This morning, for the first time, I photographed dredging on the San Jacinto East Fork. It was a welcome site and one that hundreds of East Fork residents who flooded will appreciate.
Three Months After Plans Unveiled
It was back on July 9, 2021, that Stephen Costello, the City’s Chief Recovery Officer, unveiled the City’s plans to begin East Fork dredging. At the time, Costello said crews would have to dredge their way there through a shallow channel south of Royal Shores in Kingwood.
Finally, today, October 12, three months later, I photographed a barge moving straight through the channel and into the East Fork. I even had to move locations a couple time to keep the drone within range.
Drone Photos of East Fork Dredging from 10/12/2021
Two mechanical dredges on East Fork, just upstream from the entrance to Luce Bayou.
Today’s dredging location circled in red. Arrow points way back to where crews are depositing the spoils on the West Fork just south of River Grove Park.
Tug pushing empty pontoon through Royal Shores Channel toward East Fork (top). Looking SE. Note FM1960 Causeway in upper right.
Looking NE toward Luce Bayou on opposite shore to begin Dredging
Empty barge turns NNE. East Fork dredging location is around the finger that sticks out into the river from the upper left. After loading up with silt and sediment, the barge will return to the West Fork to deposit the spoils.
More Dredging $$$ Voted by Commissioners Today
This morning, in Harris County Commissioners Court, Agenda Item 102 passed unanimously without discussion. The motion will contribute $10 million from the Harris County 2018 flood bond funds to extend the dredging on the East Fork, West Fork, and Lake Houston, including the entrance to Rogers Gully.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/12/2021
1505 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 756 since Imelda
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/20211012-DJI_0526.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=17991200adminadmin2021-10-12 14:56:532021-10-12 15:16:52San Jacinto East Fork Dredging Begins
Below are updates on three items recently in the news: Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) Grants, Affordable Housing Investigations, and Subsidence.
Texas Water Development Board Grants Affecting Houston Region
Last week, I posted a story about flood mitigation assistance grants being considered by the TWDB. The Houston region qualified for eight and the TWDB approved them all…unanimously. However, the checks aren’t in the mail yet.
TWDB approved the following subject to FEMA final approval:
32 structures in Houston, Jersey Village, Pearland and Taylor Lake Village will receive financial assistance for elevating structures.
1421 structures in Bear Creek Village (near Addicks Reservoir and Highway 6) will see their drainage improved by Harris County Flood Control District HCFCD).
61 repetitive loss structures will be bought out by HCFCD.
1 hotel with a severe repetitive loss history dating back to 1979 will also be bought out by HCFCD.
40 repetitive-loss structures in Montgomery County will also be bought out.
FEMA requested more information for further review on each project. So when/if FEMA gives final approval to each of the above, they should be good to go. That usually happens by January.
Texas projects considered for further review by FEMA
Clear Lake Apartment Complex Recommended by Mayor
On September 21, the former director of Houston’s Housing and Community Development Department (HCDD) turned whistleblower and accused the mayor of recommending a multi-family housing deal in Clear Lake that was not in taxpayers’ best interests. It turns out the Mayor’s former law partner would have benefited by $15 million from the deal, but the department’s recommendations would have provided four times more affordable housing for essentially the same amount of money.
That ignited a firestorm in the media and on City Council. HUD, GLO, the County Attorney, and the City Attorney (with the help of two US Attorneys) and City Council are all investigating.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner at Kingwood’s last town hall meeting in October of 2018.
GMA-14 Makes Subsidence DFC Optional
For several years now, the state’s Groundwater Management Area 14 (GMA-14) in southeast Texas has struggled to define Desired Future Conditions (DFCs). These are long-term goals that address groundwater conservation and the maximum amount of subsidence allowable.
In each county in GMA 14, no less than 70 percent median available drawdown remaining in 2080 and no more than an average of 1.0 additional foot of subsidence between 2009 and 2080.
Initial DFCs
However, days before the final vote on this statement, State Senator Robert Nichols, intervened. He wrote a letter to each of GMA-14’s groundwater conservation district leaders “urging” them to make the subsidence metric optional. At that point, the debate ended. The final DFCs adopted by GMA-14 read:
In each county in Groundwater Management Area 14, no less than 70 percent median available drawdown remaining in 2080 or no more than an average of 1.0 additional foot of subsidence between 2009 and 2080.
