Northpark Drive between Russell Palmer Drive and Loop 494 will be closed this Saturday night (2/12/22) from 8PM to Sunday 4AM.
Simultaneous Railroad and Ditch Maintenance
Northpark Drive looking east across 494 and railroad tracks. Note ponding water in ditch not moving farther down. Also note traffic backed up past Russell-Palmer. That’s 0.8 miles from the railroad tracks in the foreground.Photo was taken at 12:33PM on a Wednesday afternoon last July.Northpark Drive looking west across Russell-Palmer Road. Note siltation in ditch.
Union Pacific will perform maintenance on the Northpark Drive railroad crossing. And Montgomery County will perform ditch maintenance in the median from 494 to Russell-Palmer. The coordinated effort will reduce disruption to the public.
Detour Map
During the closure, westbound traffic will be re-routed down Northpark and out Kingwood Drive.
Eastbound traffic will be rerouted down 494 to Kingwood Drive and then back north on Woodland Hills.
Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin issued this traffic control plan with his press release.
Traffic detours in effect from 8PM Saturday through 4AM Sunday
Minimizing Traffic Delays
Since Union Pacific was shutting down the road anyway, Montgomery County Precinct 4 Commissioner Metts seized the opportunity de-litter and de-silt the ditch in the Northpark median between 494 and Russell-Palmer Drive. “Daytime/ weekday traffic in the area has become so heavy in recent years,” said Metts, “that it’s difficult to use heavy equipment. It causes major traffic problems and is dangerous for those working.”
Metts hopes to use the opportunity to improve drainage without causing unnecessary traffic delays.
Growth Pushing Ditch to Its Capacity Limit
In recent years, commercial growth has pushed the median ditch down Northpark to its limits. This will be welcome maintenance.
Water along this stretch of Northpark Drive flows toward the Kingwood Diversion Ditch behind the fireworks stand.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/11/22
1627 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/20210728-DJI_0259.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=17991200adminadmin2022-02-11 10:09:432022-02-11 12:15:47Northpark Drive Closed Saturday 8PM to Sunday 4AM
At approximately 1:30 AM on January 9, 2022, a tornado swept through Kingwood. Hard hit areas included Forest Cove and Trailwood Villages. The supercells that spawned the EF-1 Tornado also dumped approximately 5 inches of rain that morning. When the rain stopped, I ventured out and found cleanup crews already clogging the streets. I drove through the same areas today to gage the progress of repairs.
Tornado Aftermath Remains
Many homes have been fixed, re-roofed and re-painted. But many blue tarps still remain. Roofers will not soon run out of business.
And I saw two empty foundations where it looked like homeowners decided to start over.
The scenes were a testament to the power of nature and the determination of humankind.
Among the memorable scenes that remain, these two stand out.
Top of tree has hung upside down on utility wire for a month.Home devastated by January tornado in Forest Cove.
Tornado, Like Harvey, a Defining Moment
To me, the first shot symbolizes the chaotic and capricious nature of a tornado.
And the second symbolizes the overwhelming heartbreak. A home sawed in half by a fallen tree. Torrential rains streaming through the breach. Ceilings caving in, destroying contents. Mangled garage door. Fallen timber. Sawed, but not removed. This was an ordeal that would have tested the strongest among us.
It reminds me of Harvey’s aftermath. As I drive around Kingwood, I still see reminders. Vacant homes. Ongoing repairs. Shops that remain empty. Businesses struggling to recover. Still.
Physical Vs. Emotional Recovery
The repairs may be over for most. But the financial and emotional scars will last a lifetime. Trials such as these become defining moments. For people. And for communities. They represent a fork in the tree of life. They can build character. Or destroy futures.
The temptation after making physical repairs is to repress the pain of the past and move on with life. But I hope we never forget those who still struggle.
Posted by Bob Rehak on February 10, 2022
1626 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 31 since the January Tornado
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/20220210-RJR_9212-2.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=18001200adminadmin2022-02-10 14:04:272022-02-10 14:04:31Tornado Gone But Not Forgotten
Sprint Sand & Clay, the company hired by Harris County Flood Control to excavate 500,000 cubic yards of dirt from Woodridge Village, began hauling some of it to the controversial Laurel Springs RV Resort near Lakewood Cove this morning.
Wake-Up Calls
My phone started blowing up before breakfast with dozens of complaints about Sprint truck traffic. So, I began investigating. I first went to the Woodridge Village site. Drone photos and on-the-ground observations revealed that Sprint was indeed hauling dirt from the Woodridge Village excavation site.
SW corner of Woodridge Village taken Wednesday 2.9.22. Sprint trucks line up to haul off dirt.
I followed one of the trucks all the way to Laurel Springs Lane where I observed it dumping its load. Along the way and at each end, I saw many more Sprint trucks – up to four at a time. There was a veritable parade of dump trucks making round trips along Woodland Hills Drive, Kingwood Drive, Chestnut Ridge, and Laurel Springs Lane.
