10/26/25 – Harris County Flood Control District construction spending has plummeted in recent years along with total spending. And a leading indicator – construction contract awards – doesn’t show much hope for improvement anytime soon.
Numbers Tell the Story
I’ve posted before about the decline in total spending. It ramped up sharply after voters approved the flood bond in the third quarter of 2018. But then it started dropping relentlessly. The decline largely coincided with a management change made by the Democratic-controlled commissioners court.
The last bar on the right includes only three quarters. But at the current rate, 2025 will equal about $166 million – down about a third from 2024.
Total spending includes many activities besides construction. But flood risk isn’t reduced until construction is finished. And we see a similar decline in construction spending that started when HCFCD management changed at the start of 2022.
But the graphs above only show activity in the rear-view mirror. Looking forward, the picture is equally bleak.
Approved Bids: A Leading Indicator for Construction
Few new projects have had construction contracts awarded in the past year. Of the 16 construction contracts awarded in the previous four quarters, 14 have been for maintenance to existing assets.
Only two, both in White Oak Bayou, have been for new capital assets – the Yale and Arbor Oaks Stormwater Detention Basins. See below.
The prospects for flood-risk improvement in the immediate future look bleak for the vast majority of the county.
HCFCD awarded the construction contract for Arbor Oaks in Q2 this year. But excavation had not yet started as of late September 2025.
Deadline Rapidly Approaching for Grants Totaling $321 Million
The Texas General Land Office (GLO) and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved 11 projects for Community Development Block Grants in the Disaster Relief category (CDBG-DR).
The 11 projects including Arbor Oaks total $321 million dollars. But to get the money, HCFCD must complete the projects by February 28, 2027, to meet HUD’s deadline.
However, construction will need to be completed by December 2026 – thirteen months away – because it generally takes two to three months to administratively close out CDBG grants.
But according to HCFCD’s most recent bid outlook, flood control won’t even advertise eight of the 10 remaining projects until next year. And another slipped off the radar altogether.
Phase II of the Brookglen Stormwater Detention Basin received authorization to use government funds in August 2024. Yet HCFCD doesn’t even anticipate advertising it for bids until November 2025 – 15 months. That’s more time than HCFCD has to complete construction.
Little time remains to complete projects of this magnitude. And HCFCD has not explained how it will complete them before the deadline. HUD has already said they will not grant any more extensions.
This represents a real risk. Harris County residents could lose $321 million of Federal funding for important flood damage reduction projects.
The Chronicle reported that Hidalgo said, “What we found was there was no paper trail. There was no qualifications, information, selection committee, evaluation scoring — no documentation whatsoever.”
The Chronicle story added, “Flood control initially promised to reform its contracting process by August 2024, but has since asked for multiple extensions.”
Sound familiar?
No Apparent Sense of Urgency
HCFCD had only four items on the agenda for the 10/30/25 Commissioners Court meeting. Not one of the four items had to do with any of the ten CDBG-DR projects above. One involved a contract name change; the other three involved small property acquisitions.
HCFCD has billions of dollars waiting to be used. But at this moment, not one new capital improvement project is being bid.
Call me old fashioned, but I believe in “pay for performance.” I wonder what metrics Hidalgo used to recommend such a bump in pay. How can someone get paid so much to accomplish so little?
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/26/25
2980 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/2025/10/Construction-.png?fit=1322%2C776&ssl=17761322adminadmin2025-10-26 10:48:382025-11-23 22:46:04HCFCD Construction Spending Continues to Plummet
10/24/25 @ 5PM– FEMA and the National Weather Service Houston/Galveston office have issued a flood watch for the Houston region that will last until October 26 at 5:00AM CDT. See details below.
WHAT
Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible.
WHERE
A portion of southeast Texas, including the following areas, Austin, Bolivar Peninsula, Brazoria Islands, Brazos, Burleson, Chambers, Coastal Brazoria, Coastal Galveston, Coastal Harris, Coastal Matagorda, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston Island, Grimes, Houston, Inland Brazoria, Inland Galveston, Inland Harris, Inland Matagorda, Madison, Matagorda Islands, Montgomery, Northern Liberty, Polk, San Jacinto, Southern Liberty, Trinity, Walker, Waller, Washington and Wharton.
