During September, Sprint Sand & Clay excavated another 5,698 cubic yards of material from Woodridge Village, down slightly from the previous month. However, that brought the total to date up to 150,724 cubic yards – a nice milestone.
Attempted development of the property contributed to the flooding of neighboring properties twice in 2019 during May and September.
Background of Project
Sprint’s excavation will create a sixth stormwater detention basin on the former Perry Homes property purchased by Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) and the City of Houston in 2021.
Sprint began excavation in January of 2022 under an Excavation and Removal Contract (E&R). The E&R contract gives Sprint the right to remove up to 500,000 cubic yards of material for just $1,000. Sprint then makes its money back by selling the dirt at market rates.
Where Things Stand
To date, here’s where things stand in relation to possible goals:
Acre Feetof Stormwater Detention
% of Atlas-14 Requirement
% of Ultimate
Site Had When Purchased from Perry Homes
271
70%
47%
Has as of 10/3/23
364.4
94.6%
62.8%
Atlas 14 Requires
385
100%
66%
If Sprint Excavates All 500K Cubic Yards
580
150%
100%
As of 10/3/23
The rate of excavation slowed in September compared to August. During August Sprint excavated 10,353 cubic yards – almost twice as much.
E&R contracts often fluctuate like this depending on home- and road-building activity nearby. Regardless, Sprint still exceeded its contract’s monthly minimum of 5,000 cubic yards.
Before/After Pictures For September
The first two photos below show the extent of excavation at the beginning and end of September.
Looking NE from SW Corner. Beginning of September.End of September 2023
I see no dramatic changes. They did, however, nibble away at the edges in the top left corner, where the tire tracks lead to. Here’s a closeup of that area.
NW limit of excavation as of September 30, 2023Reverse angle looking SW.Notice removal of surface layer in the lower right.Entry view, 9/30/23
Rain always slows construction activity and it may have played a role here. The pool of water above was one third this size at the start of the month.
5,698 cubic yards of material for September equals 3.5 acre feet. At that rate, the detention basin will not reach Atlas-14 requirements for another 5-6 months. It appears unlikely at this point that Sprint will meet Atlas-14 requirements by the end of the year – unless Sprint really sprints.
No Engineering Report Yet
At the start of the project, HCFCD planned to go beyond Atlas 14 to accommodate possible future increases in rainfall requirements and upstream growth. That would provide an extra margin of safety for people in the area.
HCFCD still has not released the final engineering report yet for Woodridge Village and Taylor Gully. So we don’t know yet how large this detention basin will be, i.e., beyond Atlas 14.
That final engineering report will also determine the final shape of the basin and its connectivity to other drainage on the site.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/3/23
2226 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/20230930-DJI_0516.jpg?fit=1100%2C733&ssl=17331100adminadmin2023-10-03 08:29:292023-11-01 06:09:35Woodridge Village Excavation Slows
October 2, 2023 – Contractors finished clearing the north side of Kingwood’s Northpark entry last week. Now they have shifted their focus to the south side to make room for two stormwater retention basins that will double as decorative lakes.
TxDoT requires the basins to catch extra runoff caused by widening of the road.
Photos Show Progress of Northpark Entry Construction
The focus of the project’s landscape architects now is saving as many trees as possible. I took the photos below with one exception on 9/30/23.
Looking west.Trees remaining on the south (left) side of Northpark have been marked for transplantation.Excavation of pond on north (right) side should begin in mid-October.
In the photo below, note the rings around the remaining trees on the south side.
Those rings help retain water and nutrients being given to the trees to enhance their chances of surviving transplantation.Looking E. Note how row of trees on the left screen the entry from the busy shopping center behind them. Also notice how the right side does not have a similar row of trees.
Landscape architects will relocate most of the remaining trees on the right/south side of Northpark to create a backdrop for the new pond. Some trees will remain in front of the pond. See the latest plan below.
Handling Overflow from Ponds during Heavy Rains
To avoid flooding the Northpark entry area, contractors will channel overflow from the ponds west to Bens Branch and the Kingwood Diversion Ditch.