Orange truck from above enters RV site several minutes later and turns toward detention pond.The orange truck dumps its load just north of the pond near an area marked as the 500-year floodplain. Other equipment spreads it out.
Will Storm Drains Be Adequate?
Sprint trucks had also dumped dirt near a new “north entrance” to the site.
In the shot above, note the ponding water from 0.2 inches of rain more than a week ago. The contractor’s Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan describes this soil as “silty sand” to a depth of 18 inches (Page 18).
They may want to recheck that before installing more storm drains.
Other Issues Noted Today
Most trucks that I observed used what has now become the “south” entrance. The fresh load of bullrock laid down days ago has already been covered with mud. That accounts for all the dirt tracked into the street. While the storm sewers were still unprotected from dirt, at least a street sweeper was onsite today.Another unprotected storm sewer and contractor taking water from City fire hydrant. Photo courtesy of Robin Seydewitz.All the dump trucks I observed were this large size, not the kind that holds 10 cubic yards.
Good News/Bad News
The start of serious excavation at Woodridge Village comes as welcome news to the people of Elm Grove and North Kingwood Forest who flooded twice in 2019. However, it’s equally worrisome to the people of Forest Cove and Lakewood Cove. Many expressed concerns about potential flooding.
Risks from Building Up Land
Should existing residents be concerned about that? Yes, was the answer I got from one respected hydrologist who spoke on condition of anonymity. He likened the built-up area to a berm and said that “You don’t want a berm to stop overland sheet flow.”
The elevation survey shown below comes from the RV park’s Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan. It shows that the land naturally slopes from northeast to southwest. Building up the RV property would definitely prevent water from the NE from flowing in that direction. Sheet flow would divert south along Laurel Springs and put an evacuation route at risk.
Survey shown in developer’s Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan shows elevation going from 83.1 in the NE to 61.4 in the SW, a difference of more than 20 feet.
East to west along the southern boundary, the elevation drops from 67 feet at Laurel Springs to 61 feet near the railroad tracks.
Another risk is that sheet flow with nowhere else to go could back up Lakewood Cove storm sewers at the same time that the RV park is trying to pump water into them to compensate for its undersized detention pond.
If someone sustains water damage on their property due to a neighbor’s property, questions as to who may be liable may arise. Surface water runoff — most often caused by excess rainwater — is the common culprit. Texas law holds landowners responsible for damage to neighboring property due to diversion of surface water.
I received a copy of the RV Park’s SWPPP plan today from the TCEQ. Parts of it made me laugh out loud. For instance, the section about “Receiving Waters, Wetlands and Special Aquatic Sites” said:
“No existing wetlands or other special aquatic sites have been identified at or near this site [Emphasis added].”
Page 18 of Laurel Springs RV Park SWPPP prepared by Construction Eco Services
Obviously, they didn’t glance across the southern property line or consult the National Wetlands Database. I can’t wait to read the rest of this plan to uncover more gems.
From US Fish & Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory Mapper. The RV Park is going in just above the large green area labelled PF01A Future Edgewater Park.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/9/22
1625 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/20220209-DJI_0838-e1644458655903.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=17991200adminadmin2022-02-09 20:26:572022-02-09 23:01:35Dirt Excavated from Woodridge Being Used to Build Up Laurel Springs RV Resort
Northpark Drive Closed Saturday 8PM to Sunday 4AM
Northpark Drive between Russell Palmer Drive and Loop 494 will be closed this Saturday night (2/12/22) from 8PM to Sunday 4AM.
Simultaneous Railroad and Ditch Maintenance
Union Pacific will perform maintenance on the Northpark Drive railroad crossing. And Montgomery County will perform ditch maintenance in the median from 494 to Russell-Palmer. The coordinated effort will reduce disruption to the public.
Detour Map
During the closure, westbound traffic will be re-routed down Northpark and out Kingwood Drive.
Eastbound traffic will be rerouted down 494 to Kingwood Drive and then back north on Woodland Hills.
Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin issued this traffic control plan with his press release.
Minimizing Traffic Delays
Since Union Pacific was shutting down the road anyway, Montgomery County Precinct 4 Commissioner Metts seized the opportunity de-litter and de-silt the ditch in the Northpark median between 494 and Russell-Palmer Drive. “Daytime/ weekday traffic in the area has become so heavy in recent years,” said Metts, “that it’s difficult to use heavy equipment. It causes major traffic problems and is dangerous for those working.”
Metts hopes to use the opportunity to improve drainage without causing unnecessary traffic delays.
Growth Pushing Ditch to Its Capacity Limit
In recent years, commercial growth has pushed the median ditch down Northpark to its limits. This will be welcome maintenance.
