2/13/26 – Three days ago, Jennifer Stewart, one of my readers, was riding her bike up the Spring Creek Greenway when she witnessed a river of sludge pouring out of a construction site. It was going straight into the creek at a high rate of speed. She immediately contacted me and within the hour I had taken dozens of drone photos documenting the environmental abuse.
Within a couple more hours, I notified Harris County Flood Control. The next morning, I posted about the illegal discharge and how to report it to the proper authorities. Many readers complained to the TCEQ, Harris County Flood Control, Harris County Engineering, and Harris County Pollution Control.
Today, I returned to the site to see if the contractors were still pumping sludge into the creek. I’m happy to say that they were NOT. County environmental investigators had quickly issued citations to Spring ISD, its contractors and environmental consultant.. The County gave them until 2/14/26 to bring their site into compliance with federal, state and county environmental regulations – or else they will receive more citations.
Today, instead of pumping more sludge into Spring Creek, the contractors were installing pollution-prevention measures that should have been in place all along. For instance:
Riprap (rock used to protect channel embankments) that reduces erosion
Silt fences that filter sediment out of water escaping from construction sites
Rock gabions (baskets filled with rocks), also designed to filter runoff.
Who knows how long the contractors would have continued circumventing best management practices had it not been for Stewart who: a) recognized the violations, b) documented them, and c) reported them quickly? Thank you, Jennifer!
Magnitude of Sediment-Pollution Problem
Sediment pollution is widely regarded by hydrologists and water-quality regulators as the single largest pollutant by volume in U.S. surface waters. It is not always toxic, but it is often the most structurally damaging because it alters channel geometry, reduces floodwater storage, and transports contaminants.
Roughly 25–45% of assessed U.S. streams show impairment linked directly to suspended sediment or siltation.
Sediment Discharges Amplify Other Threats
Sediment discharges contribute to the loss of hydraulic conveyance of rivers and streams. When that happens, channel cross-sections shrink and floodwaters rise.
According to ChatGPT, a 10–20% loss of conveyance area can raise flood elevations dramatically. Some estimate the increase could exceed Atlas-14 rainfall increases of about 30% in this area. Also…
Rainfall is episodic. But sediment is cumulative.
Sediment ranks at the top of long-term flood threats for the Lake Houston Area because it:
Increases dredging dependence
Is difficult to regulate retroactively.
It also buries spawning beds for fish and kills aquatic vegetation that filters water.
Importance of Reporting Violations
Regulatory agencies depend on the help of an educated public to report problems promptly when they see them.
Emily Woodell, a spokesperson for Harris County Flood Control District, had this to say about the Spring Creek construction site. “We sent our teams out there and they are working with the Harris County Engineering Department (HCED) on the effort. HCED is actually the entity with regulatory authority, and they issued a citation to the developer.”
“We always want to hear about these kinds of issues. The best way to submit them is via our Citizen Service Center on our website. The requests go straight to our Fast Action Service Teams to investigate and take the appropriate action. It takes all of us being the eyes and ears on the ground, and we truly appreciate every report.”
Pictures Taken February 10, 2026
Compare the pictures taken on February 10 to the ones farther below (taken today). Today’s show installation of pollution-prevention measures and a dramatic improvement in water quality. But first the “problem” shots.
Construction site of Spring ISD’s new high school emptying sludge straight into Spring Creek Sludge migrating down Spring CreekUnchecked runoff from the site was channeled and pumped directly into Spring CreekNo silt fences to check the flow of mudContractors were actively pumping sludge from the detention basinWider shot shows what they were pumping into the source of your drinking water
Photos Taken 2/13/26
Note the dramatic changes in pictures taken today.
After investigation and citation, discharge stopped.Sediment remains from previous discharge, but water is running much clearer.Pump remains by bulldozer in foreground, but is not pumping. Note the riprap at the top of frame to the right of the dump truck where pumped water will discharge into the small channel leading to the creek. The riprap will reduce headward erosion.Beyond the riprap, note the silt fences and what appear to be gabions in the channel leading to the creek to further filter discharged water.They still have a lot of muck to pump.We’ll all be watching to see what happens next.