WHEN
From late tonight through early Sunday morning.
IMPACTS
Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
Although soils are dry ahead of this heavy rainfall event, guidance for high rainfall rates suggests some instances of flash flooding. There will be two rounds of heavy rainfall with the first one being late Friday night into Saturday morning and then again Saturday evening into early Sunday morning.
Expect widespread rainfall totals of 2-4″ with isolated higher amounts up to 4-6″. Rainfall rates in the strongest storms could exceed 2-3″ per hour. That could lead to flash flooding if these rainfall rates occur for a prolonged period of time.
We will see a lull in the activity late Saturday morning into the afternoon. That will allow for drainage. So, the flood threat is primarily driven by the potential for high rainfall rates.
You should monitor forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.
RadarScope Image
At 4:15 PM, a large complex of thunderstorms moving across the Hill Country could clearly be seen on radar images.
From Radarscope Pro at 4:15 PM on 10/24/25 using multiple radar sensors.
The warning areas within the boxes above currently indicate:
Hail from 1″ to 2.5″ in diameter
Winds up to 60 MPH
Rainfall of 1′ to 2″ per hour
Jeff Lindner, Harris County Meteorologist, says tornadoes are possible.
The first line of thunderstorms should move through the Lake Houston area shortly before sunrise Saturday.
Second Line of Thunderstorms Expected Saturday Afternoon
Lindner added that a second round of storms looks to develop Saturday afternoon across the Brazos Valley. It should push southeast across our area. This threat will last from mid to late afternoon well into the evening hours on Saturday. The activity will move from northeast to southeast across the area.
ABC13’s future track predicted the Lake Houston area accumulations could approach six inches of rain after the second round clears the area.
The break between rounds of storms should reduce stream and channel flooding.
Lake Report
Lake Conroe is already down a foot and not releasing water.
Lake Houston is down almost half a foot and releasing water at the rate of 4,500 cubic feet per second. The City hopes to lower the lake by a foot ahead of the storm.
Stay Weather Aware
Keep an eye on the sky. Monitor weather forecasts and lake reports. Here’s how.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Radarscope-4P-10.24.25.png?fit=2178%2C1368&ssl=113682178adminadmin2025-10-24 16:59:362025-10-24 19:39:40FEMA Issues Flood Watch for Entire Houston Region
10/23/25 – Houston District E City Council Member Fred Flickinger announced this afternoon that the City will lower the level of Lake Houston one foot beginning tomorrow morning. The reason: a severe storm arriving Friday night into Saturday morning could dump 2-4 inches of rain over widespread parts of the Lake Houston Watershed. Isolated higher totals up to 6″ are possible where training of thunderstorm cells occurs.
Training refers to a line of thunderstorms that follows a similar path, so that one after another dumps rain on the same neighborhoods.
NOAA’s Severe Storm Center has issued alerts for possible street flooding this weekend for areas that receive high amounts of rain in short periods.
The San Jacinto River Authority is also monitoring rainfall forecasts for the weekend, but has not yet announced whether it will lower Lake Conroe. That lake is already a foot low due to evaporation during the drought. So it likely has enough capacity to absorb the coming rainfall.
Current Lake Level Report as of 5:30 PM 10/23/25
Lake Houston:
Lake Houston is currently at 42.12 feet (normal pool is 42.4 feet). Its gates will be opened beginning tomorrow morning to lower the lake one foot below normal pool, according to pre-release protocols.
Property owners along the lake should secure their shoreline property. Lake Houston levels can be monitored here.
As of 5:30 PM 10/23/25
Lake Conroe:
Lake Conroe is currently at 199.98 feet (normal pool is 201 feet). Lake Conroe levels can be monitored here.
Monitor Official Sources for Current Information:
Periods of moderate to heavy rainfall may continue through late Saturday night or early Sunday morning.
Please use verified news sources for inclement weather information. These include:
Flash flooding is possible. So, stay weather aware and avoid roadways if possible during rain events.
It only takes 6 inches of water to move a car.
HCFCD
Always turn around, don’t drown.
Monitor Travel Conditions Closely with AlertHouston.org
Stay informed of current conditions and avoid traveling near creeks and bayous.
