11/23/25 – Contractors for the Northpark expansion project will now start constructing piers for the bridge over the UnionPacific Railroad tracks and Loop 494 on the east instead of the west, as previously announced. Photos taken today show equipment that will be used to drill the piers pre-positioned near Public Storage.
Elsewhere along Northpark since the last update a week ago:
An additional newly paved inbound lane between US59 and Exxon now shows how wide Northpark will be.
The drainage junction box on the west side of the UP tracks is complete and covered, although the box still needs to be connected to 8′ culvert coming under Loop 494.
Many, but not all, of the new driveways to businesses on the north/outbound lanes have now been completed.
As always, the pictures tell the story. I took all photos below today, Sunday, November 23, 2025.
Full Width Now Visible by Exxon
New concrete near 59 gives one a feeling for just how wide Northpark will be for most of its length. It’s not all open yet, but it won’t be long.
Looking west toward the junction of US59 and Northpark.
Here’s a wider shot from the reverse angle.
Looking east from over 59.Farther east, you can see the area in the middle where the bridge will start to elevateby PNC banknear bottom of frame.
Drainage Junction Box West of Tracks Now Complete and Covered
The drainage junction box west of the UP tracks is now complete and covered. However, before Loop 494 paving can be completed, contractors must still install a short section of 8′ culvert. Boring under the tracks was a major milestone and so is the completion of the first junction box.
Buried junction box is to right of excavator.The steel fin poking up in the oval marks the edge of the junction box.
Next, contractors will excavate the area between the red lines and connect the junction box with culvert already running under Loop 494. Then…
Contractors will next complete this last section of Loop 494, which should greatly relieve traffic congestion.The junction box east of the tracks is virtually complete. More good news!
It, too, will need to be connected, and then drainage will reach all the way from the entry ponds to the Kingwood Diversion Ditch. However, before new surface lanes can be put over the tracks, electricity to the UPRR crossing signal must be rerouted. See below.
Instead of power going to the signals from 3 to 2 to 1, UP must reroute it from 4 to 1.
Ralph De Leon, the Northpark project manager indicated that Pole #4 is already energized so this is primarily just a rewiring exercise. However, UP will not give him a definite date to plan around. They say they hope to get to it sometime “next year.”
Where Bridge Construction Will Now Start
Looking farther east, you can see more surface lane prep on the left, fresh concrete with curbs and drainage inlets completed on the right, and equipment being mobilized for drilling bridge piers in the middle.
Looking E from in front of Self-U Storage. Friendswood’s new Northpark Enclave subdivision on right.Equipment that will be used to start drilling piers stationed in front of Public Storage (left)The telescoping Kelly Bar that will be used to hydro-excavate 100-foot deep holes for the piersRed crane will control Kelly Bar
The drilling will be a step and repeat process with rebar and concrete being inserted into each hole before moving on to the next. That will keep the holes from collapsing as work proceeds.
Slightly farther east, you can see where the bridge will end and the surface lanes will pinch in
Where surface traffic will eventually merge with bridge traffic.
More news to follow soon about the area above. Between normal traffic, Northpark contractors, and Enclave contractors, this area is getting crowded. Use extra caution.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/23/25
3008 Days since Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/20251123-DJI_20251123140542_0451_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2025-11-23 17:11:042025-11-23 20:47:05Northpark Bridge Construction Plan Changes
11/22/2025 – The EPA announced new interpretations of rules this week that have protected wetlands and water quality throughout America for more than five decades. According to the New York Times, the new guidelines could remove millions of acres of wetlands from Federal protection including those in the Lake Houston Area.
Those wetlands help soak up water, reducing flood risk. They also clean water and provide habitat for wildlife. And that’s a large part of what makes living in this area so attractive.
Great egret photographed near East End Park
Before the EPA
Those of us old enough to remember a time before the EPA can remember the stinking, fetid, poisonous messes our rivers and lakes had become. The Cuyahoga River near where I was born in Cleveland, Ohio, had caught on fire 13 times before the EPA was formed. It was a testament to the failure of local governments to withstand industry pressures.
The Cuyahoga River caught fire a total of 13 times dating back to 1868. It was one of the most polluted rivers in America. Photo: Cleveland State University Library.