Looking east. Note clearing on the left/north side of Northpark to lay the new stormwater line that will carry overflow from the pondsto the east.Looking west toward 59. The stormwater line will go behind Public Storage (upper left) and carry water toward the Kingwood Diversion Ditch and Bens Branch.Route for excess water. Circle shows location of photo above this one.
Status from Diversion Ditch to 494
Looking east from Russell-Palmer to Kingwood Diversion Ditch. Virtually all of the ditch has been replaced by box culvert.A coffer dam remains around an out-of-place water line that needs to be lowered.
Re-engineering of the water line has begun in concert with the City of Houston.
Farther east where culverts have already been placed, you can start to see how Northpark will be widened inward toward the center to create two extra lanes of traffic.Looking west from Russell-Palmer, contractors are still waiting for Centerpoint to move a gas line out of the median to the side of the road.
Until Centerpoint moves that gas line, contractors will focus on other parts of the project, such as the entry.
Saving Money While Saving Trees
At their monthly meeting last Thursday, Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ board members discussed the escalating cost of relocating trees. Costs increased as trees grew between the original estimate and today.
After the meeting, Ralph De Leon, the project manager, met with contractors, the landscape architect and project designer. They developed a new plan to help hold down costs.
Previously, some trees were to be moved twice, first to a temporary holding location on the north side of Northpark and then back to their final spot on the south side. Why? Contractors needed to build up land behind the pond on the south side of Northpark before transplanting the trees.
The new plan calls for building up the land before moving ANY trees. That will eliminate the cost of the double move. It will also reduce traffic disruption. Tree moving equipment will no longer have to cross Northpark.
Main Goals of Northpark Project
Overall, the main goals of the Northpark project include:
Widening the road to reduce delays caused by increased traffic
Building a bridge over the UP railroad tracks to eliminate traffic blockages
Creating a reliable, all-weather evacuation route for Kingwood
For More Information
For previous posts about Northpark construction, see the following:
Also visit the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10 Project pages at https://lakehoustonra.com.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/2/23
2225 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/20230930-DJI_0548.jpg?fit=1100%2C733&ssl=17331100adminadmin2023-10-02 11:11:222023-10-02 18:48:56Contractors Clearing South Side of Northpark Entry at US59
A letter dated September 30, 2023, and signed by all 25 members of the Texas Republican Congressional delegation urged Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton to investigate numerous allegations related to Colony Ridge in an upcoming special session of the Texas Legislature. The Colony Ridge developer has already launched a charm offensive designed to defeat what it calls “scurrilous rumors and lies.”
Congressional Letter Suggests Scope of Investigation
The controversial Liberty County development has drawn media attention dating back to at least 2015. The letter by Texas Congressional Republicans refers to many of those. Allegations in the letter include:
“Owner-financed loans with no credit check or proof of legal residency, making the location an optimal haven for illegal aliens amid a historic border crisis.”
Public safety concerns, including creating a “no-go zone” for law enforcement
Sewage spills
Fecal contamination in drainage ditches
Significant erosion in drainage ditches leading to increased risk of downstream flooding
Adverse effects on neighboring communities
Unsuccessful local attempts to remediate issues
Lack of fire hydrants
Improvised living conditions
Water, power and flooding issues
Violent crime including several high profile murders
The largest drug busts in the history of Liberty County
Drug cartel activity
Overwhelming the Cleveland ISD with “thousands of illegal aliens.”
The letter concludes with:
A list of things that the Congressional Republicans have fought for at the federal level to make America secure.
A request for Abbott and Paxton to share the results of their investigations with Congress.
An offer to assist the state.
Since media attention to Colony Ridge has mushroomed, claims like those above have become harder and harder to brush off – especially in an election year, when Republicans have framed illegal immigration as a core issue.
To see the full, six-page, footnoted letter, click here.
Will Investigation be Instant Replay of Paxton Impeachment Trial?
Ironically, Paxton’s office will theoretically do the investigating. His recent impeachment trial centered around his relationship with a developer (but not this one). It will be interesting to see how/whether that affects this investigation. Only one thing is certain: Paxton, Abbott and Colony Ridge will be under a national spotlight.
