6/12/26 – Dr. Tina Petersen’s final 2018-Flood-Bond update shows why she was under so much pressure to resign. Yesterday’s Commissioners Court agenda listed it as a “transmittal,” but it wasn’t transmitted. Nor was it posted on Harris County Flood Control District’s website as of this writing.
However, I have since obtained a copy of the 25-page spreadsheet with the help of Commissioner Ramsey’s staff.
Analysis reveals disturbing delays, slowness, contradictions, inaccuracies and incomplete data.
These were all among the list of failures that Texas Land Commissioner Dr. Dawn Buckingham complained about in regard to HCFCD. But the problems go far beyond GLO CDBG projects. The update shows how hundreds of other projects have fallen off HCFCD’s radar.
So Many Questions, Few Answers
I haven’t reviewed every project yet. But here are several from the Lake Houston Area that illustrate the problem.
Lake Houston Gates
The project to add gates to the Lake Houston Dam shows “Planning” as “complete.” But they have a blank entry for Engineering, which recently passed the 30% completion milestone. And they show no plans for construction. The county has paid only $23.5 thousand dollars out of the $20 million it pledged to the project.
Kingwood Diversion Ditch
HCFCD plans to start Kingwood Diversion Ditch improvements in mid-2030. The Diversion Ditch relieves flooding along Bens Branch and in Kingwood Town Center where more than a dozen people died during Harvey. So you would think it would merit higher priority.
Sedimentation and Sand Traps
In the Q1 2026-Flood-Bond Update, HCFCD says it is Closing projects related to sand traps and sedimentation in the upper San Jacinto River Basin, even though the projects are still “In-Progress.”
Dig deeper and you will find that HCFCD has paid its entire share of both studies to the SJRA to manage the projects…without getting any results yet. The final:
Sedimentation report is due to the Texas Water Development Board in less than a year, but SJRA has yet to publish a draft.
Sand-trap study is due in mid-2026, but the SJRA hasn’t published anything on that since 2022.
The SJRA sand trap study web page contains some hilarious entries. It shows:
“Contractor Notice to Proceed: TBD”
“Completion Date: TBD”
“Dates Subject to Change.”
Quick! Wake someone up. HCFCD seems to have lost interest in getting results for your tax dollars on these two studies.
Atascocita Flood Reduction Study
The Atascocita Flood Reduction Study shows “Planning” as complete and engineering as “Planned” But the project was “Paused” after only a third of the budget was spent. It fell into the bottom quartile of the Equity Prioritization Framework, scoring only 2.35 out of a potential 10.0. There’s $542K down the drain.
Tributaries East of Lake Houston
A study of San Jacinto Tributaries east of Lake Houston shows only $1 million out of $22 million has been spent to date. Engineering is “in progress” with construction planned for mid 2029. However, $0 has been spent on a preliminary engineering review so far. Where’d that first million go?
Crosby Eastgate Mitigation Bank
Engineering for the Crosby Eastgate Mitigation Bank on Cedar Bayou is still “In-Progress” and HCFCD plans construction for 2029. HCFCD’s website says it is a “wetlands restoration” project with a total budget of $1 million. But the bond update lists the budget at $1.75 million – a 75% increase.
Cedar Bayou Detention Basins/Channel Conveyance Improvements
More than a dozen regional detention basin projects and channel conveyance improvements along Cedar Bayou have been “paused.”
Danubina/East James Drainage Improvements on Cedar Bayou Tributary
HCFCD lists Engineering on the Danubina/East James Drainage Improvements as active. But only $1.7 of the $33.8 million budget has been spent so far. And flood control lists no estimated date for construction.
Little Cedar Bayou Drainage Improvements
Engineering is still “planned.” And HCFCD anticipates actual construction of drainage improvements may start in 2033.