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/2026/02/20260213-DJI_20260213120221_0165_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2026-02-13 19:38:242026-02-14 22:40:55Quick Action by Resident Halts Spring Creek Environmental Abuse
Update 3/10/26: To compare old and new flood maps, see New 2026 DRAFT Floodplain Maps for Harris County. See how floodplains and floodways have changed since Tropical Storm Allison. Mapping Change Comparison checkbox in lower left activates a slider that lets you see changes between old and new maps.
2/12/26 – FEMA has released new draft flood maps for Harris County and Houston. Houston spills over the county line in some places, including near Kingwood. And the new maps show floodplains where the City limits exceed the County’s.
The new maps reflect Atlas 14 data acquired after Harvey. The old maps use data acquired after Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 and were released in 2007. So, the new ones reflect the current best available data.
But understand several things about the new maps. While they are important, they aren’t final yet. And they’re visually confusing compared to previous maps. But help is on the way. See more below.
Important Background
These maps reflect changing conditions in Harris County, including a more than 30% increase in rainfall rates, updated topography and advanced modeling.
After major storms between 2015 and 2017, including Hurricane Harvey, it became clear that existing floodplain maps were not fully reflecting flood risk.
Thousands of families flooded outside of mapped high-risk areas. Updated maps help residents, businesses, emergency managers, and local governments better understand risk and make more informed decisions.
Not Yet Final
Emily Woodell, a spokesperson for Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) emphasized, “It is important to emphasize that, at this stage, these are DRAFT maps from FEMA intended for technical review by floodplain administrators. They are not final, not regulatory, and not part of FEMA’s formal public appeal and comment process.”
“Nothing changes right now related to flood insurance requirements or development regulations.”
Emily Woodell, HCFCD Spokesperson
It will take another year or two to finalize the new maps. They must go through several stages of comment and revision, each with different names.
After floodplain managers comment on the “DRAFT” maps, FEMA will make revisions and release “PRELIMINARY” flood maps for the general public. The public (including developers) will then have a chance to comment or protest. But at that stage, FEMA will require an engineering study before making changes.
After making revisions from the public comment period, FEMA will release “EFFECTIVE” flood maps, aka, the new gold standard for flood risk. That’s what flood insurance will be based on.
New flood map of Kingwood Area using satellite view.From FEMA.
FEMA’s DRAFT Map Visually Confusing
FEMA’s new flood maps are visually confusing at this time – especially if you’re used to the old flood maps. Unfortunately, FEMA uses one viewer for the entire country – cities and rural areas alike. The viewer may work well for some areas, but not for Harris County with its thickets of tree-lined, winding streets.
In the left column at the bottom, select “Draft Database for Community Review.”
From the base map gallery, select “Street View.”
Click the magnifying glass and enter your address or area of interest. You can also scroll to your location.
You may have to zoom in to display the floodplains. Use the +/- keys in the lower right.
The map doesn’t work on cell phones. You must use a desktop or laptop.
You can compare the new and old maps by toggling between the “Draft Database Maps for Community Review” and the “Effective Flood Hazard” Maps. The Effective Maps are the current ones. Draft Maps will eventually replace them.
Compared to the old multi-colored maps, these are monochromatic. Different zones are represented by shades and dots, not colors.
No dots means you’re outside of any defined flood zone.
A light colored area with dots (inside the first line) means “500-year flood plain/.2% annual chance.”
The darker colored area with dots (inside a second line) means you’re in the “100-year floodplain/1% annual chance.”
The news maps are amazingly detailed. And that’s part of what makes them confusing. Instead of a line cutting through a neighborhood or farm, these maps outline flood zones just a foot or two wide. For instance, although my house and yard are above the 500-year floodplain, my drainage ditch is in it. But only part of the ditch!
More User-Friendly HCFCD Versions of Maps
Woodell said, “We recognize these maps can be difficult to navigate. To make FEMA’s information more accessible, the Flood Control District is launching a more user-friendly online map viewer that displays the same draft data in a clearer, easier-to-understand format.”
HCFCD Director Dr. Tina Petersen announced in Commissioners Court today, that Flood Control is posting the maps for public review this afternoon, instead of next week as previously announced..
The more user-friendly DRAFT maps can also be found here on the MAAPnext site. They even include a slider that lets you compare the currently EFFECTIVE maps developed after Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 with the new DRAFT maps based on data collected after Harvey. To activate the slider, check the “Mapping Change Comparison” box at the bottom of the legend on the left.
“We will also host informational webinars and continue working closely with floodplain administrators, local partners, and community stakeholders to help residents understand what this means and what comes next,” she said.