Timely information during emergencies is important. AlertHouston delivers critical information to Houston residents regarding current conditions, expected impacts, and protective actions to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.
Register for emergency alerts through email, text message, voice call, or mobile app push notifications. Most alerts are geo-targeted; subscribers with loved ones around the city may register up to five physical addresses per contact record. Sign up today at www.alerthouston.org.
Threat Starts Friday, But Expect Heaviest Weather on Saturday
As atmospheric lift increases into Friday night and Saturday, showers and thunderstorms will become more numerous. Jeff Lindner, Harris County’s Meteorologist, says that the potential exists for a complex of storms to form over West Texas Friday evening and move toward the Houston area by sunrise Saturday.
This would likely be the first round of more sustained heavy rainfall, according to Lindner. More rain will linger back to the west, so additional thunderstorms and rainfall could develop into Saturday evening.
A few of the thunderstorms on Saturday could become strong to severe with damaging winds and hail being the main threats. However, they do not appear to threaten widespread areas at the moment. Lindner says wind and hail are secondary to the heavy rainfall threat at the moment.
NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center has placed nearly all of the area under a “marginal” or level 1 out of 5 severe threat for Saturday.
PivotalWeather.com predicts accumulated rainfall in Harris and Montgomery Counties to reach approximately 3.5 inches with higher accumulations to our north and east. But this could change as the storm gets nearer.
Drought May Offset Potential Stream Flooding
Given recent dry conditions, much of this rainfall can be handled. In fact, it is much needed…as long as it does not fall all at once.
NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center has placed the area under a “slight” risk or level 2 out of 4 for flash flooding on Saturday.
Lindner feels that at this time, bayous and creeks should be capable of handling even the higher predicted rainfall totals. He expects to see significant rises on area streams, but feels significant flooding is unlikely at this time.
Lindner also feels that strong southerly winds will push high tides along the coast 4-5 feet higher than normal. Building seas and higher-than-normal tides could create minor coastal flooding at high tides.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/23/25 at 5:30pm
2977 days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Severe-Weather-Outlook-Saturday-10.25.png?fit=1094%2C816&ssl=18161094adminadmin2025-10-23 17:48:402025-10-23 17:49:32City Lowering Lake Houston in Advance of Flood Threat
HCFCD Construction Spending Continues to Plummet
10/26/25 – Harris County Flood Control District construction spending has plummeted in recent years along with total spending. And a leading indicator – construction contract awards – doesn’t show much hope for improvement anytime soon.
Numbers Tell the Story
I’ve posted before about the decline in total spending. It ramped up sharply after voters approved the flood bond in the third quarter of 2018. But then it started dropping relentlessly. The decline largely coincided with a management change made by the Democratic-controlled commissioners court.
The last bar on the right includes only three quarters. But at the current rate, 2025 will equal about $166 million – down about a third from 2024.
Total spending includes many activities besides construction. But flood risk isn’t reduced until construction is finished. And we see a similar decline in construction spending that started when HCFCD management changed at the start of 2022.
But the graphs above only show activity in the rear-view mirror. Looking forward, the picture is equally bleak.
Approved Bids: A Leading Indicator for Construction
Few new projects have had construction contracts awarded in the past year. Of the 16 construction contracts awarded in the previous four quarters, 14 have been for maintenance to existing assets.
Only two, both in White Oak Bayou, have been for new capital assets – the Yale and Arbor Oaks Stormwater Detention Basins. See below.
All of the rest simply restore functionality. So…
HCFCD awarded the construction contract for Arbor Oaks in Q2 this year. But excavation had not yet started as of late September 2025.
Deadline Rapidly Approaching for Grants Totaling $321 Million
The Texas General Land Office (GLO) and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved 11 projects for Community Development Block Grants in the Disaster Relief category (CDBG-DR).
The 11 projects including Arbor Oaks total $321 million dollars. But to get the money, HCFCD must complete the projects by February 28, 2027, to meet HUD’s deadline.
However, construction will need to be completed by December 2026 – thirteen months away – because it generally takes two to three months to administratively close out CDBG grants.