Cedar Bayou Implementation Program
The Cedar Bayou Implementation Program is marked “closing.” But HCFCD lists planning as “in progress.” Is it just winding down? Are they planning to close it? Or with so many Cedar Bayou projects “paused,” has HCFCD just determined it to be a waste of time/money at this point?
Cedar Bayou Lynchburg Sub-Regional Detention Basin
Quick. Call the Keystone cops. The Cedar Bayou Lynchburg Sub-regional Detention Basin is marked “Complete” with engineering “in progress” and construction starting in 2031.
Luce Bayou Right of Way Acquisition and Floodplain Preservation
Luce Bayou’s Right of Way Acquisition and Floodplain Preservation program is “Closing,” having spent $0 to date – even as developers apply for permits to build in floodplains. Hmmmmm!
Summing Up
HCFCD originally conceived the 2018 flood bond as a ten year project. Yet 69 projects show construction starting beyond then. Today’s construction estimates will certainly prove inadequate by then.
Dozens of additional projects contain puzzling entries that warrant explanation. But HCFCD offers not one footnote.
Then there is the widespread pausing of projects because they don’t meet “equity” requirements. That penalizes the fastest growing parts of the county.
The examples above offer a taste of the type of information you can glean from the document. Dig in and explore projects in your watershed. You may actually find some pleasant surprises. I found one.
One Potential Opportunity Noted
HCFCD has spent less than a fifth of the budget allocated for dredging Lake Houston with the project marked “Complete.” However, more than $40 million remains that the new Lake Houston Dredging District could put to good use.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/12/26
3209 Days since Harvey
HCFCD did not return calls or emails concerning this study.
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/2026/06/2026Q1-Bond-Update-Page-e1781318185116.png?fit=1100%2C531&ssl=15311100adminadmin2026-06-12 21:40:402026-06-13 10:54:102018-Flood-Bond Update Illustrates Concerns of GLO, Lake Houston Area
6/11/26 – Commissioner’s decided to take no action on the question of Dr. Tina Petersen’s continued employment as head of the Harris County Flood Control District. Again. However, after commissioners returned from executive session, she promptly resigned before the meeting was over.
Despite Petersen repeatedly refusing to give direct answers to questions about the plan, Commissioners Court approved it as the best available option to skirt an imminent deadline. Petersen never did address what would happen after the immediate deadline to another half billion dollars of federal funding with an early 2028 deadline.
But she avoided the elephant in the room – what she was doing, if anything, to speed up project execution. Instead she talked in vague terms about “acceleration strategies” that would yield tens of millions of dollars in savings which could be reinvested in additional projects. It all sounded a bit too good to be true given the dire situation.
Commissioners tried to pin her down on the savings, but with little success. What Petersen didn’t say was that the savings she promised likely came from a consultant she hired who radically overestimated construction costs.
Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia has been one of Petersen’s biggest fans. He reportedly recommended hiring her. He also defended her today. Garcia even offered a factually incorrect timeline in an attempt to rewrite history and support his protege. But thankfully County Judge Lina Hidalgo corrected him.
I can’t speak to all of her claims. But “transparency” triggered a belly laugh.
Replacement Not Announced Today
At this hour, the major question is, “Who will replace Petersen?” Reportedly, the announcement will be made on June 25th at the next Business Court Meeting.
Another major question: Will voters re-elect Adrian Garcia? He got us in this mess. He also continued to defend Petersen long after it became clear she wasn’t achieving results.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/11/2026
3208 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/2026/06/Tina-Petersen-June-11-2026-e1781210658786.png?fit=1100%2C615&ssl=16151100adminadmin2026-06-11 17:33:042026-06-11 17:33:05HCFCD Executive Director Resigns Under Pressure
6/10/2026 – The City of Houston this morning approved the final board members for the Lake Houston Dredging and Maintenance District created by State Rep. Charles Cunningham’s HB1532 during the 2025 legislature.
The appointment of the five board members is a significant step. Three of the five are engineers/construction experts. The other two represent the Lake Houston Area Community.