But this week, Washington moved to weaken the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act, two bedrock laws of environmental protection. The moves come as part of a broader deregulatory effort.
Ironically, the announced motive for the federal government getting out of the wetlands-protection business was to return authority for that to the states. That theory proved ineffective decades ago. But almost two thirds of Americans alive today, weren’t even born in 1970.
The regulatory vacuum left by the Federal government will open up a window for wetlands exploitation before the Texas legislature meets again for two more years. Developers are already lined up waiting to develop wetlands in the Lake Houston Area. Yesterday, I posted about Scarborough, Holley and Signorelli.
You can bet this will trigger a “swamp rush” among developers who see the opportunity to buy low and sell high. Unfortunately, we’ve seen over and over again, how wetlands tend to be in areas that flood. It will only be a matter of time before they do.
And then all those homes sold to unsuspecting couples – who were promised that their homes met all government requirements – will be left holding a soggy title to a home they will have trouble selling for dimes on the dollar.
The Houston Chronicle recently documented 65,000 homes built in Houston-area floodplains since Hurricane Harvey. How soon people have forgotten! We are witnessing another disaster in the making – one that could be even harder to recover from next time.
But the changes aren’t a done deal yet. America still has a choice.
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.
11/21/25 – The Federal Government is again changing the rules that protect wetlands. The changes could reduce the volume of wetlands that enjoy federal protection by altering the definition of “Waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act to align with Supreme Court rulings.
The Government has opened public comment on the proposed language for 45 days – until January 5, 2026. Wetlands above dams and wetlands without continuous surface flow could be radically affected.
Reason for Changes
The proposed changes include clarification of many definitions that previously caused confusion and controversy because of their ambiguity.
Every day, regulators must draw black-and-white distinctions in a world characterized by infinite shades of gray. For instance, does a “continuous surface connection” to “waters of the U.S.” include wetlands going through a drought? Wetlands separated from a river by a dike? Wetlands that are only wet during the rainy season? Or wetlands upstream from a water-supply dam like Lake Houston or Lake Conroe?
The 49-page entry in the Federal Register notice states that the proposed definitions/changes seek to avoid “impairing or in any manner affecting any right or jurisdiction of the States with respect to waters (including boundary waters) of such States.” See 33 U.S.C. 1370.
Said another way, Federal Government seems to be turfing the task of interpreting some gray areas back to local jurisdictions. The notice says, “States and Tribes are free to address rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, and other features that do not meet the definition of “relatively permanent” as “waters of the State” or “waters of the Tribe” under their own laws to the extent they deem appropriate.
However, Texas largely relies on federal wetland protection. The state’s role is limited to certification, advisory review, and coastal management. I’m not aware of any comprehensive Texas law that independently protects inland wetlands from filling or drainage.
The Federal Register describes the changes and how they could affect different interest groups, situations and locations. I couldn’t possibly summarize them all in one page. But I will address one.
Wetlands Threatened in Lake Houston Area
Right now in the Lake Houston Area, we are looking at several major proposed developments that want to build over wetlands.
Crossing at the Commons of Lake Houston. See wetlands in center.
And farther downstream on the East Fork, Ron Holley wants to build over wetlands both north and south of Royal Shores. Note the green areas east of High Valley and Royal Shores Drive in the wetlands map below.
All the areas above are upstream from the Lake Houston dam. Make sure you note the following sentence under the proposed “Definition of Tributary.”
“Such waters [above a dam] would not sever upstream jurisdiction for tributaries if they have relatively permanent flow, or in the case of adjacent wetlands, if relatively permanent flow occurs through the wetlands, connecting the upstream and downstream portions of the tributary network.”
That says to me:
Wetlands above dams and without permanent flow would no longer be considered jurisdictional and therefore no longer enjoy the Corps’ protection.
Bob Rehak Interpretation
In my reading, this removes any incentive for developers to protect nature’s sponges and it increases flood risk for others who may live nearby or downstream.
What’s your interpretation? How do you feel? The EPA and Army Corps are seeking your input on such language. Such obscure definitions/interpretations could affect your family’s future safety and the value of your home.
Jill Boullion, Executive Director of the Bayou Land Conservancy had this to say. “Narrowing the definition of ‘Waters of the US (WOTUS)’ will not serve the Houston region well. Our region has already lost thousands of acres of wetlands over recent decades.”
