As of January 30, 2023, Sprint Sand and Clay had excavated 80,360 Cubic Yards of dirt from a sixth Woodridge Village stormwater detention basin under an Excavation and Removal Contract with Harris County Flood Control District. Even though the new basin is not yet complete, it is already the second largest on the site.
Sprint’s $1,000 contract gives it the right to excavate up to 500,000 cubic yards and sell the dirt at market rates to make its money back. The purpose: to get a head start on construction of another basin that could eventually double Woodridge Village stormwater detention capacity so that it will exceed Atlas-14 requirements and create a safety margin to accommodate future development.
Reason for Project
Perry Homes sold the failed development to Harris County Flood Control District in 2021 after it contributed to the flooding of hundreds of homes in Elm Grove and North Kingwood Forest twice in 2019.
Excavation began in early 2022. By the end of that year, Sprint had removed 73,745 cubic yards of soil. January’s total means Sprint is about one-sixth of the way toward its goal.
The basin already holds a considerable amount of runoff as the pictures below show. The pictures were taken on 1/24/23 after a five-year rain (3.6 inches in two hours). That’s about half the volume that fell on May 7, 2019 when Woodridge Village first flooded Elm Grove and North Kingwood Forest. But at that time, only the long narrow detention basin on the lower right had been completed.
Looking NE across the main part of Woodridge.Basin in foreground is the one under construction. Reverse angle, looking SWtoward Woodland Hills Drive and Kingwood Park High School.
New Excavation Already Second Largest on Site
80,360 cubic yards equals 49.8 acre feet. Woodridge Village’s five original basins had the following capacity:
N1 = 13.2 acre feet
N2 = 154.7 acre feet
N3 = 42 acre feet
S1 = 18.6 acre feet
S2 = 42.5 acre feet
That means the new basin already ranks as the second largest on the Woodridge Village site.
Only N2 has more capacity at the present.But eventually, the new basin could double its size.All basins will eventually converge into the basin in left foreground above. From there, water exits into Taylor Gully.Despite the 5-year rain that fell only hours before these photos, Taylor Gully never came close to overflowing on January 24th because of the controlled release rate.
More capacity will mean the site can safely handle much larger rainfalls.
Current detention pond capacity equals 271 acre feet. When complete, the new basin will add 309 acre feet, more than doubling the site’s stormwater detention capacity.
Next up: final design of the improvements before construction can begin.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/31/23
1981 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 1230 since TS Imelda
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/2023/01/20230124-DJI_0770.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=17991200adminadmin2023-01-31 12:48:072023-01-31 12:56:39New Woodridge Village Detention Basin Already 2nd Largest
Surprisingly heavy rains in the last week of January 2023 have led to floodwater rising on area streams. As of 1:38 PM on Monday 1/30/23, the National Weather Service predicted minor flooding throughout much of the northern part of the Houston region, including:
East Fork San Jacinto near New Caney affecting Montgomery, Liberty and Harris Counties.
Peach Creek at Splendora affecting Montgomery and Harris Counties.
West Fork San Jacinto near Humble affecting Montgomery and Harris Counties.
Cypress Creek at Katy-Hockley Road affecting Waller and Harris Counties.
Menard Creek near Rye affecting Hardin, Polk and Liberty Counties.
One on Top of Another
Jeff Lindner, Harris County Meteorologist, said, “While response on area watersheds in the northern portions of Harris County may seem significant for the amount of rain Sunday, when you combine rainfall from Tuesday and Sunday, totals of 8-11 inches are found over this area. The rainfall combined with saturated soils explain the significant rises on area streams.”
Here’s what all that rain looked like on the ground in the Humble/Kingwood Area last night and this morning.
Parked in wrong place. West Hamblen Road near West Fork.Townsen Landing development in Humble near Target in upper left.Saratoga Homes plans to build 357 singl- family homes here.Single- and multi-family residential, some of which will be dedicated to seniors on Townsen Blvd. West in Humble.US59 South at West Fork. Underpass closed due to high water.Looking N toward Lakeside Court and Treasure Lane between West Fork (left) and 59 (right). Confluence of Spring Creek and West Fork just west of US59. Note distinctly different color of water coming from the West Fork (right) where we have 20 square miles of sand mines between 59 and 45.Forest Cove Drive just north of West ForkLake Point Drive in North ShoreContractors are expanding the permanent detention basin at the new Kingwood Middle School.
