since then, taxpayers have spent more than $200 million on dredging. And the City is getting ready to launch another $34 million dredging program.
However, that program won’t address the mouth of the Kingwood Diversion Ditch at the River Grove Park boat launch.
KSA has obtained bids north of $800,000 to dredge the blocked area. Spending that kind of money will be necessary to keep the KSA boat launch open. It has become badly blocked by sediment during two floods since the start of the year.
Living with sediment is all part of life on the river. But dredging intervals at River Grove have gone from 8 years before Harvey to 4 to 2 years since Harvey.
If this continues, KSA may be forced debate whether it can afford to keep the boat docks open.
Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey, PE is trying to work with upstream authorities to reduce sedimentation that can lead to flooding. But it’s an uphill slog. No pun intended.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/17/2024
2053 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.