Colony Ridge Developer Launches Charm Campaign
The developer also released a letter, one day ahead of the Congressional letter. (See below.) It calls the allegations “salacious lies and rumors.” It offered to give members of the Texas legislature tours of Colony Ridge in advance of the upcoming special session. I’m sure the tours will be heavily curated. For instance, I doubt they will:
Go down streets with horrific living conditions
Highlight their lack of fire hydrants
Show off sewage spills
Point out the bridge they blew out on FM1010
Highlight the repossession rate of property (I talked to one owner of a new lot who was the fourth owner.)
Tour eroded channels (that would require maintenance roads at a minimum).
Here’s the Colony Ridge letter.
Notice that the developer’s letter does NOT deny drainage problems.
Complies with All Regulations? Really???
I was not invited to the developer’s party. But any member of the Texas legislature who wants to see whether they comply with Liberty County regulations can consult these posts.
When I first started exploring Colony Ridge, I learned that Liberty County did not have construction plans, nor required drainage studies for many Colony Ridge subdivisions. And those that the County could supply underestimated the runoff from Colony Ridge by misrepresenting the soil types found there. The extra runoff blew out FM1010 which remains unrepaired as of this writing.
Colony Ridge also failed to meet fire-hydrant spacing and pressure requirements in the Liberty County Fire Code. I have ten fire hydrants on my block. At last count, Colony Ridge had 59 in an area 50% larger than Manhattan.
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.
Woodridge Village Excavation Slows
During September, Sprint Sand & Clay excavated another 5,698 cubic yards of material from Woodridge Village, down slightly from the previous month. However, that brought the total to date up to 150,724 cubic yards – a nice milestone.
Attempted development of the property contributed to the flooding of neighboring properties twice in 2019 during May and September.
Background of Project
Sprint’s excavation will create a sixth stormwater detention basin on the former Perry Homes property purchased by Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) and the City of Houston in 2021.
Sprint began excavation in January of 2022 under an Excavation and Removal Contract (E&R). The E&R contract gives Sprint the right to remove up to 500,000 cubic yards of material for just $1,000. Sprint then makes its money back by selling the dirt at market rates.
Where Things Stand
To date, here’s where things stand in relation to possible goals:
The rate of excavation slowed in September compared to August. During August Sprint excavated 10,353 cubic yards – almost twice as much.
E&R contracts often fluctuate like this depending on home- and road-building activity nearby. Regardless, Sprint still exceeded its contract’s monthly minimum of 5,000 cubic yards.
Before/After Pictures For September
The first two photos below show the extent of excavation at the beginning and end of September.
I see no dramatic changes. They did, however, nibble away at the edges in the top left corner, where the tire tracks lead to. Here’s a closeup of that area.
Rain always slows construction activity and it may have played a role here. The pool of water above was one third this size at the start of the month.
5,698 cubic yards of material for September equals 3.5 acre feet. At that rate, the detention basin will not reach Atlas-14 requirements for another 5-6 months. It appears unlikely at this point that Sprint will meet Atlas-14 requirements by the end of the year – unless Sprint really sprints.
No Engineering Report Yet
At the start of the project, HCFCD planned to go beyond Atlas 14 to accommodate possible future increases in rainfall requirements and upstream growth. That would provide an extra margin of safety for people in the area.
HCFCD still has not released the final engineering report yet for Woodridge Village and Taylor Gully. So we don’t know yet how large this detention basin will be, i.e., beyond Atlas 14.
That final engineering report will also determine the final shape of the basin and its connectivity to other drainage on the site.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/3/23
2226 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Contractors Clearing South Side of Northpark Entry at US59
October 2, 2023 – Contractors finished clearing the north side of Kingwood’s Northpark entry last week. Now they have shifted their focus to the south side to make room for two stormwater retention basins that will double as decorative lakes.
TxDoT requires the basins to catch extra runoff caused by widening of the road.
Photos Show Progress of Northpark Entry Construction
The focus of the project’s landscape architects now is saving as many trees as possible. I took the photos below with one exception on 9/30/23.
