I often post about the loss of forests and wetlands to development and how that affects flooding. But the loss also affects wildlife. A new movie, Deep in the Heart: A Texas Wildlife Story, follows our ever-changing relationship with the natural world. It showcases our ability to destroy, conserve, and recover wildlife and habitat. The producers tell the story through the eyes of wildlife.
First Blue-Chip Wildlife Documentary About Texas
This gorgeous documentary about Texas wildlife opens in theaters on June 3, 2022.
MovieInsider.com calls Deep in The Heart, “The first blue-chip wildlife documentary ever produced about Texas.” And the trailer certainly lives up to that promise.
Image from DeepInTheHeartWildlife.com
The producers say, “Deep in the Heart is a visually stunning celebration of what makes Texas unique. Its diverse landscapes and remarkable wildlife behavior cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
“Narrated by Matthew McConaughey and featuring state-of-the-art cinematography, this family-friendly film journeys from the highest peaks in West Texas, through our aquifers, rivers, and bays, and deep into the Gulf of Mexico.
“Deep in the Heart aims to conserve our remaining wild places, to show the connectivity of water and wildlife, and to recognize Texas’ conservation importance on a continental scale.”
A consortium of foundations made the film possible. The primary sponsor was Texan by Nature, founded in 2011 by former First Lady Laura Bush. Texan by Nature (TxN) unites landowners, business, conservation, and civic leaders who believe Texas’ prosperity depends on conservation of natural resources. Learn more at www.texanbynature.org.
Where to See The Film
The film is in limited distribution at only seven Houston theaters. The closest to the Lake Houston Area: the Regal Benders Landing on the Grand Parkway between I-45 and I-69. Check here for show times.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/28/2022with thanks to Pamela Davidson for the heads up on this movie
1733 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/20220528-Screen-Shot-2022-05-28-at-9.14.24-AM.jpg?fit=1200%2C727&ssl=17271200adminadmin2022-05-28 10:48:022022-05-28 10:48:04Deep in The Heart: A Texas Wildlife Story
Discovery will soon begin in the Texas Attorney General’s case against the Triple PG sand mine in Porter. The AG is suing the mine on behalf of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). TCEQ investigations documented repeated breaches of the mine’s dikes over a period of several years prior to filing the lawsuit. The breaches allegedly resulted in the release of hundreds of millions of gallons of industrial waste into the headwaters of Lake Houston, the source of drinking water for 2 million people.
Over the years, I’ve written more than 50 posts featuring the Triple PG sand mine in Porter. The mine first came to my attention on May 18, 2019. I was giving Tony Buzbee, then a candidate for Mayor of Houston, a tour of sediment buildups in the San Jacinto watershed. As we turned a corner on Caney Creek, we came to a giant breach in the dike of the Triple PG mine.
Triple PG Breach to Caney Creek photographed in May of 2019.
I immediately reported the breach to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). TCEQ manages water quality in the State. And Triple PG was directly discharging industrial wastewater into the creek.
On October 11, 2019, the Attorney General of Texas sued the Triple PG mine on behalf of the TCEQ. The charges alleged violations of Chapter 26 of the Texas Water Code and related TCEQ rules pertaining to the discharge of industrial waste and process wastewater.
Mere days after the Texas Attorney General (AG) filed a lawsuit against Triple P.G. Sand Development, the mine’s owner transferred ownership of the mine. Even though the transfer was recorded in October 2019, the attorney general says the papers were dated in the prior January — before the unauthorized discharges that triggered the lawsuit.
This appeared to be an attempt to shield assets from liability. Subsequently, the AG filed an amended petition on June 17, 2020, adding five defendants:
Guniganti Family Property Holdings, L.L.C.
Prabhakar R. Guniganti, individually
Prabhakar R. Guniganti, as Director of Triple P.G. Sand Development, L.L.C.
Prabhakar R. Guniganti, as sole manager of Guniganti Family Property Holdings, L.L.C.
Guniganti Children’s 1999 Trust.
The next week, on June 24, 2020, the defendant’s counsel withdrew from the case.
On July 8, 2020, the judge granted a motion to substitute counsel. Then, everything ground to a halt. During Covid, judges reportedly granted any request for a delay. And nothing happened for almost 2 years!