It looks like we’re beginning to see the outlines of a football field and running track at KMS. That’s the one bright spot in all of these bleak shots. And to think, a few months ago, we were worried about drought.
“Plays Well With Others”
Remember that box on kindergarten report cards – “Plays Well with Others”? These last few photos dramatize the need for developers and their contractors to play by the rules. Most do. But some don’t. These last few shots show how to make a bad situation worse.
New Royal Pines development draining into storm sewer. Note water pouring over storm fence and directly into drain without filtration. A big no no. Violates stormwater regulations and could plug up storm sewers eventually.NW corner of Royal Pines floods neighbor in upper right.They installed silt fence last week. But unchecked runoff pushed it over the fence. See photo below.
Contractors sloped the land toward a neighbor’s property and have yet to build detention ponds. They have flooded the neighbor four times now in two months and have not done anything to correct the problem…at least nothing that has worked.
Same area but about several hours earlier. Weight of water pushed over silt fence.Eastern portion of Royal Pines doesn’t even have silt fence between it and White Oak Creek.Another part of Royal Pines eastern perimeter. More erosion heading toward White Oak Creek and the East Fork.Preserve at Woodridge Detention basin is supposed to be grass lined, but instead is pouring silt into a tributary of Bens Branch which HCFCD just cleaned out.
Ain’t Over Yet
January, February and March are normally our three driest months. But not this year. It looks like we will get 2-3X the normal monthly total.
National Weather Service Climate Data for Houston
Ten to 11 inches in 7 days qualifies as a five-year rainfall by Atlas-14 standards.
NOAA Precipitation frequency estimates
And more rain is on the way. NWS predicts heavy rain arriving from the north on Wednesday. They also warn of flash flooding.
If you have pictures of flooding that you would like to share, please use the Submissions Page of this website. Make sure to include the time, date, and location of the photo and how you would like the credit line to read.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/30/2023
1980 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/20230130-DJI_0930.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=17991200adminadmin2023-01-30 18:25:362023-02-02 17:52:12Floodwater Rising and More Rain On the Way
Recent heavy rains and high-density upstream development on Ben’s Branch in Montgomery County have increasingly placed pressure on the aging Ben’s Branch Bridge over Tree Lane. The bridge is immediately adjacent to Bear Branch Elementary School in Kingwood and its 638 students.
5-Year Rain Leaves Bridge Worse Than Before Repairs
I took the photo below on 1/24/23 when Kingwood experienced a five year rain according to the gage at US59.
Photo taken on 1/24/2023 after 3.6 inches of rain in 2 hours.
I went back today to see what it looked like after the water went down.
After another 1.5 inch rain on 1/29/23.Note how the concrete fragment is pinching off street drainage for Bear Branch Village.
The issue, in my opinion, has to do with more and more water jetting through the narrow opening of the bridge. The turbulence has undermined concrete armoring on the banks that protects bridge supports. It has also carved out a huge area in the stream just south of the bridge.
Photo taken on Tuesday 1/24/23as jetting erodes area south of bridge.
The detention pond above on Ben’s Branch had its outlet wall blown out during Harvey 5.5 years ago and has not been fixed since.
An aging bridge. More water coming downstream. Insufficient mitigation. Eroding banks. 638 children. A perfect storm, so to speak. Let’s hope the City can expedite the repairs.
You encourage what you tolerate.
It’s time for people to speak up.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/29/23
1979 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/2023/01/20230129-RJR_1136.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=18001200adminadmin2023-01-29 19:48:162023-01-29 19:52:54Tree Lane Bridge over Ben’s Branch Damaged…Again
New Woodridge Village Detention Basin Already 2nd Largest
As of January 30, 2023, Sprint Sand and Clay had excavated 80,360 Cubic Yards of dirt from a sixth Woodridge Village stormwater detention basin under an Excavation and Removal Contract with Harris County Flood Control District. Even though the new basin is not yet complete, it is already the second largest on the site.
Sprint’s $1,000 contract gives it the right to excavate up to 500,000 cubic yards and sell the dirt at market rates to make its money back. The purpose: to get a head start on construction of another basin that could eventually double Woodridge Village stormwater detention capacity so that it will exceed Atlas-14 requirements and create a safety margin to accommodate future development.
Reason for Project
Perry Homes sold the failed development to Harris County Flood Control District in 2021 after it contributed to the flooding of hundreds of homes in Elm Grove and North Kingwood Forest twice in 2019.
Excavation began in early 2022. By the end of that year, Sprint had removed 73,745 cubic yards of soil. January’s total means Sprint is about one-sixth of the way toward its goal.