But according to HCFCD’s most recent bid outlook, flood control won’t even advertise eight of the 10 remaining projects until next year. And another slipped off the radar altogether.
Phase II of the Brookglen Stormwater Detention Basin received authorization to use government funds in August 2024. Yet HCFCD doesn’t even anticipate advertising it for bids until November 2025 – 15 months. That’s more time than HCFCD has to complete construction.
Little time remains to complete projects of this magnitude. And HCFCD has not explained how it will complete them before the deadline. HUD has already said they will not grant any more extensions.
This represents a real risk. Harris County residents could lose $321 million of Federal funding for important flood damage reduction projects.
Hidalgo Says Audit Revealed Contracting Irregularities
Meanwhile, according to a Houston Chronicle story published on 10/22/25, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo “called for renewed scrutiny of the Harris County Flood Control District after a recent audit found transparency issues in its contracting process.”
The Chronicle reported that Hidalgo said, “What we found was there was no paper trail. There was no qualifications, information, selection committee, evaluation scoring — no documentation whatsoever.”
The Chronicle story added, “Flood control initially promised to reform its contracting process by August 2024, but has since asked for multiple extensions.”
Sound familiar?
No Apparent Sense of Urgency
HCFCD had only four items on the agenda for the 10/30/25 Commissioners Court meeting. Not one of the four items had to do with any of the ten CDBG-DR projects above. One involved a contract name change; the other three involved small property acquisitions.
HCFCD has billions of dollars waiting to be used. But at this moment, not one new capital improvement project is being bid.
And yet earlier this year, HCFCD’s executive director received a pay increase of $90,000 to $434,000.
Call me old fashioned, but I believe in “pay for performance.” I wonder what metrics Hidalgo used to recommend such a bump in pay. How can someone get paid so much to accomplish so little?
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/26/25
2980 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 Issues Flood Watch for Entire Houston Region
10/24/25 @ 5PM– FEMA and the National Weather Service Houston/Galveston office have issued a flood watch for the Houston region that will last until October 26 at 5:00AM CDT. See details below.
WHAT
Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible.
WHERE
A portion of southeast Texas, including the following areas, Austin, Bolivar Peninsula, Brazoria Islands, Brazos,
Burleson, Chambers, Coastal Brazoria, Coastal Galveston, Coastal Harris, Coastal Matagorda, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston Island, Grimes, Houston, Inland Brazoria, Inland Galveston, Inland Harris, Inland Matagorda, Madison, Matagorda Islands, Montgomery, Northern Liberty, Polk, San Jacinto, Southern Liberty, Trinity, Walker, Waller, Washington and Wharton.
WHEN
From late tonight through early Sunday morning.
IMPACTS
Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.
Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
Although soils are dry ahead of this heavy rainfall event, guidance for high rainfall rates suggests some instances of flash flooding. There will be two rounds of heavy rainfall with the first one being late Friday night into Saturday morning and then again Saturday evening into early Sunday morning.
Expect widespread rainfall totals of 2-4″ with isolated higher amounts up to 4-6″. Rainfall rates in the strongest storms could exceed 2-3″ per hour. That could lead to flash flooding if these rainfall rates occur for a prolonged period of time.
We will see a lull in the activity late Saturday morning into the afternoon. That will allow for drainage. So, the flood threat is primarily driven by the potential for high rainfall rates.
You should monitor forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.
RadarScope Image
At 4:15 PM, a large complex of thunderstorms moving across the Hill Country could clearly be seen on radar images.
The warning areas within the boxes above currently indicate:
Jeff Lindner, Harris County Meteorologist, says tornadoes are possible.
The first line of thunderstorms should move through the Lake Houston area shortly before sunrise Saturday.
Second Line of Thunderstorms Expected Saturday Afternoon
Lindner added that a second round of storms looks to develop Saturday afternoon across the Brazos Valley. It should push southeast across our area. This threat will last from mid to late afternoon well into the evening hours on Saturday. The activity will move from northeast to southeast across the area.
ABC13’s future track predicted the Lake Houston area accumulations could approach six inches of rain after the second round clears the area.
The break between rounds of storms should reduce stream and channel flooding.
Lake Report
Lake Conroe is already down a foot and not releasing water.