Susan Jablonski, head of TCEQ’s Enforcement Division, says she’s looking forward to deposing defendants. TCEQ has met with the AG on a monthly basis. Right now, they are preparing subpoenas for four depositions.
But with Guniganti listed in the case as an individual, it could be harder for him to shield assets.
The Attorney General seeks $1.1 million in damages plus $25,000 per day for every day that the dikes remained open. By my estimates the dikes remained open approximately 5 months. That could add up to millions more.
That case also involves sedimentation. Plaintiffs allege that defendants’ business practices caused sediment to be released from mines during Harvey. Further, they allege that that sediment reduced the conveyance of the San Jacinto and the storage capacity of Lake Houston, contributing to the flooding of their homes.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/27/22
1732 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/2020/06/20200616-RJR_4335.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=18001200adminadmin2022-05-27 16:56:212022-05-27 17:07:47Triple PG Sand Mine Case Finally Starting Discovery
May 26, 2022, marked the official completion of a 40-year, $480-million flood-mitigation project in the Brays Bayou Watershed. Project Brays was the largest project in Harris County Flood Control District’s history. It included:
21 miles of channel modifications
Construction of four stormwater detention basins that cover more than 800 acres
Reconstruction of 32 bridges
Miles of hike and bike trails
Benefits of Project Brays
The Texas Medical Center, one of the major economic engines of the City lies within the Brays watershed. No one at the ceremony promised Brays would never flood again. But they did emphasize how Project Brays reduced flood risk. They also emphasized how that could benefit entire communities, not just individual structures.
The detention basins alone will hold more than 3.5 billion gallons of stormwater. That’s a foot of rain falling across 17 square miles!
According to County Judge Lina Hidalgo, the combination of improvements will reduce flood depth by an average of 2 feet.
The project reduced flood risk for more than 15,000 structures in the Brays Bayou Watershed where 775,000 people live. According to HCFCD statistics, 58% of those residents have low-to-moderate incomes (less than half the average for the region).
Ribbon cutting on Project Brays near Hermann Park
Rare Moment of Bipartisan Appreciation
The theme for the ribbon-cutting ceremony was “partnership” between Federal, State, County and City authorities. More than half a dozen different speakers spread the kudos around. The project could not have happened without the cooperation of all of them and their predecessors.
Colonel Timothy Vail of the U.S. Army Corps called the partnerships in this project the “most sophisticated” he has ever seen during a career that has taken him around the world.
And Judge Lina Hidalgo gave a nod to the past as well as the present. She thanked past Flood Control District executives, such as Russ Poppe, Matt Zeve and Mike Talbott. They helped start this project and advance it for decades. She also thanked Poppe and Zeve for architecting the flood bond, which reversed “decades of investment that simply was not aggressive enough.”
Hidalgo also stated that regulations were not aggressive enough before the flood bond. For instance, she cited buyouts that took place as part of Project Brays and said that those homes would never have been safe no matter what the partners did to mitigate flooding.
Project Milestones
It’s interesting to see “what happened when” on this project, recognizing that the pace depended on funding – or lack thereof – as Hidalgo acknowledged.
Early 1980s
U.S,. Army Corps of Engineers began the study of Brays Bayou.
1991
Design and engineering began on the Brays Bayou Federal Flood Damage Reduction Project.
1993
Construction of the first stormwater detention basin at Arthur Story Park began.
2004
Excavation of Brays Bayou main channel began.
2005
Freshwater Marsh at Mason Park was completed.
2008
Arthur Storey Park and Old Westheimer Stormwater Detention Basin completed.
2015
Eldridge Stormwater Detention Basin completed.
2017
Control Structures at Eldridge, Old Westheimer, and Arthur Storey completed.
Channel modifications from Houston Ship Channel to Fondren Road completed.
2022
Final bridge construction projects and overall Project Brays completed.
(Note: since originally posting this story, I learned that minor work remains on three bridges even though the bridges are open to traffic. HCFCD decided to hold the ceremony when it did to avoid hurricane season and because of the impending transfer of Colonel Vail who played a key role in this project.)
