News - Reduce Flooding

Mysterious black spots in Laurel Springs RV Resort Detention Pond

Laurel Springs RV Resort Update: Mysterious Black Spots and Other News

In the two weeks since I last posted about the “RV Resort” under construction on Laurel Springs Lane, a lot has happened. Among other things, I’ve noticed contractors repeatedly covering up black spots in the detention pond that have a habit of mysteriously reappearing.

Mysterious Black Spots Keep Reappearing

*Photo taken 3/5/22. Note difference of color in puddles just inches from each other.*

*Wide shot also taken on 3/5 shows bulldozer filling in one black area while another leaks into pond*. *Note streak in water and see below.*

*Also taken 3/5. Pond was being manually pumped into Lakewood Cove Storm sewer* *system* *and thence into Lake Houston.* *The pumping explains the streak.*

*On 3/10/22, I noted these black areas at the western end of the pond emerging from freshly bulldozed areas.*

*Photo taken 3/11. The situation was worse and the bulldozers were back.*

*On 3/14, the floor of the detention pond had been smoothed out, but the black spots were making another embarrassing comeback.*

I have dozens of other shots that show similar patterns. But you get the idea.

I asked the Railroad Commission if they could identify oil seepage from photos. The answer was no. But they did send an investigator out. Unfortunately, he arrived after everything had been covered up.

The contractor acknowledged the black spots, but claimed they were just seepage from rotting mulch. But why would a contractor place mulch below an area being excavated? That would just raise the level of the pond they were deepening. The mystery continues.

The Railroad Commission of Texas found no records of abandoned oil or gas wells on this property, although many are nearby.

As a show of good faith, I wish the developer would have an independent lab confirm what this stuff is now that it’s being pumped to a storm sewer system that feeds into Lake Houston.

Other Recent Activity

In other news:

The developer has removed hundreds of truckloads of debris from below the detention pond.
They have excavated material from the southern walls of the pond and moved it north. This effectively shifted the pond back onto the developer’s property while elevating other portions of the property.
Contractors erected posts for what appears will be a chain link fence at the southern edge of the resort.
Contractors have finished tying the detention pond into the Lakewood Cove Storm Sewer system.
They also installed more underground drainage throughout the property.

The photographs below illustrate the points above.

*Photo taken 2/23/22 shows part of debris pulled up from south of detention pond. Also note the black spots in the detention pond.*

*Taken 3/16/22.* *Photo courtesy of reader. Used with permission.* *Note fence posts along left.* *These would appear to confirm the property boundary.*

*The detention pond intake valve in the foreground is now connected with the pump housings on higher ground. However, the pumps may not yet be installed. And the housing still looks sealed off.* *Photo taken 3/15/22.*

*Additional dirt is being brought in to raise the elevation of the site.* *Photo taken 3/13/22. Note water still ponding on site from a half inch of rain on 3/15. This soil is not as porous as the stormwater pollution prevention plan claims.*

*Rebar being laid for the next concrete pour* *on 3/14/22.*

Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/16/22

1660 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.

New Caney ISD West Fork High School March Construction Update

One of the largest construction projects currently underway in the Kingwood Area is New Caney ISD’s West Fork High School, south of the HCA Kingwood Medical Center. New Caney ISD provided degrees of completion for all the trades associated with the project as of March 2022.

Athletic fields and structures – 70%
Concrete masonry 65%
Rough electrical – 80%
Rough mechanical – 80%
Rough plumbing – 90%
Insulation – 75%
Windows – 65%
Interior metal studs – 85%
Exterior paint – 50%
Curtain wall – 65%
Exterior storefront – 90%
Concrete paving, parking lot and driveways – 95%
Gas service – 90%
Water service – 80%
Sidewalks – 45%
Interior gypsum board – 65%
Interior paint 20%
Ceramic tile – 10%
Sorters Road storm drain – 90%
Rough grade – 75%

Aerial Photos from 3/13/22

Here’s what that looks like. Aerial photos show the exterior of the main building and athletic facilities rapidly nearing completion.

*Looking NE at New Caney ISD West Fork High School. HCA Kingwood Medical Center is white complex in background near horizon.*

*New ball fields. US59 runs left to right across top of frame. North is left.*

*Field house, football field and track. Looking east toward US 59.*

*Looking SW toward Sorters-McClellan Road.*

*The detention pond will need some erosion repair before this project is done.*

*Sorters-McClellan Road is being expanded to handle the increased traffic. Looking N from over detention pond.*

*Looking S at widening of Sorters-McClellan Road*. *Note proximity to West Fork and 59 Bridge in background.*

Compare with Previous Updates

To see how the project has progressed, compare these previous posts.