The basin already holds a considerable amount of runoff as the pictures below show. The pictures were taken on 1/24/23 after a five-year rain (3.6 inches in two hours). That’s about half the volume that fell on May 7, 2019 when Woodridge Village first flooded Elm Grove and North Kingwood Forest. But at that time, only the long narrow detention basin on the lower right had been completed.
Reverse angle, looking SW toward Woodland Hills Drive and Kingwood Park High School.
New Excavation Already Second Largest on Site
80,360 cubic yards equals 49.8 acre feet. Woodridge Village’s five original basins had the following capacity:
That means the new basin already ranks as the second largest on the Woodridge Village site.
More capacity will mean the site can safely handle much larger rainfalls.
Current detention pond capacity equals 271 acre feet. When complete, the new basin will add 309 acre feet, more than doubling the site’s stormwater detention capacity.
Funding and Next Steps
This is all part of a larger plan outlined in the preliminary engineering review for Taylor Gully that HCFCD shared with the public in December. The plan also calls for deepening a portion of Taylor Gully and replacing the twin-culvert bridge at Rustic Elms with an open-span bridge.
U.S. Representative Dan Crenshaw has already secured $1.6 million for Taylor Gully Improvements. The City of Houston also has secured a $10.1 million loan from the Texas Water Development Board to improve drainage in the Taylor Gully watershed.
Next up: final design of the improvements before construction can begin.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/31/23
1981 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 1230 since TS Imelda
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.
Floodwater Rising and More Rain On the Way
Surprisingly heavy rains in the last week of January 2023 have led to floodwater rising on area streams. As of 1:38 PM on Monday 1/30/23, the National Weather Service predicted minor flooding throughout much of the northern part of the Houston region, including:
One on Top of Another
Jeff Lindner, Harris County Meteorologist, said, “While response on area watersheds in the northern portions of Harris County may seem significant for the amount of rain Sunday, when you combine rainfall from Tuesday and Sunday, totals of 8-11 inches are found over this area. The rainfall combined with saturated soils explain the significant rises on area streams.”
Photos of Flooding from 1/29 and 1/30
Here’s what all that rain looked like on the ground in the Humble/Kingwood Area last night and this morning.
It looks like we’re beginning to see the outlines of a football field and running track at KMS. That’s the one bright spot in all of these bleak shots. And to think, a few months ago, we were worried about drought.
“Plays Well With Others”
Remember that box on kindergarten report cards – “Plays Well with Others”? These last few photos dramatize the need for developers and their contractors to play by the rules. Most do. But some don’t. These last few shots show how to make a bad situation worse.
Contractors sloped the land toward a neighbor’s property and have yet to build detention ponds. They have flooded the neighbor four times now in two months and have not done anything to correct the problem…at least nothing that has worked.
Ain’t Over Yet
January, February and March are normally our three driest months. But not this year. It looks like we will get 2-3X the normal monthly total.
And more rain is on the way. NWS predicts heavy rain arriving from the north on Wednesday. They also warn of flash flooding.
Share Your Flood Pics with the Community
If you have pictures of flooding that you would like to share, please use the Submissions Page of this website. Make sure to include the time, date, and location of the photo and how you would like the credit line to read.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/30/2023
1980 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Tree Lane Bridge over Ben’s Branch Damaged…Again
Recent heavy rains and high-density upstream development on Ben’s Branch in Montgomery County have increasingly placed pressure on the aging Ben’s Branch Bridge over Tree Lane. The bridge is immediately adjacent to Bear Branch Elementary School in Kingwood and its 638 students.
The City of Houston repaired the bridge less than three years ago in March 2020. But…
5-Year Rain Leaves Bridge Worse Than Before Repairs
I took the photo below on 1/24/23 when Kingwood experienced a five year rain according to the gage at US59.
I went back today to see what it looked like after the water went down.
The issue, in my opinion, has to do with more and more water jetting through the narrow opening of the bridge. The turbulence has undermined concrete armoring on the banks that protects bridge supports. It has also carved out a huge area in the stream just south of the bridge.
Exacerbated by Upstream Issues
The detention pond above on Ben’s Branch had its outlet wall blown out during Harvey 5.5 years ago and has not been fixed since.
An aging bridge. More water coming downstream. Insufficient mitigation. Eroding banks. 638 children. A perfect storm, so to speak. Let’s hope the City can expedite the repairs.
It’s time for people to speak up.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/29/23
1979 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.