DRAFT FEMA Maps Reflect Mitigation Progress
According to Woodell, the draft FEMA maps reflect much of the mitigation progress already made since Harvey.
They reflect the benefits of flood-mitigation projects completed or under construction through 2020. And early results show areas where flood risk has decreased because of those investments. That includes projects made possible through the 2018 Bond Program. It also includes the detention basins that Perry Homes eventually added to Woodridge Village before selling their property to Harris County Flood Control. Elm Grove and Mills Branch floodplains shrank considerably.
“That means in some neighborhoods, families who once faced repeated flooding are now seeing measurable reductions in risk,” said Woodell. “There is more work to do, but we know these projects are making a difference.”
You may see a rush to develop floodplain properties as FEMA moves toward finalizing the new EFFECTIVE flood maps, which should take two to three years. So stay alert.
The new DRAFT maps can also be used by home buyers to check the flood risk of properties they are considering.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/12/2026
3089 Days since Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260211-New-Flood-Map-of-Kingwood.jpg?fit=1100%2C617&ssl=16171100adminadmin2026-02-12 10:30:112026-03-10 14:05:38FEMA Releases New Draft Flood Maps for Harris County and Houston
2/11/26 – Based on a tip from a reader, I learned that a large construction site along Spring Creek near the Hardy Toll Road and State Highway 99 was pumping muddy stormwater directly into Spring Creek.
Images Sent By Reader
The reader sent me pictures taken along the Spring Creek Greenway that suggested this was no accidental overflow. The images show neatly cut and stacked underbrush along a ditch cut between the construction site and the creek.
Photo taken by reader on 2/10/26. Reader wishes to remain anonymous.
Another photo taken from a greenway bridge shows the speed of the discharge.
Note that the discharge appears to have been much higher at one point judging by the grass laying down.
Aerial Images Taken on 2/10/2026
So, I grabbed my drone and headed over to nearby Harris County Precinct 3 Dennis Johnston Park. From the air, you could clearly see where the sediment-laden sludge was coming from.
Construction site emptying detention basin straight into Spring CreekSomeone had cut channels to drain silty stormwater from a drainage ditch and detention basin.The path to Spring Creek took the sludge under the greenway in the forest.Opposite angle shows muck flowing straight into Spring Creek.Silt migrating downstreamtoward Harmony, Benders Landing Estates, Humble, Kingwood and Lake Houston.They were actually pumping the sediment from the stormwater detention basin. What they were pumping…And those silt fences don’t do much good when you tear them down.
The Human Toll: Ruining a Community Asset
The reader who sent me the ground level images told me how she felt she had had a pleasant experience stolen from her. She was out for a fun bike ride during spring break. The Spring Creek Greenway is one of the longest urban trails in North America. It is supposed to be a refuge. But instead of clear water and a healthy ecosystem, she found this appalling sight.
She said the plume was migrating downstream toward Jesse Jones Park where she saw “tons of kids fishing today.”
An avid environmentalist, she says, “Siltation kills the fishing experience. The cloudy water makes it impossible for sight-feeding fish to hunt for insects. And the heavy sediment smothers the ‘honey holes’ where fish congregate.”
Silt Contributes to Flooding
When a developer pumps mud into the creek, that sediment eventually settles and raises the creek bed. That means the channel holds less water.
Spring Creek is a major tributary to the San Jacinto West Fork. Every ton of mud pumped into the Spring Creek eventually migrates downstream to the San Jacinto, exacerbating flood risks in Humble, Kingwood and the Lake Houston Area.
Pumping silt like this also creates a burden on taxpayers. Developers profit by taking “shortcuts” on-site. But the public pays the price. When the river fills with silt and flood risk increases, taxpayers bear the burden of multi-million dollar dredging projects to restore the river’s capacity.
Since Harvey, taxpayers have spent hundreds of millions of dollars dredging area rivers.
Ecological Suffocation
My source, who wishes to remain anonymous, talked about “gill clogging.” High concentrations of suspended solids can literally suffocate fish.
Silt settling into the gravel and woody debris on the creek floor also smothers the macro-invertebrates (bugs) that form the base of the food chain.
Just as bad, such activities kill the filtering mechanism that keeps creeks healthy. Oranizations, such as the Bayou Land Conservancy, work to protect the wetlands that filter our water. Dumping raw silt bypasses this natural filtration and destroys the very plants that help stabilize the banks.