L to R: Sarah Berkey, Kathleen Jordan, City Council Member Fred Flickinger, Derek St. John, and William Simpson, Board Chair. Not present: Ken Kirchhofer.
Why Have a Dredging District?
After Hurricane Harvey, the Army Corps found that the West Fork was 90% blocked with sediment in places. However, it was unclear how much of the sand was deposited by Harvey and how much had built up over time through lack of maintenance.
As a consequence the City and Harris County argued with FEMA for two years about how much of the dredging FEMA would fund. (Think in terms of someone who makes an insurance claim on a house that was already partially damaged.)
To eliminate such squabbles in the future and to protect the area from flooding, the Army Corps recommended that local authorities set up a permanent dredging district for maintenance purposes.
West Fork south of the Kingwood Country Club’s Island Course after Harvey. Blockage contributed to catastrophic flooding in Humble and western half of Kingwood.West Fork mouth bar after Harvey and before dredging.East Fork Mouth Bar before dredging
Local streams and drainage ditches were also blocked.
Rogers Gully mouth bar in Atascocitabefore dredgingThis sand bar in the West Fork completely blocked the Kingwood Diversion Ditch and backed water up into thousands of homes during Harvey.
And it wasn’t just sand. Thousands of trees also blocked the river and damaged the US59, UPRR, and West Lake Houston Parkway Bridges.
UnionPacific Railroad Bridge after Harvey. Log dam raised water destroying railroad.
When Did the Effort to Start the District Begin
Dan Huberty, the Lake Houston Area’s state rep at the time tried to get a dredging district started in the 2021 and 2023 legislatures. However, his bills encountered pushback over raising taxes or imposing fees to support operations.
Cunningham’s bill in 2025 focused on selling the spoils for beneficial uses such as raising foundations and roads, and building the Ike Dike. It passed and the governor signed it into law.
State Rep. Charles Cunningham
Who Are the Board Members?
William Simpson, Board Chair, worked around the world as a Project Manager on billion dollars projects for 38 years at Chevron Corporation . Then he became a professor in the construction department at Lone Star College. He now serves as the District Governor for Lion’s Clubs International.
Derek St. John PE, CFM is a professional engineer and certified floodplain manager, and one of the two founding members of Gauge Engineering, now a part of HR Green, Inc. He specializes in water resources and stormwater issues.
Sarah M. Berkey, PE, has worked with Carollo Engineers since 2014. She currently serves as Project Advisor/Technical Consultant on the Northeast Water Purification Plant Expansion Project.
Kathleen Todd Jordan is a 47 year resident of Kingwood and a community activist. She is a leader in the Kingwood Area Republican Women’s Club and served as a Republican precinct chair. She also worked for Insperity and as an early childhood educator.
Ken Kirchhofer is a member the Humble ISD School Board where he serves as chair of the Audit Committee. He also serves on the Building and Planning Committee and the Superintendent Evaluation Committee. Ken is a PGA Member, credited with reviving the Atascocita Golf Club. Humble ISD lost multiple facilities to flooding during Harvey.
What Comes Next?
City Council Member Fred Flickinger focused on some of the practical issues facing the board.
This will be like starting up a new business. What will be the financial model? Will dredging be outsourced or handled within Houston Public Works? What will the budget be? How will it be funded? Where will the spoils be dried? Can selling them generate enough income to support operations? How long before dredging starts? Who will staff the operation? Etc.
Flickinger said, “The sooner we can get the dredging done, the better.” With that in mind, Flickinger leans toward outsourcing rather than developing in-house solutions. “But it’s going to be a while before we come up with the best plan that works for everyone,” he added. “Today’s announcement isn’t the end of the journey, but it’s another step forward.”
State Rep. Charles Cunningham said this about today’s development. “Today, the members of the Lake Houston Dredging District were installed by the City of Houston. After years of work by others and myself, I am pleased to welcome these community members to the effort in seeking flooding remediation for the Lake Houston area.”