She continued, “Wetlands protect our homes from flooding, clean our drinking water, and provide vital habitat for native plants and animals. Requiring a continuous surface connection to navigable water would immediately open many wetlands to being paved over. Due to the dry weather this year, many wetlands are currently dry but still serve an important purpose for a healthy community.”
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/2025/11/Scarborough-Wetlands.png?fit=1100%2C661&ssl=16611100adminadmin2025-11-21 16:40:282025-11-22 16:33:40Federal Government Changing Rules that Protect Wetlands
Northpark Bridge Construction Plan Changes
11/23/25 – Contractors for the Northpark expansion project will now start constructing piers for the bridge over the UnionPacific Railroad tracks and Loop 494 on the east instead of the west, as previously announced. Photos taken today show equipment that will be used to drill the piers pre-positioned near Public Storage.
Elsewhere along Northpark since the last update a week ago:
As always, the pictures tell the story. I took all photos below today, Sunday, November 23, 2025.
Full Width Now Visible by Exxon
New concrete near 59 gives one a feeling for just how wide Northpark will be for most of its length. It’s not all open yet, but it won’t be long.
Here’s a wider shot from the reverse angle.
Drainage Junction Box West of Tracks Now Complete and Covered
The drainage junction box west of the UP tracks is now complete and covered. However, before Loop 494 paving can be completed, contractors must still install a short section of 8′ culvert. Boring under the tracks was a major milestone and so is the completion of the first junction box.
Next, contractors will excavate the area between the red lines and connect the junction box with culvert already running under Loop 494. Then…
It, too, will need to be connected, and then drainage will reach all the way from the entry ponds to the Kingwood Diversion Ditch. However, before new surface lanes can be put over the tracks, electricity to the UPRR crossing signal must be rerouted. See below.
Ralph De Leon, the Northpark project manager indicated that Pole #4 is already energized so this is primarily just a rewiring exercise. However, UP will not give him a definite date to plan around. They say they hope to get to it sometime “next year.”
Where Bridge Construction Will Now Start
Looking farther east, you can see more surface lane prep on the left, fresh concrete with curbs and drainage inlets completed on the right, and equipment being mobilized for drilling bridge piers in the middle.
The drilling will be a step and repeat process with rebar and concrete being inserted into each hole before moving on to the next. That will keep the holes from collapsing as work proceeds.
Slightly farther east, you can see where the bridge will end and the surface lanes will pinch in
More news to follow soon about the area above. Between normal traffic, Northpark contractors, and Enclave contractors, this area is getting crowded. Use extra caution.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/23/25
3008 Days since Harvey
Editorial: Preserve Hard-Won Environmental Protections
11/22/2025 – The EPA announced new interpretations of rules this week that have protected wetlands and water quality throughout America for more than five decades. According to the New York Times, the new guidelines could remove millions of acres of wetlands from Federal protection including those in the Lake Houston Area.
Those wetlands help soak up water, reducing flood risk. They also clean water and provide habitat for wildlife. And that’s a large part of what makes living in this area so attractive.
Before the EPA
Those of us old enough to remember a time before the EPA can remember the stinking, fetid, poisonous messes our rivers and lakes had become. The Cuyahoga River near where I was born in Cleveland, Ohio, had caught on fire 13 times before the EPA was formed. It was a testament to the failure of local governments to withstand industry pressures.
We had reached a tipping point. That’s why in 1970, Congress formed the EPA – to set national standards that protected the environment.
But this week, Washington moved to weaken the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act, two bedrock laws of environmental protection. The moves come as part of a broader deregulatory effort.
Ironically, the announced motive for the federal government getting out of the wetlands-protection business was to return authority for that to the states. That theory proved ineffective decades ago. But almost two thirds of Americans alive today, weren’t even born in 1970.
The regulatory vacuum left by the Federal government will open up a window for wetlands exploitation before the Texas legislature meets again for two more years. Developers are already lined up waiting to develop wetlands in the Lake Houston Area. Yesterday, I posted about Scarborough, Holley and Signorelli.
You can bet this will trigger a “swamp rush” among developers who see the opportunity to buy low and sell high. Unfortunately, we’ve seen over and over again, how wetlands tend to be in areas that flood. It will only be a matter of time before they do.