In the photo below, note the rings around the remaining trees on the south side.
Landscape architects will relocate most of the remaining trees on the right/south side of Northpark to create a backdrop for the new pond. Some trees will remain in front of the pond. See the latest plan below.
Handling Overflow from Ponds during Heavy Rains
To avoid flooding the Northpark entry area, contractors will channel overflow from the ponds west to Bens Branch and the Kingwood Diversion Ditch.
Status from Diversion Ditch to 494
Re-engineering of the water line has begun in concert with the City of Houston.
Until Centerpoint moves that gas line, contractors will focus on other parts of the project, such as the entry.
Saving Money While Saving Trees
At their monthly meeting last Thursday, Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ board members discussed the escalating cost of relocating trees. Costs increased as trees grew between the original estimate and today.
After the meeting, Ralph De Leon, the project manager, met with contractors, the landscape architect and project designer. They developed a new plan to help hold down costs.
Previously, some trees were to be moved twice, first to a temporary holding location on the north side of Northpark and then back to their final spot on the south side. Why? Contractors needed to build up land behind the pond on the south side of Northpark before transplanting the trees.
The new plan calls for building up the land before moving ANY trees. That will eliminate the cost of the double move. It will also reduce traffic disruption. Tree moving equipment will no longer have to cross Northpark.
Main Goals of Northpark Project
Overall, the main goals of the Northpark project include:
For More Information
For previous posts about Northpark construction, see the following:
Also visit the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10 Project pages at https://lakehoustonra.com.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/2/23
2225 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Entire Texas Republican Congressional Delegation Urges Abbott, Paxton to Investigate Colony Ridge
A letter dated September 30, 2023, and signed by all 25 members of the Texas Republican Congressional delegation urged Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton to investigate numerous allegations related to Colony Ridge in an upcoming special session of the Texas Legislature. The Colony Ridge developer has already launched a charm offensive designed to defeat what it calls “scurrilous rumors and lies.”
Congressional Letter Suggests Scope of Investigation
The controversial Liberty County development has drawn media attention dating back to at least 2015. The letter by Texas Congressional Republicans refers to many of those. Allegations in the letter include:
The letter concludes with:
Since media attention to Colony Ridge has mushroomed, claims like those above have become harder and harder to brush off – especially in an election year, when Republicans have framed illegal immigration as a core issue.
To see the full, six-page, footnoted letter, click here.
Will Investigation be Instant Replay of Paxton Impeachment Trial?
Ironically, Paxton’s office will theoretically do the investigating. His recent impeachment trial centered around his relationship with a developer (but not this one). It will be interesting to see how/whether that affects this investigation. Only one thing is certain: Paxton, Abbott and Colony Ridge will be under a national spotlight.
Colony Ridge Developer Launches Charm Campaign
The developer also released a letter, one day ahead of the Congressional letter. (See below.) It calls the allegations “salacious lies and rumors.” It offered to give members of the Texas legislature tours of Colony Ridge in advance of the upcoming special session. I’m sure the tours will be heavily curated. For instance, I doubt they will:
Here’s the Colony Ridge letter.
Notice that the developer’s letter does NOT deny drainage problems.
Complies with All Regulations? Really???
I was not invited to the developer’s party. But any member of the Texas legislature who wants to see whether they comply with Liberty County regulations can consult these posts.
When I first started exploring Colony Ridge, I learned that Liberty County did not have construction plans, nor required drainage studies for many Colony Ridge subdivisions. And those that the County could supply underestimated the runoff from Colony Ridge by misrepresenting the soil types found there. The extra runoff blew out FM1010 which remains unrepaired as of this writing.
Colony Ridge also failed to meet fire-hydrant spacing and pressure requirements in the Liberty County Fire Code. I have ten fire hydrants on my block. At last count, Colony Ridge had 59 in an area 50% larger than Manhattan.
If you want to see an example of their “fully engineered” sewers, see this post. But hold your nose.
This post explores more Colony Ridge issues and impacts…
Posted by Bob Rehak on October 1, 2023
2224 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.