“I am confident,” he continued, “that they will be diligent in working toward solutions for all residents. The dredging district is one piece of a larger initiative to design sustainable and practical responses to our challenges. They will soon begin meeting and working on the issues. I thank them for stepping up to serve.”
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/10/2026
3207 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Dredging-District-Board.jpg?fit=2048%2C1536&ssl=115362048adminadmin2026-06-10 17:23:082026-06-10 20:19:56City Approves Board Members for Lake Houston Dredging District
2018-Flood-Bond Update Illustrates Concerns of GLO, Lake Houston Area
6/12/26 – Dr. Tina Petersen’s final 2018-Flood-Bond update shows why she was under so much pressure to resign. Yesterday’s Commissioners Court agenda listed it as a “transmittal,” but it wasn’t transmitted. Nor was it posted on Harris County Flood Control District’s website as of this writing.
However, I have since obtained a copy of the 25-page spreadsheet with the help of Commissioner Ramsey’s staff.
These were all among the list of failures that Texas Land Commissioner Dr. Dawn Buckingham complained about in regard to HCFCD. But the problems go far beyond GLO CDBG projects. The update shows how hundreds of other projects have fallen off HCFCD’s radar.
So Many Questions, Few Answers
I haven’t reviewed every project yet. But here are several from the Lake Houston Area that illustrate the problem.
Lake Houston Gates
The project to add gates to the Lake Houston Dam shows “Planning” as “complete.” But they have a blank entry for Engineering, which recently passed the 30% completion milestone. And they show no plans for construction. The county has paid only $23.5 thousand dollars out of the $20 million it pledged to the project.
Kingwood Diversion Ditch
HCFCD plans to start Kingwood Diversion Ditch improvements in mid-2030. The Diversion Ditch relieves flooding along Bens Branch and in Kingwood Town Center where more than a dozen people died during Harvey. So you would think it would merit higher priority.
Sedimentation and Sand Traps
In the Q1 2026-Flood-Bond Update, HCFCD says it is Closing projects related to sand traps and sedimentation in the upper San Jacinto River Basin, even though the projects are still “In-Progress.”
Dig deeper and you will find that HCFCD has paid its entire share of both studies to the SJRA to manage the projects…without getting any results yet. The final:
The SJRA sand trap study web page contains some hilarious entries. It shows:
Quick! Wake someone up. HCFCD seems to have lost interest in getting results for your tax dollars on these two studies.
Atascocita Flood Reduction Study
The Atascocita Flood Reduction Study shows “Planning” as complete and engineering as “Planned” But the project was “Paused” after only a third of the budget was spent. It fell into the bottom quartile of the Equity Prioritization Framework, scoring only 2.35 out of a potential 10.0. There’s $542K down the drain.
Tributaries East of Lake Houston
A study of San Jacinto Tributaries east of Lake Houston shows only $1 million out of $22 million has been spent to date. Engineering is “in progress” with construction planned for mid 2029. However, $0 has been spent on a preliminary engineering review so far. Where’d that first million go?
Crosby Eastgate Mitigation Bank
Engineering for the Crosby Eastgate Mitigation Bank on Cedar Bayou is still “In-Progress” and HCFCD plans construction for 2029. HCFCD’s website says it is a “wetlands restoration” project with a total budget of $1 million. But the bond update lists the budget at $1.75 million – a 75% increase.
Cedar Bayou Detention Basins/Channel Conveyance Improvements
More than a dozen regional detention basin projects and channel conveyance improvements along Cedar Bayou have been “paused.”
Danubina/East James Drainage Improvements on Cedar Bayou Tributary
HCFCD lists Engineering on the Danubina/East James Drainage Improvements as active. But only $1.7 of the $33.8 million budget has been spent so far. And flood control lists no estimated date for construction.