Silt isn’t just dirt. Construction runoff often carries other pollutants attached to the soil particles, including fertilizers, heavy metals, or chemical residues from the site, which are now being “injected” into the local water supply.
That’s why pumping sediment-laden water directly into a creek is a flagrant violation of sediment-control protocols. Not preserving floodplains has many costs that most people don’t realize.
How to Report Such Violations
Readers who share my concerns should report such violations to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Harris County Flood Control District. You may also want to notify Harris County Precinct 3 and Montgomery County MUDs, as Spring Creek serves as the border between the two counties. Both have a vested interest in keeping that channel clear. Readers report that this is the site of the new Spring ISD High School.
I couldn’t find an entrance to the site with an address, sign, or stormwater pollution prevention plan. But for reporting purposes, the GPS coordinates are: 30°05’16.3″N 95°24’07.6″W.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/11/26
3088 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/2026/02/20260210-DJI_20260210164515_0136_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2026-02-11 09:43:112026-02-11 20:14:21Construction Site Pumping Sludge Straight into Spring Creek
Quick Action by Resident Halts Spring Creek Environmental Abuse
2/13/26 – Three days ago, Jennifer Stewart, one of my readers, was riding her bike up the Spring Creek Greenway when she witnessed a river of sludge pouring out of a construction site. It was going straight into the creek at a high rate of speed. She immediately contacted me and within the hour I had taken dozens of drone photos documenting the environmental abuse.
Within a couple more hours, I notified Harris County Flood Control. The next morning, I posted about the illegal discharge and how to report it to the proper authorities. Many readers complained to the TCEQ, Harris County Flood Control, Harris County Engineering, and Harris County Pollution Control.
Today, I returned to the site to see if the contractors were still pumping sludge into the creek. I’m happy to say that they were NOT. County environmental investigators had quickly issued citations to Spring ISD, its contractors and environmental consultant.. The County gave them until 2/14/26 to bring their site into compliance with federal, state and county environmental regulations – or else they will receive more citations.
Today, instead of pumping more sludge into Spring Creek, the contractors were installing pollution-prevention measures that should have been in place all along. For instance:
Who knows how long the contractors would have continued circumventing best management practices had it not been for Stewart who: a) recognized the violations, b) documented them, and c) reported them quickly? Thank you, Jennifer!
Magnitude of Sediment-Pollution Problem
Sediment pollution is widely regarded by hydrologists and water-quality regulators as the single largest pollutant by volume in U.S. surface waters. It is not always toxic, but it is often the most structurally damaging because it alters channel geometry, reduces floodwater storage, and transports contaminants.
Sediment Discharges Amplify Other Threats
Sediment discharges contribute to the loss of hydraulic conveyance of rivers and streams. When that happens, channel cross-sections shrink and floodwaters rise.
According to ChatGPT, a 10–20% loss of conveyance area can raise flood elevations dramatically. Some estimate the increase could exceed Atlas-14 rainfall increases of about 30% in this area. Also…
Sediment ranks at the top of long-term flood threats for the Lake Houston Area because it:
It also buries spawning beds for fish and kills aquatic vegetation that filters water.
Importance of Reporting Violations
Regulatory agencies depend on the help of an educated public to report problems promptly when they see them.
Emily Woodell, a spokesperson for Harris County Flood Control District, had this to say about the Spring Creek construction site. “We sent our teams out there and they are working with the Harris County Engineering Department (HCED) on the effort. HCED is actually the entity with regulatory authority, and they issued a citation to the developer.”
“We always want to hear about these kinds of issues. The best way to submit them is via our Citizen Service Center on our website. The requests go straight to our Fast Action Service Teams to investigate and take the appropriate action. It takes all of us being the eyes and ears on the ground, and we truly appreciate every report.”
Pictures Taken February 10, 2026
Compare the pictures taken on February 10 to the ones farther below (taken today). Today’s show installation of pollution-prevention measures and a dramatic improvement in water quality. But first the “problem” shots.
Photos Taken 2/13/26
Note the dramatic changes in pictures taken today.
ABC13’s Brianna Willis also covered this story. Spring ISD told her (not on camera) that they take environmental compliance seriously.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/13/2026
3090 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.
