Harris County Flood Control District’s (HCFCD) Woodridge Village Excavation and Removal contract with Sprint Sand & Clay continues progressing nicely. The volume excavated last month shows a continued rebound in activity after a dip last year when the housing market slowed.
As of the end of April, Sprint has completed approximately 23% of its 500,000-cubic-yard contract. More important, excavation could meet Atlas-14 detention requirements by the end of 2023.
Sprint excavated an estimated 11,000 cubic yards in April – more than double the monthly minimum. That brings the total to date to approximately 115,000 cubic yards.
Photos Reveal Excavation in New Direction
Here’s what the status of Woodridge Village excavation looked like on 5/1/2023. For the last year, Sprint has focused on lengthening the basin. Now it is focusing on widening it, too. Note the work taking place in the upper left quadrant of the photo below.
Looking northeast. Looking southwest toward Kingwood Park High School.Looking east at current area of excavation.
Typically, HCFCD gives E&R contractors some general boundaries and says, “Start digging.” Sprint makes its money by selling the dirt on the open market. There’s virtually no cost to taxpayers. And usually the bigger the hole in the ground, the better. So, according to a former flood control executive, if Sprint goes beyond 500,000 cubic yards, no one will complain. It reduces flood risk free of charge.
Partially as a result of insufficient stormwater detention capacity, up to 600 homes downstream in Kingwood flooded twice in 2019.
After HCFCD bought the property, it hired Sprint to get a head start on Woodridge Village excavation of additional detention capacity while it worked out exact plans for a regional detention basin and Taylor Gully.
Sprint has excavated approximately 71 acre feet so far. That brings the current detention capacity to 342 acre feet.
But HCFCD will ultimately need approximately 385 acre feet of stormwater detention capacity to meet Atlas-14 requirements and it hopes to build even more as a safety hedge against future needs should they increase.
If Sprint excavates the entire 500,000 cubic yards in its contract, that would bring the total stormwater detention capacity up to 580 acre feet. In tabular form, the steps look like this:
Acre Feetof Stormwater Detention
% of Ultimate
Site Had When Purchased from Perry Homes
271
47%
Has as of 5/1/23
342
59%
Atlas 14 Requires
385
66%
If Sprint Excavates All 500K Cubic Feet
580
100%
Calculations based on original construction plans, HCFCD monthly reports, Atlas-14 Requirements and Sprint contract.
Calculations in the last column assume that Sprint excavates all 500,000 cubic yards. But Sprint’s contract calls for excavating UP TO 500,000 cubic yards.
A lot of flexibility exists for both parties in an E&R contract. If the demand for dirt dries up and excavation slows, HCFCD and Sprint could modify the E&R contract to complete a smaller detention basin sooner. But I assume it would still meet Atlas 14 requirements at a minimum.
Based on April performance, Sprint is currently excavating approximately 6 acre feet per month.
If demand for dirt holds, excavation should reach Atlas-14 requirements near the end of 2023.
Still Much More Work to Do
But simply excavating the dirt isn’t the end of the job. Harris County still needs to slope the sides, plant grass, and tie the new basin into the site’s existing stormwater-detention-basin network.
An engineering team is currently working on drawing up final construction plans. Simultaneously, they are looking at how Woodridge Village excavation will impact Taylor Gully needs.
At the moment, no one knows exactly how this project will end. There are simply too many variables. The site could contain one giant stormwater detention basin or several smaller ones.
HCFCD often employs a phased approach with large projects, such as Woodridge/Taylor Gully. Consider for instance, Willow Water Hole on South Post Oak at Highway 90. Or the Lauder Basin on Greens Bayou south of Beltway 8 North.
A phased approach enables residents to start reaping partial benefits sooner, with an eye toward maximizing future risk reduction as circumstances and funding allow.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/2/2023
2072 Days since Hurricane Harveyand 1329 since Imelda
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/20230501-DJI_0671.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=17991200adminadmin2023-05-02 15:13:082023-05-02 18:17:05Woodridge Village Excavation Approaching Atlas-14 Requirement
To kick off National Hurricane Preparedness week, the U.S. government sent two hurricane hunter aircraft to Ellington Field today. It was a rare opportunity for the public to interact with crews and support staff, and to tour some impressive displays of technology. See pics below.