This revised statement was quietly approved on October 5, 2021. At its January 5, 2022, meeting, GMA-14 will approve the report that accompanies the DFCs when they are submitted to the TDWB.
Of the five groundwater conservation districts in GMA-14, four voted for the new DFCs and one abstained. The new DFCs will likely be challenged in court by areas threatened by subsidence.
Makeup of Groundwater Management Area 14
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/11/2021
1504 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.
After finishing excavating silt from under the Kingwood Drive Bridge over Ben’s Branch, City crews are now doing the same under the bridge over the Diversion Ditch near the fire station on Kingwood Drive.
Before excavation began. Looking south at the Kingwood Drive Bridge over the Diversion Ditch in August.
Bridges are often chokepoints during floods because of their supports that reduce and sometimes slow the flow of water and contribute to sediment buildup.
Closer shot of same bridge, still looking south. Note sediment buildup. Also note how bridge supports catch debris.
The City of Houston is responsible for excavation under the bridges because the bridges are City property.
On Ben’s Branch, Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) had excavated both north and south of the bridge at Kingwood Drive. Then the City did its part.
Pictures of Work in Progress At Kingwood Drive.
However, at the Diversion Ditch Bridge, HCFCD has not yet begun excavation. CoH went first.
Dan Monks, a Kingwood resident, captured work in progress last week and gave ReduceFlooding.com permission to use his photos.
Photo By Dan Monks shows excavation in progress under east side of Kingwood Drive Bridge over Diversion Ditch.The City is stacking the dirt on the bank, letting it drain and then hauling it off. Another shot courtesy of Dan Monks. There’s still more work to do on the western side, but that should happen soon. Photo courtesy of Dan Monks.
The Second of Many Such Projects
According to Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin’s office, the City’s Public Works Department will also be investigating other bridges in the Kingwood area to see if they too need to have silt removed from under them. These projects aren’t glamorous, but they are necessary to restore conveyance of area ditches. HCFCD’s Kingwood Area Drainage Analysis showed that some area ditches were down to a 2-year level of service. That means they were so constricted that they would flood in a two-year rain.
Bridges along Kingwood Drive and Northpark Drive can least afford flooding. They are vital links in crucial evacuation routes.
Thanks to the folks in the District E Council Office and the Public Works Department for addressing these issues.
It’s not yet clear when HCFCD plans to start excavation of the Diversion Ditch in this area.
If you have photos you would like to share with the public, please submit them through the Submissions Page of this website.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/10/21
1503 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/20211006_154127.jpg?fit=1200%2C583&ssl=15831200adminadmin2021-10-10 20:41:252021-10-10 20:50:41CoH Excavating Silt from Diversion Ditch at Kingwood Drive
San Jacinto East Fork Dredging Begins
This morning, for the first time, I photographed dredging on the San Jacinto East Fork. It was a welcome site and one that hundreds of East Fork residents who flooded will appreciate.
Three Months After Plans Unveiled
It was back on July 9, 2021, that Stephen Costello, the City’s Chief Recovery Officer, unveiled the City’s plans to begin East Fork dredging. At the time, Costello said crews would have to dredge their way there through a shallow channel south of Royal Shores in Kingwood.
On July 11, I first photographed dredging in the channel.
On September 23rd, I photographed crews about three quarters of the way through the channel.
Finally, today, October 12, three months later, I photographed a barge moving straight through the channel and into the East Fork. I even had to move locations a couple time to keep the drone within range.
Drone Photos of East Fork Dredging from 10/12/2021
More Dredging $$$ Voted by Commissioners Today
This morning, in Harris County Commissioners Court, Agenda Item 102 passed unanimously without discussion. The motion will contribute $10 million from the Harris County 2018 flood bond funds to extend the dredging on the East Fork, West Fork, and Lake Houston, including the entrance to Rogers Gully.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/12/2021
1505 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 756 since Imelda
Flood Digest: Updates on TWDB Grants, Affordable Housing Investigations, Subsidence
Below are updates on three items recently in the news: Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) Grants, Affordable Housing Investigations, and Subsidence.
Texas Water Development Board Grants Affecting Houston Region
Last week, I posted a story about flood mitigation assistance grants being considered by the TWDB. The Houston region qualified for eight and the TWDB approved them all…unanimously. However, the checks aren’t in the mail yet.