FEMA Releases New Draft Flood Maps for Harris County and Houston
Update 3/10/26: To compare old and new flood maps, see New 2026 DRAFT Floodplain Maps for Harris County. See how floodplains and floodways have changed since Tropical Storm Allison. Mapping Change Comparison checkbox in lower left activates a slider that lets you see changes between old and new maps.
2/12/26 – FEMA has released new draft flood maps for Harris County and Houston. Houston spills over the county line in some places, including near Kingwood. And the new maps show floodplains where the City limits exceed the County’s.
The new maps reflect Atlas 14 data acquired after Harvey. The old maps use data acquired after Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 and were released in 2007. So, the new ones reflect the current best available data.
But understand several things about the new maps. While they are important, they aren’t final yet. And they’re visually confusing compared to previous maps. But help is on the way. See more below.
Important Background
These maps reflect changing conditions in Harris County, including a more than 30% increase in rainfall rates, updated topography and advanced modeling.
After major storms between 2015 and 2017, including Hurricane Harvey, it became clear that existing floodplain maps were not fully reflecting flood risk.
Thousands of families flooded outside of mapped high-risk areas. Updated maps help residents, businesses, emergency managers, and local governments better understand risk and make more informed decisions.
Not Yet Final
Emily Woodell, a spokesperson for Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) emphasized, “It is important to emphasize that, at this stage, these are DRAFT maps from FEMA intended for technical review by floodplain administrators. They are not final, not regulatory, and not part of FEMA’s formal public appeal and comment process.”
It will take another year or two to finalize the new maps. They must go through several stages of comment and revision, each with different names.
After floodplain managers comment on the “DRAFT” maps, FEMA will make revisions and release “PRELIMINARY” flood maps for the general public. The public (including developers) will then have a chance to comment or protest. But at that stage, FEMA will require an engineering study before making changes.
After making revisions from the public comment period, FEMA will release “EFFECTIVE” flood maps, aka, the new gold standard for flood risk. That’s what flood insurance will be based on.
FEMA’s DRAFT Map Visually Confusing
FEMA’s new flood maps are visually confusing at this time – especially if you’re used to the old flood maps. Unfortunately, FEMA uses one viewer for the entire country – cities and rural areas alike. The viewer may work well for some areas, but not for Harris County with its thickets of tree-lined, winding streets.
To see FEMA’s new maps, click here.
Some hints:
You can compare the new and old maps by toggling between the “Draft Database Maps for Community Review” and the “Effective Flood Hazard” Maps. The Effective Maps are the current ones. Draft Maps will eventually replace them.
Compared to the old multi-colored maps, these are monochromatic. Different zones are represented by shades and dots, not colors.
The news maps are amazingly detailed. And that’s part of what makes them confusing. Instead of a line cutting through a neighborhood or farm, these maps outline flood zones just a foot or two wide. For instance, although my house and yard are above the 500-year floodplain, my drainage ditch is in it. But only part of the ditch!
More User-Friendly HCFCD Versions of Maps
Woodell said, “We recognize these maps can be difficult to navigate. To make FEMA’s information more accessible, the Flood Control District is launching a more user-friendly online map viewer that displays the same draft data in a clearer, easier-to-understand format.”
HCFCD Director Dr. Tina Petersen announced in Commissioners Court today, that Flood Control is posting the maps for public review this afternoon, instead of next week as previously announced..
The more user-friendly DRAFT maps can also be found here on the MAAPnext site. They even include a slider that lets you compare the currently EFFECTIVE maps developed after Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 with the new DRAFT maps based on data collected after Harvey. To activate the slider, check the “Mapping Change Comparison” box at the bottom of the legend on the left.
“We will also host informational webinars and continue working closely with floodplain administrators, local partners, and community stakeholders to help residents understand what this means and what comes next,” she said.
DRAFT FEMA Maps Reflect Mitigation Progress
According to Woodell, the draft FEMA maps reflect much of the mitigation progress already made since Harvey.
They reflect the benefits of flood-mitigation projects completed or under construction through 2020. And early results show areas where flood risk has decreased because of those investments. That includes projects made possible through the 2018 Bond Program. It also includes the detention basins that Perry Homes eventually added to Woodridge Village before selling their property to Harris County Flood Control. Elm Grove and Mills Branch floodplains shrank considerably.
“That means in some neighborhoods, families who once faced repeated flooding are now seeing measurable reductions in risk,” said Woodell. “There is more work to do, but we know these projects are making a difference.”