Water along this stretch of Northpark Drive flows toward the Kingwood Diversion Ditch behind the fireworks stand.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/11/22
1627 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Tornado Gone But Not Forgotten
At approximately 1:30 AM on January 9, 2022, a tornado swept through Kingwood. Hard hit areas included Forest Cove and Trailwood Villages. The supercells that spawned the EF-1 Tornado also dumped approximately 5 inches of rain that morning. When the rain stopped, I ventured out and found cleanup crews already clogging the streets. I drove through the same areas today to gage the progress of repairs.
Tornado Aftermath Remains
Many homes have been fixed, re-roofed and re-painted. But many blue tarps still remain. Roofers will not soon run out of business.
And I saw two empty foundations where it looked like homeowners decided to start over.
The scenes were a testament to the power of nature and the determination of humankind.
Among the memorable scenes that remain, these two stand out.
Tornado, Like Harvey, a Defining Moment
To me, the first shot symbolizes the chaotic and capricious nature of a tornado.
And the second symbolizes the overwhelming heartbreak. A home sawed in half by a fallen tree. Torrential rains streaming through the breach. Ceilings caving in, destroying contents. Mangled garage door. Fallen timber. Sawed, but not removed. This was an ordeal that would have tested the strongest among us.
It reminds me of Harvey’s aftermath. As I drive around Kingwood, I still see reminders. Vacant homes. Ongoing repairs. Shops that remain empty. Businesses struggling to recover. Still.
Physical Vs. Emotional Recovery
The repairs may be over for most. But the financial and emotional scars will last a lifetime. Trials such as these become defining moments. For people. And for communities. They represent a fork in the tree of life. They can build character. Or destroy futures.
The temptation after making physical repairs is to repress the pain of the past and move on with life. But I hope we never forget those who still struggle.
Posted by Bob Rehak on February 10, 2022
1626 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 31 since the January Tornado
Dirt Excavated from Woodridge Being Used to Build Up Laurel Springs RV Resort
Sprint Sand & Clay, the company hired by Harris County Flood Control to excavate 500,000 cubic yards of dirt from Woodridge Village, began hauling some of it to the controversial Laurel Springs RV Resort near Lakewood Cove this morning.
Wake-Up Calls
My phone started blowing up before breakfast with dozens of complaints about Sprint truck traffic. So, I began investigating. I first went to the Woodridge Village site. Drone photos and on-the-ground observations revealed that Sprint was indeed hauling dirt from the Woodridge Village excavation site.
I followed one of the trucks all the way to Laurel Springs Lane where I observed it dumping its load. Along the way and at each end, I saw many more Sprint trucks – up to four at a time. There was a veritable parade of dump trucks making round trips along Woodland Hills Drive, Kingwood Drive, Chestnut Ridge, and Laurel Springs Lane.
Will Storm Drains Be Adequate?
In the shot above, note the ponding water from 0.2 inches of rain more than a week ago. The contractor’s Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan describes this soil as “silty sand” to a depth of 18 inches (Page 18).
They may want to recheck that before installing more storm drains.
Other Issues Noted Today
Good News/Bad News
The start of serious excavation at Woodridge Village comes as welcome news to the people of Elm Grove and North Kingwood Forest who flooded twice in 2019. However, it’s equally worrisome to the people of Forest Cove and Lakewood Cove. Many expressed concerns about potential flooding.
Risks from Building Up Land
Should existing residents be concerned about that? Yes, was the answer I got from one respected hydrologist who spoke on condition of anonymity. He likened the built-up area to a berm and said that “You don’t want a berm to stop overland sheet flow.”
The elevation survey shown below comes from the RV park’s Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan. It shows that the land naturally slopes from northeast to southwest. Building up the RV property would definitely prevent water from the NE from flowing in that direction. Sheet flow would divert south along Laurel Springs and put an evacuation route at risk.
East to west along the southern boundary, the elevation drops from 67 feet at Laurel Springs to 61 feet near the railroad tracks.
Another risk is that sheet flow with nowhere else to go could back up Lakewood Cove storm sewers at the same time that the RV park is trying to pump water into them to compensate for its undersized detention pond.
Texas Water Code
Chapter 11.086 of the Texas Water Code covers situations like these.
If someone sustains water damage on their property due to a neighbor’s property, questions as to who may be liable may arise. Surface water runoff — most often caused by excess rainwater — is the common culprit. Texas law holds landowners responsible for damage to neighboring property due to diversion of surface water.
If you find the legal wording in the water code difficult to understand, visit this Texas State Law Library page for resources written in plainer English.
SWPPP Plan Good for Laugh-Out-Loud Moment
I received a copy of the RV Park’s SWPPP plan today from the TCEQ. Parts of it made me laugh out loud. For instance, the section about “Receiving Waters, Wetlands and Special Aquatic Sites” said:
Obviously, they didn’t glance across the southern property line or consult the National Wetlands Database. I can’t wait to read the rest of this plan to uncover more gems.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/9/22
1625 Days since Hurricane Harvey