Little Cedar Bayou Drainage Improvements
Engineering is still “planned.” And HCFCD anticipates actual construction of drainage improvements may start in 2033.
Cedar Bayou Implementation Program
The Cedar Bayou Implementation Program is marked “closing.” But HCFCD lists planning as “in progress.” Is it just winding down? Are they planning to close it? Or with so many Cedar Bayou projects “paused,” has HCFCD just determined it to be a waste of time/money at this point?
Cedar Bayou Lynchburg Sub-Regional Detention Basin
Quick. Call the Keystone cops. The Cedar Bayou Lynchburg Sub-regional Detention Basin is marked “Complete” with engineering “in progress” and construction starting in 2031.
Luce Bayou Right of Way Acquisition and Floodplain Preservation
Luce Bayou’s Right of Way Acquisition and Floodplain Preservation program is “Closing,” having spent $0 to date – even as developers apply for permits to build in floodplains. Hmmmmm!
Summing Up
HCFCD originally conceived the 2018 flood bond as a ten year project. Yet 69 projects show construction starting beyond then. Today’s construction estimates will certainly prove inadequate by then.
Dozens of additional projects contain puzzling entries that warrant explanation. But HCFCD offers not one footnote.
Then there is the widespread pausing of projects because they don’t meet “equity” requirements. That penalizes the fastest growing parts of the county.
The examples above offer a taste of the type of information you can glean from the document. Dig in and explore projects in your watershed. You may actually find some pleasant surprises. I found one.
One Potential Opportunity Noted
HCFCD has spent less than a fifth of the budget allocated for dredging Lake Houston with the project marked “Complete.” However, more than $40 million remains that the new Lake Houston Dredging District could put to good use.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/12/26
3209 Days since Harvey
HCFCD did not return calls or emails concerning this study.
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.
HCFCD Executive Director Resigns Under Pressure
6/11/26 – Commissioner’s decided to take no action on the question of Dr. Tina Petersen’s continued employment as head of the Harris County Flood Control District. Again. However, after commissioners returned from executive session, she promptly resigned before the meeting was over.
Playing Dodgeball
Before the executive session, Petersen played dodgeball in the dock for 94 minutes re: her plan to avoid losing $322 million dollars in Federal funding. Here is a transcript of the discussion and a Powerpoint describing the plan. Judging by commissioners’ questions, her presentation/explanation was hard to understand.
Despite Petersen repeatedly refusing to give direct answers to questions about the plan, Commissioners Court approved it as the best available option to skirt an imminent deadline. Petersen never did address what would happen after the immediate deadline to another half billion dollars of federal funding with an early 2028 deadline.
But she avoided the elephant in the room – what she was doing, if anything, to speed up project execution. Instead she talked in vague terms about “acceleration strategies” that would yield tens of millions of dollars in savings which could be reinvested in additional projects. It all sounded a bit too good to be true given the dire situation.
Commissioners tried to pin her down on the savings, but with little success. What Petersen didn’t say was that the savings she promised likely came from a consultant she hired who radically overestimated construction costs.
Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia has been one of Petersen’s biggest fans. He reportedly recommended hiring her. He also defended her today. Garcia even offered a factually incorrect timeline in an attempt to rewrite history and support his protege. But thankfully County Judge Lina Hidalgo corrected him.
Petersen’s Resignation Announcement
After the executive session, Petersen announced her resignation in an email to employees. The letter enumerates what she believes her accomplishments were during her four and a half years in the office.
She called her work “transformational.” She also talked about:
Petersen just left out the part about endangering almost a billion dollars in federal funding.
I can’t speak to all of her claims. But “transparency” triggered a belly laugh.
Replacement Not Announced Today
At this hour, the major question is, “Who will replace Petersen?” Reportedly, the announcement will be made on June 25th at the next Business Court Meeting.
Another major question: Will voters re-elect Adrian Garcia? He got us in this mess. He also continued to defend Petersen long after it became clear she wasn’t achieving results.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/11/2026
3208 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.