HCFCD expects to bid four new projects, for instance, after Commissioners Court today. One of them is in Kingwood. See item 250: Woodridge Village/Taylor Gully.
Impact of New Maps on Development
The new maps will eventually raise the bar for developers such as Romerica and Ron Holley. Some areas formerly classified as floodplain are now classified as floodway. All of Holley’s property on the East Fork is now floodway. Similarly, the floodway expanded in the property Signorelli is trying to develop as The Crossing at the Commons of Lake Houston.
You may see a rush to develop floodplain properties as FEMA moves toward finalizing the new EFFECTIVE flood maps, which should take two to three years. So stay alert.
The new DRAFT maps can also be used by home buyers to check the flood risk of properties they are considering.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/12/2026
3089 Days since Harvey
Construction Site Pumping Sludge Straight into Spring Creek
2/11/26 – Based on a tip from a reader, I learned that a large construction site along Spring Creek near the Hardy Toll Road and State Highway 99 was pumping muddy stormwater directly into Spring Creek.
Images Sent By Reader
The reader sent me pictures taken along the Spring Creek Greenway that suggested this was no accidental overflow. The images show neatly cut and stacked underbrush along a ditch cut between the construction site and the creek.
Another photo taken from a greenway bridge shows the speed of the discharge.
Aerial Images Taken on 2/10/2026
So, I grabbed my drone and headed over to nearby Harris County Precinct 3 Dennis Johnston Park. From the air, you could clearly see where the sediment-laden sludge was coming from.
The Human Toll: Ruining a Community Asset
The reader who sent me the ground level images told me how she felt she had had a pleasant experience stolen from her. She was out for a fun bike ride during spring break. The Spring Creek Greenway is one of the longest urban trails in North America. It is supposed to be a refuge. But instead of clear water and a healthy ecosystem, she found this appalling sight.
She said the plume was migrating downstream toward Jesse Jones Park where she saw “tons of kids fishing today.”
An avid environmentalist, she says, “Siltation kills the fishing experience. The cloudy water makes it impossible for sight-feeding fish to hunt for insects. And the heavy sediment smothers the ‘honey holes’ where fish congregate.”
Silt Contributes to Flooding
When a developer pumps mud into the creek, that sediment eventually settles and raises the creek bed. That means the channel holds less water.
Spring Creek is a major tributary to the San Jacinto West Fork. Every ton of mud pumped into the Spring Creek eventually migrates downstream to the San Jacinto, exacerbating flood risks in Humble, Kingwood and the Lake Houston Area.
Pumping silt like this also creates a burden on taxpayers. Developers profit by taking “shortcuts” on-site. But the public pays the price. When the river fills with silt and flood risk increases, taxpayers bear the burden of multi-million dollar dredging projects to restore the river’s capacity.
Since Harvey, taxpayers have spent hundreds of millions of dollars dredging area rivers.
Ecological Suffocation
My source, who wishes to remain anonymous, talked about “gill clogging.” High concentrations of suspended solids can literally suffocate fish.
Silt settling into the gravel and woody debris on the creek floor also smothers the macro-invertebrates (bugs) that form the base of the food chain.
Just as bad, such activities kill the filtering mechanism that keeps creeks healthy. Oranizations, such as the Bayou Land Conservancy, work to protect the wetlands that filter our water. Dumping raw silt bypasses this natural filtration and destroys the very plants that help stabilize the banks.
Silt isn’t just dirt. Construction runoff often carries other pollutants attached to the soil particles, including fertilizers, heavy metals, or chemical residues from the site, which are now being “injected” into the local water supply.
That’s why pumping sediment-laden water directly into a creek is a flagrant violation of sediment-control protocols. Not preserving floodplains has many costs that most people don’t realize.
How to Report Such Violations
Readers who share my concerns should report such violations to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Harris County Flood Control District. You may also want to notify Harris County Precinct 3 and Montgomery County MUDs, as Spring Creek serves as the border between the two counties. Both have a vested interest in keeping that channel clear. Readers report that this is the site of the new Spring ISD High School.
I couldn’t find an entrance to the site with an address, sign, or stormwater pollution prevention plan. But for reporting purposes, the GPS coordinates are: 30°05’16.3″N 95°24’07.6″W.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/11/26
3088 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.