And then all those homes sold to unsuspecting couples – who were promised that their homes met all government requirements – will be left holding a soggy title to a home they will have trouble selling for dimes on the dollar.
Clearly, the pendulum has swung back in the other direction already.
The Houston Chronicle recently documented 65,000 homes built in Houston-area floodplains since Hurricane Harvey. How soon people have forgotten! We are witnessing another disaster in the making – one that could be even harder to recover from next time.
But the changes aren’t a done deal yet. America still has a choice.
Speak Up, Speak Out
Fight back. Make your voice heard. Make sure you register your opinion about the threat to wetlands here. And write your Federal representatives. Make this an election issue.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/22/2025
3007 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.
Federal Government Changing Rules that Protect Wetlands
11/21/25 – The Federal Government is again changing the rules that protect wetlands. The changes could reduce the volume of wetlands that enjoy federal protection by altering the definition of “Waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act to align with Supreme Court rulings.
The Government has opened public comment on the proposed language for 45 days – until January 5, 2026. Wetlands above dams and wetlands without continuous surface flow could be radically affected.
Reason for Changes
The proposed changes include clarification of many definitions that previously caused confusion and controversy because of their ambiguity.
Every day, regulators must draw black-and-white distinctions in a world characterized by infinite shades of gray. For instance, does a “continuous surface connection” to “waters of the U.S.” include wetlands going through a drought? Wetlands separated from a river by a dike? Wetlands that are only wet during the rainy season? Or wetlands upstream from a water-supply dam like Lake Houston or Lake Conroe?
The 49-page entry in the Federal Register notice states that the proposed definitions/changes seek to avoid “impairing or in any manner affecting any right or jurisdiction of the States with respect to waters (including boundary waters) of such States.” See 33 U.S.C. 1370.
Said another way, Federal Government seems to be turfing the task of interpreting some gray areas back to local jurisdictions. The notice says, “States and Tribes are free to address rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, and other features that do not meet the definition of “relatively permanent” as “waters of the State” or “waters of the Tribe” under their own laws to the extent they deem appropriate.
However, Texas largely relies on federal wetland protection. The state’s role is limited to certification, advisory review, and coastal management. I’m not aware of any comprehensive Texas law that independently protects inland wetlands from filling or drainage.
The Federal Register describes the changes and how they could affect different interest groups, situations and locations. I couldn’t possibly summarize them all in one page. But I will address one.
Wetlands Threatened in Lake Houston Area
Right now in the Lake Houston Area, we are looking at several major proposed developments that want to build over wetlands.
Signorelli has proposed building Crossing at the Commons of Lake Houston in the floodplain of the San Jacinto East Fork. Much of this area is wetlands.
And farther downstream on the East Fork, Ron Holley wants to build over wetlands both north and south of Royal Shores. Note the green areas east of High Valley and Royal Shores Drive in the wetlands map below.
Scarborough has proposed building out 5,316 acres at the confluence of the West Fork, Cypress Creek, Spring Creek and Turkey Creek.
Protect Your Wetlands. Submit Comments.
If you are concerned about protecting wetlands (and you should be if you want to reduce flooding), read this notice:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/11/20/2025-20402/updated-definition-of-waters-of-the-united-states
Then submit a public comment. Here’s why.
All the areas above are upstream from the Lake Houston dam. Make sure you note the following sentence under the proposed “Definition of Tributary.”
That says to me:
In my reading, this removes any incentive for developers to protect nature’s sponges and it increases flood risk for others who may live nearby or downstream.
What’s your interpretation? How do you feel? The EPA and Army Corps are seeking your input on such language. Such obscure definitions/interpretations could affect your family’s future safety and the value of your home.
Jill Boullion, Executive Director of the Bayou Land Conservancy had this to say. “Narrowing the definition of ‘Waters of the US (WOTUS)’ will not serve the Houston region well. Our region has already lost thousands of acres of wetlands over recent decades.”
She continued, “Wetlands protect our homes from flooding, clean our drinking water, and provide vital habitat for native plants and animals. Requiring a continuous surface connection to navigable water would immediately open many wetlands to being paved over. Due to the dry weather this year, many wetlands are currently dry but still serve an important purpose for a healthy community.”
Make sure you register your opinion here.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/21/2025
3006 Days since 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.