Hurricane Hunter Aircraft on Display at Ellington Field
WP-3D – “Orion” by Lockheed. Introduced in 1976. the W stands for Weather.Operated by 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron of the U.S. Air Force Reserves.
The versatile WP-3D – “Orion” turboprop aircraft is equipped with a variety of scientific instruments, radars, and recording systems for both in-situ and remote sensing measurements of the atmosphere, the earth, and its environment. Orion aircraft collects low-altitude data to fill gaps in data not available from ground-based radar or satellite imagery.
A crew member described the aircraft as a flying MRI machine that can see into the heart of storms.
The WC-130J is a high-wing, medium-range aircraft used in several weather reconnaissance missions throughout the year. The Air Force configured this plane to penetrate tropical disturbances and storms, hurricanes and winter storms. It is equipped with meteorological instruments and radar to obtain data on the current development, movement, size and intensity of these systems.
The aircraft carries a minimum crew of five: pilot, co-pilot, navigator, aerial reconnaissance weather officer and weather reconnaissance loadmaster. The crew collects and reports weather data as often as every minute.
Members of the public look at the impressive number of missions this hurricane hunter has flown.
Dropsonde Demo
Tube through which instrument sensors called “sondes” are dropped from WC130into hurricanes.
In flight, the aircraft drops sondes about every 15 minutes, according to one manufacturer. “Dropsondes play a very important role in the data collection during field projects. They provide data of a near-vertical profile of very remote regions that could otherwise not be be studied. The dropsonde provides actual readings of the atmosphere as it travels downward. Because the device is in contact with the medium that it is measuring, this type of sensing is also called in-situ sensing.” They measure temperature, wind speed, wind direction, moisture, location, atmospheric pressure and more.
Emergency Management Participants
Also present were representatives from NOAA, the National Hurricane Center, the National Weather Service, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Coast Guard, the US Air Force, Harris County Flood Control District, the City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management, the Red Cross, USAA, and more.
They passed out everything from disaster preparedness guides to hurricane guides, emergency document bags, cloud charts, and stress balls! Good times and sunburns were had by all!
Additional Preparedness Resources
From Houston, the tour moves east to New Orleans, and Mississippi before making two stops in Florida.
Harris County Flood Warning System for current and historical rainfall at gages throughout the region, info about historical rainfall and floods, inundation mapping and more.
The last guide goes beyond hurricanes and covers everything from chemical spills to active shooter incidents.
They’re all worth exploring. But don’t wait until a hurricane is bearing down to explore them. The sites will likely be crowded, the internet down, and response times slow. Also keep in mind that in an emergency, you may need to conserve battery power in your mobile devices. After Hurricane Ike in 2008, parts of the Lake Houston Area lost power for weeks.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/1/2023
2071 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/20230501-RJR_1473.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=18001200adminadmin2023-05-01 17:47:532023-05-02 08:57:47Hurricane Hunter Expo at Ellington Draws Crowd
The time to stock up on emergency supplies is not when there’s a run on batteries, backups, and bottled water.
If you’re new to the Gulf Coast, it’s especially important to educate yourself. Storms can cut off evacuation routes, disrupt water and sewer, knock out electricity for weeks, create impossibly long lines at gas stations, and more.
Inland areas like Lake Houston don’t face much of a threat from storm surge. But we are susceptible to wind damage, fallen trees, riverine flooding, and street flooding.
Having interviewed dozens of flood victims, I can promise you. Invariably, the three things they most regret are NOT:
Preparing early enough.
Having flood insurance.
Putting valuables such as legal documents, family photo albums, and family bibles on high shelves.
If you’re new to the area, explore the links above and develop a checklist. Even if you’re a veteran of major storms, a little brushing up never hurts.