A Helicopter Flight Up Brays Bayou Before Completion of Construction
In June of 2021, I flew a helicopter from one end of Brays Bayou to the other, when many of the improvements were still under construction. See the photos below.
Brays Bayou at the ship channel.Railroad bridge being upgradednear Tipps Street.New Bridge over Brays at South 75th. Widening of a channel may require a new bridge OR the widening of supports under the bridge.288 and Brays. Bridge construction on Almeda.Looking NE toward Med Center and downtown in background across another new bridge over Brays. Note the electrical infrastructure next to the bayou.Looking NE toward downtown where Fannin St. crosses Brays at UT Health Science Center.Looking NE toward downtown in background along Main Street. Medical Center is in middle of frame.Looking north across new bridge over Brays along Buffalo Speedway toward Greenway Plaza in background.Looking east toward downtown along Brays just inside of Loop 610 at detention pond. Note sewage treatment plant across bayou.SW Corner of Loop 610 looking toward downtown in upper right.Same intersection south of Galleria area. Note complexity where seven streams of traffic intersect.Looking north at new bridge over Brays at Chimney RockLooking WSW across same new bridge at Hillcroft. Note wide spans and wings designed to prevent erosion.Looking NNE at Hilcroft and North Braeswood Blvd.
Stormwater Detention Basins
Arthur Storey Park at Beltway 8 West and Bellaire Blvd. Looking N toward Westchase District.Southern part of same park. Looking NE across BW8 West.One of the five compartments in the Willow Water Hole Stormwater Detention Basin near S. Post Oak and US 90.Two northeastern compartments within Willow Water Hole complexon either side of South Post Oak Road.From page 57 of HCFCD 2019 Federal Briefing. Note all of the projects recently funded, completed or under construction.
Projects like Brays don’t happen spontaneously. This took decades of planning and collaboration. So, we should all remember that progress in flood mitigation can sometimes take decades. And that public safety requires reaching across party lines and generations.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/20220526-Screen-Shot-2022-05-26-at-6.27.25-PM.jpg?fit=1200%2C628&ssl=16281200adminadmin2022-05-26 18:49:012022-05-27 17:30:18$480 Million Project Brays Complete After 40 Years
Deep in The Heart: A Texas Wildlife Story
I often post about the loss of forests and wetlands to development and how that affects flooding. But the loss also affects wildlife. A new movie, Deep in the Heart: A Texas Wildlife Story, follows our ever-changing relationship with the natural world. It showcases our ability to destroy, conserve, and recover wildlife and habitat. The producers tell the story through the eyes of wildlife.
First Blue-Chip Wildlife Documentary About Texas
This gorgeous documentary about Texas wildlife opens in theaters on June 3, 2022.
MovieInsider.com calls Deep in The Heart, “The first blue-chip wildlife documentary ever produced about Texas.” And the trailer certainly lives up to that promise.
The producers say, “Deep in the Heart is a visually stunning celebration of what makes Texas unique. Its diverse landscapes and remarkable wildlife behavior cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
“Narrated by Matthew McConaughey and featuring state-of-the-art cinematography, this family-friendly film journeys from the highest peaks in West Texas, through our aquifers, rivers, and bays, and deep into the Gulf of Mexico.
“Deep in the Heart aims to conserve our remaining wild places, to show the connectivity of water and wildlife, and to recognize Texas’ conservation importance on a continental scale.”
Distinguished Producers and Sponsors
Deep in the Heart was written and directed by Ben Masters; and produced by Katy Baldock and Jay Kleberg.
A consortium of foundations made the film possible. The primary sponsor was Texan by Nature, founded in 2011 by former First Lady Laura Bush. Texan by Nature (TxN) unites landowners, business, conservation, and civic leaders who believe Texas’ prosperity depends on conservation of natural resources. Learn more at www.texanbynature.org.