City Approves Board Members for Lake Houston Dredging District
6/10/2026 – The City of Houston this morning approved the final board members for the Lake Houston Dredging and Maintenance District created by State Rep. Charles Cunningham’s HB1532 during the 2025 legislature.
The appointment of the five board members is a significant step. Three of the five are engineers/construction experts. The other two represent the Lake Houston Area Community.
Why Have a Dredging District?
After Hurricane Harvey, the Army Corps found that the West Fork was 90% blocked with sediment in places. However, it was unclear how much of the sand was deposited by Harvey and how much had built up over time through lack of maintenance.
As a consequence the City and Harris County argued with FEMA for two years about how much of the dredging FEMA would fund. (Think in terms of someone who makes an insurance claim on a house that was already partially damaged.)
To eliminate such squabbles in the future and to protect the area from flooding, the Army Corps recommended that local authorities set up a permanent dredging district for maintenance purposes.
Local streams and drainage ditches were also blocked.
And it wasn’t just sand. Thousands of trees also blocked the river and damaged the US59, UPRR, and West Lake Houston Parkway Bridges.
When Did the Effort to Start the District Begin
Dan Huberty, the Lake Houston Area’s state rep at the time tried to get a dredging district started in the 2021 and 2023 legislatures. However, his bills encountered pushback over raising taxes or imposing fees to support operations.
Cunningham’s bill in 2025 focused on selling the spoils for beneficial uses such as raising foundations and roads, and building the Ike Dike. It passed and the governor signed it into law.
Who Are the Board Members?
William Simpson, Board Chair, worked around the world as a Project Manager on billion dollars projects for 38 years at Chevron Corporation . Then he became a professor in the construction department at Lone Star College. He now serves as the District Governor for Lion’s Clubs International.
Derek St. John PE, CFM is a professional engineer and certified floodplain manager, and one of the two founding members of Gauge Engineering, now a part of HR Green, Inc. He specializes in water resources and stormwater issues.
Sarah M. Berkey, PE, has worked with Carollo Engineers since 2014. She currently serves as Project Advisor/Technical Consultant on the Northeast Water Purification Plant Expansion Project.
Kathleen Todd Jordan is a 47 year resident of Kingwood and a community activist. She is a leader in the Kingwood Area Republican Women’s Club and served as a Republican precinct chair. She also worked for Insperity and as an early childhood educator.
Ken Kirchhofer is a member the Humble ISD School Board where he serves as chair of the Audit Committee. He also serves on the Building and Planning Committee and the Superintendent Evaluation Committee. Ken is a PGA Member, credited with reviving the Atascocita Golf Club. Humble ISD lost multiple facilities to flooding during Harvey.
What Comes Next?
City Council Member Fred Flickinger focused on some of the practical issues facing the board.
This will be like starting up a new business. What will be the financial model? Will dredging be outsourced or handled within Houston Public Works? What will the budget be? How will it be funded? Where will the spoils be dried? Can selling them generate enough income to support operations? How long before dredging starts? Who will staff the operation? Etc.
Flickinger said, “The sooner we can get the dredging done, the better.” With that in mind, Flickinger leans toward outsourcing rather than developing in-house solutions. “But it’s going to be a while before we come up with the best plan that works for everyone,” he added. “Today’s announcement isn’t the end of the journey, but it’s another step forward.”
State Rep. Charles Cunningham said this about today’s development. “Today, the members of the Lake Houston Dredging District were installed by the City of Houston. After years of work by others and myself, I am pleased to welcome these community members to the effort in seeking flooding remediation for the Lake Houston area.”
“I am confident,” he continued, “that they will be diligent in working toward solutions for all residents. The dredging district is one piece of a larger initiative to design sustainable and practical responses to our challenges. They will soon begin meeting and working on the issues. I thank them for stepping up to serve.”
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/10/2026
3207 Days since Hurricane Harvey