Woodridge Village Excavation Approaching Atlas-14 Requirement
Harris County Flood Control District’s (HCFCD) Woodridge Village Excavation and Removal contract with Sprint Sand & Clay continues progressing nicely. The volume excavated last month shows a continued rebound in activity after a dip last year when the housing market slowed.
As of the end of April, Sprint has completed approximately 23% of its 500,000-cubic-yard contract. More important, excavation could meet Atlas-14 detention requirements by the end of 2023.
Sprint excavated an estimated 11,000 cubic yards in April – more than double the monthly minimum. That brings the total to date to approximately 115,000 cubic yards.
Photos Reveal Excavation in New Direction
Here’s what the status of Woodridge Village excavation looked like on 5/1/2023. For the last year, Sprint has focused on lengthening the basin. Now it is focusing on widening it, too. Note the work taking place in the upper left quadrant of the photo below.
Typically, HCFCD gives E&R contractors some general boundaries and says, “Start digging.” Sprint makes its money by selling the dirt on the open market. There’s virtually no cost to taxpayers. And usually the bigger the hole in the ground, the better. So, according to a former flood control executive, if Sprint goes beyond 500,000 cubic yards, no one will complain. It reduces flood risk free of charge.
But where is all this headed and why?
Past, Current and Future Capacities
When Perry Homes sold the Woodridge Village property to HCFCD in 2021, it had five stormwater detention basins with a total storage capacity of 271 acre feet. But because Montgomery County issued construction permits based on pre-Atlas-14 requirements, the development was approximately 42% short of meeting current Harris County standards.
Partially as a result of insufficient stormwater detention capacity, up to 600 homes downstream in Kingwood flooded twice in 2019.
After HCFCD bought the property, it hired Sprint to get a head start on Woodridge Village excavation of additional detention capacity while it worked out exact plans for a regional detention basin and Taylor Gully.
Sprint has excavated approximately 71 acre feet so far. That brings the current detention capacity to 342 acre feet.
But HCFCD will ultimately need approximately 385 acre feet of stormwater detention capacity to meet Atlas-14 requirements and it hopes to build even more as a safety hedge against future needs should they increase.
If Sprint excavates the entire 500,000 cubic yards in its contract, that would bring the total stormwater detention capacity up to 580 acre feet. In tabular form, the steps look like this:
Calculations in the last column assume that Sprint excavates all 500,000 cubic yards. But Sprint’s contract calls for excavating UP TO 500,000 cubic yards.
A lot of flexibility exists for both parties in an E&R contract. If the demand for dirt dries up and excavation slows, HCFCD and Sprint could modify the E&R contract to complete a smaller detention basin sooner. But I assume it would still meet Atlas 14 requirements at a minimum.
Based on April performance, Sprint is currently excavating approximately 6 acre feet per month.
Still Much More Work to Do
But simply excavating the dirt isn’t the end of the job. Harris County still needs to slope the sides, plant grass, and tie the new basin into the site’s existing stormwater-detention-basin network.
An engineering team is currently working on drawing up final construction plans. Simultaneously, they are looking at how Woodridge Village excavation will impact Taylor Gully needs.
At the moment, no one knows exactly how this project will end. There are simply too many variables. The site could contain one giant stormwater detention basin or several smaller ones.
HCFCD often employs a phased approach with large projects, such as Woodridge/Taylor Gully. Consider for instance, Willow Water Hole on South Post Oak at Highway 90. Or the Lauder Basin on Greens Bayou south of Beltway 8 North.
A phased approach enables residents to start reaping partial benefits sooner, with an eye toward maximizing future risk reduction as circumstances and funding allow.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/2/2023
2072 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 1329 since Imelda
Hurricane Hunter Expo at Ellington Draws Crowd
To kick off National Hurricane Preparedness week, the U.S. government sent two hurricane hunter aircraft to Ellington Field today. It was a rare opportunity for the public to interact with crews and support staff, and to tour some impressive displays of technology. See pics below.