New Caney ISD expects to complete the project this summer. It is one of the District’s 2018 bond projects.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/15/2022

1659 Days since Hurricane Harvey

Crenshaw Secures Funding for Local Flood Mitigation Projects

U.S. Congressman Dan Crenshaw of the Texas Second Congressional District has secured $26.4 million earmarked for six specific flood-mitigation projects in his district. They include:

Appropriations for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies

$1.6 million for Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) for the Taylor Gully channel improvements.
$1.6 million for HCFCD’s Kingwood Diversion Ditch improvements.
$1.67 million for Harris County for the Forest Manor drainage-improvement project in Huffman.
$3.39 million for Memorial City Redevelopment Authority’s detention-basin improvements.

Homeland Security Appropriations

$8.2 million through Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Community Project Funding for the Westador Basin Stormwater Detention Basin.
$9.9 million through FEMA’s Community Project Funding for the TC Jester stormwater detention basin.

Necessary Projects, Not Pork

Kaaren Cambio, District Director for Congressman Crenshaw, pointed out that “Our earmarks were just for necessary flooding projects that the county has not funded.”

Earmarks made a comeback this year for the first time since they were banned in 2010. This Houston Chronicle story points out the pros, cons and restrictions of the new earmark system. The amounts are limited. And representatives can have no financial connection to the projects. The key word is “necessary.” This money is NOT for building bridges to nowhere just to bring money to a district.

The need for the two projects in the Kingwood Area became apparent only after the completion of the Kingwood Area Drainage Study. The projects had not been identified when the flood bond passed.

Kingwood Diversion Ditch Improvements

These improvements will divert stormwater runoff from Bens Branch to lower the risk of structural flooding along the portion of Bens Branch within the Kingwood area. This project will also provide capacity to allow for future neighborhood drainage improvements that outfall into the Diversion Ditch and Bens Branch.

The Kingwood Diversion Channel was constructed with expansion in mind. So HCFCD will only need to acquire minimal additional right-of-way. The project includes:

Channel conveyance improvements
A concrete diversion structure from the confluence at Bens Branch in Montgomery County
A new proposed outfall into the West Fork San Jacinto River.

This project will remove 62 existing structures from the 100-year floodplain inundation area. It will also provide capacity for future drainage improvements that benefit an additional 586 structures – 295 and 291 from along the Diversion Ditch and Bens Branch respectively.

The proposed improvements also provide increased flood protection for Kingwood High School and Saint Martha Catholic School.

Taylor Gully Improvements

An engineering study found the upper portion of Taylor Gully insufficient. Large numbers of structures have flooded upstream of Rustling Elms Drive. This project will restore a 100-year level of service for Taylor Gully from the upper limits of the channel to Maple Bend Drive.

*Rustling Elms Bridge over Taylor Gully during peak of May 7, 2019 flood.*

The improvements include maintaining the existing top of banks, and constructing a concrete 20 foot by 6 foot (max) low flow channel section. This will remove 387 structures from the 100-year floodplain inundation area. It will also provide capacity for future improvements that could benefit an additional 62 structures.

Forest Manor Project in Huffman

The project would help reduce flood risk for 98 homes. Less than 15% of homes in the subdivision are in the regulatory FEMA 100-year floodplain, yet more than 40% of the homes have reported flood claims in recent years (with 30% consisting of repetitive losses).

Memorial City

The project will improve and deepen an existing detention basin. It will also better connect adjacent roads (Windhover, Westview, Cedardale, and Demaret) with the improved stormwater infrastructure. Stormwater capture will prevent structural and roadway flooding, and reduce non-point source pollutants from flood events. These pollutants result from structural and private property flooding. They include pollutants such as oil, grease, debris, and other contaminants. Without mitigation, these pollutants would end up in Galveston Bay.

TC Jester Detention Basin

This stormwater detention mitigation project will reduce flood damage within the Cypress Creek Watershed. It will retain storm runoff, and reduce floodplain width and depth. Approximately 2689 structures are currently at risk of riverine flooding during a 100-year rain. This proposed project will capitalize on an existing Harris County detention pond with an additional 0.18 acres of wetlands to create a basin footprint of 25 acres. The proposed project will capture overbank flooding so that water elevation in a 100-year storm does not exceed 0.49 feet. This proposed project will remove 87 structures from the existing 100-year floodplain. When complete, the full detention basin will remove 271 structures from the floodplain.

Cypress Creek Westador Basin

The Cypress Creek Westador Stormwater Detention will significantly reduce flood risk, the floodplain, and water levels. Phase I will be functionally independent of this multi-phase project and will remove 128 structures from the existing 100-year floodplain.

Thanks to Crenshaw and Staff

Many thanks to Congressman Dan Crenshaw and his staff. These projects will make a difference for thousands of people who have flooded repeatedly.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/14/22

1658 Days since Hurricane Harvey