Where to See The Film
The film is in limited distribution at only seven Houston theaters. The closest to the Lake Houston Area: the Regal Benders Landing on the Grand Parkway between I-45 and I-69. Check here for show times.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/28/2022 with thanks to Pamela Davidson for the heads up on this movie
1733 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Triple PG Sand Mine Case Finally Starting Discovery
Discovery will soon begin in the Texas Attorney General’s case against the Triple PG sand mine in Porter. The AG is suing the mine on behalf of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). TCEQ investigations documented repeated breaches of the mine’s dikes over a period of several years prior to filing the lawsuit. The breaches allegedly resulted in the release of hundreds of millions of gallons of industrial waste into the headwaters of Lake Houston, the source of drinking water for 2 million people.
Brief History of Case
Over the years, I’ve written more than 50 posts featuring the Triple PG sand mine in Porter. The mine first came to my attention on May 18, 2019. I was giving Tony Buzbee, then a candidate for Mayor of Houston, a tour of sediment buildups in the San Jacinto watershed. As we turned a corner on Caney Creek, we came to a giant breach in the dike of the Triple PG mine.
I immediately reported the breach to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). TCEQ manages water quality in the State. And Triple PG was directly discharging industrial wastewater into the creek.
TCEQ investigated and found not one, but TWO breaches. The second was on White Oak Creek (far side of the mine in photo above). The TCEQ investigation resulted in a notice of enforcement on July 12, 2019.
Later, close examination on my own part revealed even more breaches in hard to reach places that could only be seen from a helicopter.
In September 2019, I photographed the breaches still open. And on October 1, I noted a mouth bar rapidly developing on the East Fork.
On October 11, 2019, the Attorney General of Texas sued the Triple PG mine on behalf of the TCEQ. The charges alleged violations of Chapter 26 of the Texas Water Code and related TCEQ rules pertaining to the discharge of industrial waste and process wastewater.
The mine continued to operate under an injunction. One stipulation: that the mine build “engineered” dikes that prevented future discharges. But in early November 2019, boater Josh Alberson, photographed a flimsy dike built out of sand across the Caney Creek breach.
On November 1, 2019, Triple PG denied all claims by the Texas Attorney General in the State’s lawsuit.
In March 2020, TCEQ reported another unauthorized discharge of process wastewater. Suspended solids in the discharge were up to 676% higher than levels in unpolluted water measured upstream.
The mine continued to operate under a temporary injunction until the case was supposed to have gone to trial on June 22 that year. But the case did NOT go to trial then. Covid and legal maneurvering delayed it.
Legal Maneuvering
Mere days after the Texas Attorney General (AG) filed a lawsuit against Triple P.G. Sand Development, the mine’s owner transferred ownership of the mine. Even though the transfer was recorded in October 2019, the attorney general says the papers were dated in the prior January — before the unauthorized discharges that triggered the lawsuit.
This appeared to be an attempt to shield assets from liability. Subsequently, the AG filed an amended petition on June 17, 2020, adding five defendants:
The next week, on June 24, 2020, the defendant’s counsel withdrew from the case.
On July 8, 2020, the judge granted a motion to substitute counsel. Then, everything ground to a halt. During Covid, judges reportedly granted any request for a delay. And nothing happened for almost 2 years!
The next entry in the Travis County Court records was in April 2022. It was a conference among the lawyers and judge designed to jumpstart the case.
Next Up: Subpoenas and Depositions
Susan Jablonski, head of TCEQ’s Enforcement Division, says she’s looking forward to deposing defendants. TCEQ has met with the AG on a monthly basis. Right now, they are preparing subpoenas for four depositions.
Meanwhile, Guniganti is selling off land. His name appears on plans for Royal Pines, a new residential development now clearing land west of his mine.
But with Guniganti listed in the case as an individual, it could be harder for him to shield assets.
The Attorney General seeks $1.1 million in damages plus $25,000 per day for every day that the dikes remained open. By my estimates the dikes remained open approximately 5 months. That could add up to millions more.
It’s good to see movement on this case.
Class Action Suit Also Pending
Triple PG is also a defendant in a class action lawsuit against dozens of sand mines in the San Jacinto watershed by approximately 1000 plaintiffs. In that case, the trial court refused the defendants’ motion to dismiss. The defendants then appealed. But the appellate court found no reversible error, affirmed the trial court’s order and ordered the sand mines involved to pay all costs of the appeal. That happened on May 10, 2022. The trial is already moving forward.