Lake Houston is down almost half a foot and releasing water at the rate of 4,500 cubic feet per second. The City hopes to lower the lake by a foot ahead of the storm.
Stay Weather Aware
Keep an eye on the sky. Monitor weather forecasts and lake reports. Here’s how.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/24/25 at 5PM
2978 Days since Harvey
City Lowering Lake Houston in Advance of Flood Threat
10/23/25 – Houston District E City Council Member Fred Flickinger announced this afternoon that the City will lower the level of Lake Houston one foot beginning tomorrow morning. The reason: a severe storm arriving Friday night into Saturday morning could dump 2-4 inches of rain over widespread parts of the Lake Houston Watershed. Isolated higher totals up to 6″ are possible where training of thunderstorm cells occurs.
Training refers to a line of thunderstorms that follows a similar path, so that one after another dumps rain on the same neighborhoods.
NOAA’s Severe Storm Center has issued alerts for possible street flooding this weekend for areas that receive high amounts of rain in short periods.
The San Jacinto River Authority is also monitoring rainfall forecasts for the weekend, but has not yet announced whether it will lower Lake Conroe. That lake is already a foot low due to evaporation during the drought. So it likely has enough capacity to absorb the coming rainfall.
Current Lake Level Report as of 5:30 PM 10/23/25
Lake Houston:
Lake Houston is currently at 42.12 feet (normal pool is 42.4 feet). Its gates will be opened beginning tomorrow morning to lower the lake one foot below normal pool, according to pre-release protocols.
Property owners along the lake should secure their shoreline property. Lake Houston levels can be monitored here.
Lake Conroe:
Lake Conroe is currently at 199.98 feet (normal pool is 201 feet). Lake Conroe levels can be monitored here.
Monitor Official Sources for Current Information:
Periods of moderate to heavy rainfall may continue through late Saturday night or early Sunday morning.
Please use verified news sources for inclement weather information. These include:
Flash flooding is possible. So, stay weather aware and avoid roadways if possible during rain events.
Always turn around, don’t drown.
Monitor Travel Conditions Closely with AlertHouston.org
Stay informed of current conditions and avoid traveling near creeks and bayous.
Timely information during emergencies is important. AlertHouston delivers critical information to Houston residents regarding current conditions, expected impacts, and protective actions to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.
Register for emergency alerts through email, text message, voice call, or mobile app push notifications. Most alerts are geo-targeted; subscribers with loved ones around the city may register up to five physical addresses per contact record. Sign up today at www.alerthouston.org.
Threat Starts Friday, But Expect Heaviest Weather on Saturday
As atmospheric lift increases into Friday night and Saturday, showers and thunderstorms will become more numerous. Jeff Lindner, Harris County’s Meteorologist, says that the potential exists for a complex of storms to form over West Texas Friday evening and move toward the Houston area by sunrise Saturday.
This would likely be the first round of more sustained heavy rainfall, according to Lindner. More rain will linger back to the west, so additional thunderstorms and rainfall could develop into Saturday evening.
A few of the thunderstorms on Saturday could become strong to severe with damaging winds and hail being the main threats. However, they do not appear to threaten widespread areas at the moment. Lindner says wind and hail are secondary to the heavy rainfall threat at the moment.
NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center has placed nearly all of the area under a “marginal” or level 1 out of 5 severe threat for Saturday.
PivotalWeather.com predicts accumulated rainfall in Harris and Montgomery Counties to reach approximately 3.5 inches with higher accumulations to our north and east. But this could change as the storm gets nearer.
Drought May Offset Potential Stream Flooding
Given recent dry conditions, much of this rainfall can be handled. In fact, it is much needed…as long as it does not fall all at once.
NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center has placed the area under a “slight” risk or level 2 out of 4 for flash flooding on Saturday.
Lindner feels that at this time, bayous and creeks should be capable of handling even the higher predicted rainfall totals. He expects to see significant rises on area streams, but feels significant flooding is unlikely at this time.
Lindner also feels that strong southerly winds will push high tides along the coast 4-5 feet higher than normal. Building seas and higher-than-normal tides could create minor coastal flooding at high tides.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/23/25 at 5:30pm
2977 days since Hurricane Harvey