TWDB approved the following subject to FEMA final approval:
FEMA requested more information for further review on each project. So when/if FEMA gives final approval to each of the above, they should be good to go. That usually happens by January.
Clear Lake Apartment Complex Recommended by Mayor
On September 21, the former director of Houston’s Housing and Community Development Department (HCDD) turned whistleblower and accused the mayor of recommending a multi-family housing deal in Clear Lake that was not in taxpayers’ best interests. It turns out the Mayor’s former law partner would have benefited by $15 million from the deal, but the department’s recommendations would have provided four times more affordable housing for essentially the same amount of money.
That ignited a firestorm in the media and on City Council. HUD, GLO, the County Attorney, and the City Attorney (with the help of two US Attorneys) and City Council are all investigating.
In the face of this withering onslaught, the Houston Chronicle today reported that the Mayor has dropped his recommendation to back his former law partner’s project in Clear Lake. The Mayor said he didn’t want it to become a “distraction.”
However, getting the genie back in the bottle may not be that simple. Since the Clear Lake deal imploded on September 22, 2021, more allegations of financial mismanagement arose in City Council last week.
Also this afternoon, investigative journalist Wayne Dolcefino issued a press release about a Federal lawsuit he filed. It alleges a cover-up at the Houston Housing Authority on other housing deals that appear to be linked to the same players Tom McCasland and the Mayor.
This has the stink of Watergate about it.
GMA-14 Makes Subsidence DFC Optional
For several years now, the state’s Groundwater Management Area 14 (GMA-14) in southeast Texas has struggled to define Desired Future Conditions (DFCs). These are long-term goals that address groundwater conservation and the maximum amount of subsidence allowable.
The Lonestar Groundwater Conservation District has denied subsidence exists in Montgomery County and stonewalled efforts to include a subsidence metric in DFCs.
Going into a board meeting last week, GMA 14 had proposed DFCs that read:
However, days before the final vote on this statement, State Senator Robert Nichols, intervened. He wrote a letter to each of GMA-14’s groundwater conservation district leaders “urging” them to make the subsidence metric optional. At that point, the debate ended. The final DFCs adopted by GMA-14 read:
This “opt-out option” defeats the purpose of even having a GMA and a subsidence metric.
This revised statement was quietly approved on October 5, 2021. At its January 5, 2022, meeting, GMA-14 will approve the report that accompanies the DFCs when they are submitted to the TDWB.
Of the five groundwater conservation districts in GMA-14, four voted for the new DFCs and one abstained. The new DFCs will likely be challenged in court by areas threatened by subsidence.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/11/2021
1504 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.
CoH Excavating Silt from Diversion Ditch at Kingwood Drive
After finishing excavating silt from under the Kingwood Drive Bridge over Ben’s Branch, City crews are now doing the same under the bridge over the Diversion Ditch near the fire station on Kingwood Drive.
Bridges are often chokepoints during floods because of their supports that reduce and sometimes slow the flow of water and contribute to sediment buildup.
The City of Houston is responsible for excavation under the bridges because the bridges are City property.
On Ben’s Branch, Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) had excavated both north and south of the bridge at Kingwood Drive. Then the City did its part.
Pictures of Work in Progress At Kingwood Drive.
However, at the Diversion Ditch Bridge, HCFCD has not yet begun excavation. CoH went first.
Dan Monks, a Kingwood resident, captured work in progress last week and gave ReduceFlooding.com permission to use his photos.
The Second of Many Such Projects
According to Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin’s office, the City’s Public Works Department will also be investigating other bridges in the Kingwood area to see if they too need to have silt removed from under them. These projects aren’t glamorous, but they are necessary to restore conveyance of area ditches. HCFCD’s Kingwood Area Drainage Analysis showed that some area ditches were down to a 2-year level of service. That means they were so constricted that they would flood in a two-year rain.
Bridges along Kingwood Drive and Northpark Drive can least afford flooding. They are vital links in crucial evacuation routes.
Thanks to the folks in the District E Council Office and the Public Works Department for addressing these issues.
It’s not yet clear when HCFCD plans to start excavation of the Diversion Ditch in this area.
If you have photos you would like to share with the public, please submit them through the Submissions Page of this website.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/10/21
1503 Days since Hurricane Harvey