Hurricane Hunter Aircraft on Display at Ellington Field
The versatile WP-3D – “Orion” turboprop aircraft is equipped with a variety of scientific instruments, radars, and recording systems for both in-situ and remote sensing measurements of the atmosphere, the earth, and its environment. Orion aircraft collects low-altitude data to fill gaps in data not available from ground-based radar or satellite imagery.
A crew member described the aircraft as a flying MRI machine that can see into the heart of storms.
The WC-130J is a high-wing, medium-range aircraft used in several weather reconnaissance missions throughout the year. The Air Force configured this plane to penetrate tropical disturbances and storms, hurricanes and winter storms. It is equipped with meteorological instruments and radar to obtain data on the current development, movement, size and intensity of these systems.
The aircraft carries a minimum crew of five: pilot, co-pilot, navigator, aerial reconnaissance weather officer and weather reconnaissance loadmaster. The crew collects and reports weather data as often as every minute.
Dropsonde Demo
In flight, the aircraft drops sondes about every 15 minutes, according to one manufacturer. “Dropsondes play a very important role in the data collection during field projects. They provide data of a near-vertical profile of very remote regions that could otherwise not be be studied. The dropsonde provides actual readings of the atmosphere as it travels downward. Because the device is in contact with the medium that it is measuring, this type of sensing is also called in-situ sensing.” They measure temperature, wind speed, wind direction, moisture, location, atmospheric pressure and more.
Emergency Management Participants
Also present were representatives from NOAA, the National Hurricane Center, the National Weather Service, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Coast Guard, the US Air Force, Harris County Flood Control District, the City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management, the Red Cross, USAA, and more.
They passed out everything from disaster preparedness guides to hurricane guides, emergency document bags, cloud charts, and stress balls! Good times and sunburns were had by all!
Additional Preparedness Resources
From Houston, the tour moves east to New Orleans, and Mississippi before making two stops in Florida.
In addition to the list of preparedness links I posted yesterday, the handouts today reminded me that I should have posted:
The last guide goes beyond hurricanes and covers everything from chemical spills to active shooter incidents.
They’re all worth exploring. But don’t wait until a hurricane is bearing down to explore them. The sites will likely be crowded, the internet down, and response times slow. Also keep in mind that in an emergency, you may need to conserve battery power in your mobile devices. After Hurricane Ike in 2008, parts of the Lake Houston Area lost power for weeks.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/1/2023
2071 Days since Hurricane Harvey
National Hurricane Preparedness Week Starts Today
National Hurricane Preparedness Week starts today, Sunday April 30 and runs through May 6, 2023.
Helpful Resources
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) offers numerous resources to help you:
The National Hurricane Center website also offers a treasure trove of educational resources for professionals, citizens, and students of all ages.
And just in case you’re a weather geek, don’t miss this page from the National Weather Service on hurricane safety tips and weather resources.
If you live near the Texas coast, you’re in the second most hurricane-prone state in the country (second only to Florida).
Below is an abbreviated table from NOAA that shows the states hit by the most hurricanes in various categories between 1851 and 2020.
The peak of hurricane season is in September, but they can strike any time of year. All it takes is one to ruin your life if you’re not prepared.
Start Sooner Rather than Later
So prepare now. There’s no better time than National Hurricane Preparedness Week.
Remember, homeowners insurance does not cover flooding. It usually takes 30 days for flood insurance to go into effect. And hurricane season is just a month away.
The time to stock up on emergency supplies is not when there’s a run on batteries, backups, and bottled water.
If you’re new to the Gulf Coast, it’s especially important to educate yourself. Storms can cut off evacuation routes, disrupt water and sewer, knock out electricity for weeks, create impossibly long lines at gas stations, and more.
Inland areas like Lake Houston don’t face much of a threat from storm surge. But we are susceptible to wind damage, fallen trees, riverine flooding, and street flooding.
Having interviewed dozens of flood victims, I can promise you. Invariably, the three things they most regret are NOT:
If you’re new to the area, explore the links above and develop a checklist. Even if you’re a veteran of major storms, a little brushing up never hurts.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 4/30/23
2070 Days since Hurricane Harvey