That case also involves sedimentation. Plaintiffs allege that defendants’ business practices caused sediment to be released from mines during Harvey. Further, they allege that that sediment reduced the conveyance of the San Jacinto and the storage capacity of Lake Houston, contributing to the flooding of their homes.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/27/22
1732 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.
$480 Million Project Brays Complete After 40 Years
May 26, 2022, marked the official completion of a 40-year, $480-million flood-mitigation project in the Brays Bayou Watershed. Project Brays was the largest project in Harris County Flood Control District’s history. It included:
Benefits of Project Brays
The Texas Medical Center, one of the major economic engines of the City lies within the Brays watershed. No one at the ceremony promised Brays would never flood again. But they did emphasize how Project Brays reduced flood risk. They also emphasized how that could benefit entire communities, not just individual structures.
According to County Judge Lina Hidalgo, the combination of improvements will reduce flood depth by an average of 2 feet.
The project reduced flood risk for more than 15,000 structures in the Brays Bayou Watershed where 775,000 people live. According to HCFCD statistics, 58% of those residents have low-to-moderate incomes (less than half the average for the region).
Rare Moment of Bipartisan Appreciation
The theme for the ribbon-cutting ceremony was “partnership” between Federal, State, County and City authorities. More than half a dozen different speakers spread the kudos around. The project could not have happened without the cooperation of all of them and their predecessors.
New Flood Control District Executive Director Dr. Tina Petersen introduced the partners present.
Colonel Timothy Vail of the U.S. Army Corps called the partnerships in this project the “most sophisticated” he has ever seen during a career that has taken him around the world.
Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle emphasized how funding brought to the table by various sources enabled the acceleration of projects.
Houston City Council Member Carolyn Evans-Shabazz said, “We need to stop being divisive and start being decisive.”
Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher described how the area’s congressional delegation was able to bring money to the area through the Water Resources Development Act.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner discussed how projects like this can only happen if multiple partners cooperate.
Past Contributors Acknowledged
And Judge Lina Hidalgo gave a nod to the past as well as the present. She thanked past Flood Control District executives, such as Russ Poppe, Matt Zeve and Mike Talbott. They helped start this project and advance it for decades. She also thanked Poppe and Zeve for architecting the flood bond, which reversed “decades of investment that simply was not aggressive enough.”
Hidalgo also stated that regulations were not aggressive enough before the flood bond. For instance, she cited buyouts that took place as part of Project Brays and said that those homes would never have been safe no matter what the partners did to mitigate flooding.
Project Milestones
It’s interesting to see “what happened when” on this project, recognizing that the pace depended on funding – or lack thereof – as Hidalgo acknowledged.
Early 1980s
U.S,. Army Corps of Engineers began the study of Brays Bayou.
1991
Design and engineering began on the Brays Bayou Federal Flood Damage Reduction Project.
1993
Construction of the first stormwater detention basin at Arthur Story Park began.
2004
Excavation of Brays Bayou main channel began.
2005
Freshwater Marsh at Mason Park was completed.
2008
Arthur Storey Park and Old Westheimer Stormwater Detention Basin completed.
2015
Eldridge Stormwater Detention Basin completed.
2017
Control Structures at Eldridge, Old Westheimer, and Arthur Storey completed.
2018
Willow Waterhole Stormwater Detention Basin completed.
2021
Channel modifications from Houston Ship Channel to Fondren Road completed.
2022
Final bridge construction projects and overall Project Brays completed.
(Note: since originally posting this story, I learned that minor work remains on three bridges even though the bridges are open to traffic. HCFCD decided to hold the ceremony when it did to avoid hurricane season and because of the impending transfer of Colonel Vail who played a key role in this project.)
A Helicopter Flight Up Brays Bayou Before Completion of Construction
In June of 2021, I flew a helicopter from one end of Brays Bayou to the other, when many of the improvements were still under construction. See the photos below.
Stormwater Detention Basins
Projects like Brays don’t happen spontaneously. This took decades of planning and collaboration. So, we should all remember that progress in flood mitigation can sometimes take decades. And that public safety requires reaching across party lines and generations.
For more information, visit www.projectbrays.org.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/26/22
1731 Days since Hurricane Harvey