Harris County Commissioners today approved a drainage study for Atascocita. The agenda item read, “Recommendation to initiate and proceed with planning, right-of-way acquisition, design and construction of general drainage improvements in the Atascocita area. (San Jacinto River Watershed, Bond ID F-15, HCFCD Unit G103-00-00, Precincts 2 and 4). The bond allocates $10 million for all of that.
Project Area and Scope
Atascocitaproject area. Roughly half is in Precinct 2 and half in Precinct 4.
Sources at HCFCD say that the project will follow the model of the Kingwood Drainage Assessment. It will identify where the worst flooding occurs and where to attack first.
People in Atascocita have waited a long time for this project to kick off. We’re now about two weeks from the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Harvey.
When complete, this project will identify streams, channel types, ownership, current level of service, improvements, rights of way needed, cost estimates and detention estimates for all the projects considered in the Atascocita area.
One of Last Projects in Flood Bond to Start
The project had been deferred until now because it fell into the fourth quartile of the equity prioritization framework. Accordingly, the Atascocita study will be one of the last projects to be initiated in the bond program. Sources at HCFCD say that soon, all projects will have started – a major milestone.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/10/2021
1442 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/20210810-21-3947-NEW-BOND-PROJECT-G103-00-00-PCT-2-4-backup.jpg?fit=927%2C1200&ssl=11200927adminadmin2021-08-10 18:37:072021-08-10 18:37:10Harris County Commissioners Approve Atascocita Drainage Study
This morning, Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) announced an award of nearly $250 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to remove accumulated sediment from eight watersheds. They include:
Willow Creek
White Oak Bayou
Spring Creek
Little Cypress Creek
Greens Bayou
Cypress Creek
Barker Reservoir
Addicks Reservoir
Cypress Creek erosion near TC Jester. Photographed on 7/24/2021.
Removing More than 2 Million Cubic Yards Deposited by Harvey
Extreme flooding from Hurricane Harvey deposited the sediment when banks eroded and in some cases collapsed.
“This award allows us to continue the huge task of removing sediment from Flood Control District channels. It is estimated that more than 2.13 million cubic yards of sediment accumulated in multiple watersheds during the storm – enough to fill 213,000 dump trucks,” said Alan Black, Harris County Flood Control District Interim Executive Director.
$6.25 Million Leverages Almost a Quarter Billion
“It will take several years to complete construction, but this award will allow us to make repairs to the drainage system and to restore the facility back to pre-disaster design, capacity and function. The federal cost share for this project is 90 percent, which allows our local taxpayer dollars to go further. We are extremely thankful to FEMA and TDEM (Texas Division of Emergency Management),” he continued.
The Flood Control District will be responsible for the remaining 10 percent of the project cost. However, thanks to legislation passed by the Texas State Legislature in 2019, which established the Texas Infrastructure Resiliency Fund – Hurricane Harvey Account, the State of Texas is expected to reimburse up to 75 percent of that local share, bringing the total cost to the Flood Control District down to approximately $6.25 million.
Construction to Start in Late 2022
According to Black, the cutting edge methods used by the Flood Control District team have rarely, if ever, been used on such a scale and took several years of close collaboration with TDEM and FEMA to receive approval.
As we have seen with other projects since Harvey, this is a complex process involving multiple steps. The money first has to work its way down from Washington. Then HCFCD must get it from TDEM. After that come preliminary engineering, final engineering, permitting, bidding, and approvals.
HCFCD expects first construction to start sometime in late 2022.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/9/2021
1441 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/20210724-DJI_0189.jpg?fit=1200%2C746&ssl=17461200adminadmin2021-08-09 12:49:212021-08-09 12:49:43FEMA Awards Nearly $250 Million to HCFCD for Sediment Removal
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is currently tracking two tropical disturbances in the Atlantic Basin. The one closest to the Caribbean rates a 70% chance of development. The system is not currently a threat to the Gulf of Mexico but you should keep your eye on it.
Invest 94L is the red.
Invest 94L
According to the NHC, showers and thunderstorms have become more concentrated this morning in association with a low pressure system located about 150 miles east of Barbados.
Environmental conditions favor additional development. A tropical depression will likely form later today or tonight while the low moves west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph.
The disturbance will reach portions of the Lesser Antilles tonight. It will move near the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Tuesday and reach Hispaniola around the middle of this week. Tropical storm watches or warnings could be required today with shorter-than-normal lead times for portions of the Lesser Antilles, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
In addition, heavy rains and flooding are likely for the Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
Radar from Barbados along with satellite images show a broad and elongated area of low pressure with scattered to numerous areas of disorganized convection. Details on the exact track will be important as to determine how much the system will interact with the island chain.
Jeff Lindner, Harris County’s meteorologist warns that, “While the system is currently no immediate threat to Texas, residents should at least keep an eye on the forecast for updates over the next week.”
Second Area Less of a Threat
Disorganized showers and thunderstorms have changed little in association with an elongated low pressure area located several hundred miles east of the Lesser Antilles. Development of this system is becoming less likely during the next few days while it moves toward the west or west-southwest at around 10 mph. Formation chance through 5 days…low…20 percent.
Preparedness
The peak of hurricane season is just a little more than a month away. This is the time of year when you should become serious about preparedness if you haven’t already done so.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/9/2021 based on information from the NHC and HCFCD
1441 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/two_atl_5d0-1.png?fit=900%2C665&ssl=1665900adminadmin2021-08-09 11:51:092021-08-09 11:57:33Tropical Wave 94L Approaching Barbados This Morning
Harris County Commissioners Approve Atascocita Drainage Study
Harris County Commissioners today approved a drainage study for Atascocita. The agenda item read, “Recommendation to initiate and proceed with planning, right-of-way acquisition, design and construction of general drainage improvements in the Atascocita area. (San Jacinto River Watershed, Bond ID F-15, HCFCD Unit G103-00-00, Precincts 2 and 4). The bond allocates $10 million for all of that.
Project Area and Scope
Sources at HCFCD say that the project will follow the model of the Kingwood Drainage Assessment. It will identify where the worst flooding occurs and where to attack first.
People in Atascocita have waited a long time for this project to kick off. We’re now about two weeks from the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Harvey.
When complete, this project will identify streams, channel types, ownership, current level of service, improvements, rights of way needed, cost estimates and detention estimates for all the projects considered in the Atascocita area.
One of Last Projects in Flood Bond to Start
The project had been deferred until now because it fell into the fourth quartile of the equity prioritization framework. Accordingly, the Atascocita study will be one of the last projects to be initiated in the bond program. Sources at HCFCD say that soon, all projects will have started – a major milestone.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/10/2021
1442 Days since Hurricane Harvey
FEMA Awards Nearly $250 Million to HCFCD for Sediment Removal
This morning, Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) announced an award of nearly $250 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to remove accumulated sediment from eight watersheds. They include:
Removing More than 2 Million Cubic Yards Deposited by Harvey
Extreme flooding from Hurricane Harvey deposited the sediment when banks eroded and in some cases collapsed.
“This award allows us to continue the huge task of removing sediment from Flood Control District channels. It is estimated that more than 2.13 million cubic yards of sediment accumulated in multiple watersheds during the storm – enough to fill 213,000 dump trucks,” said Alan Black, Harris County Flood Control District Interim Executive Director.
$6.25 Million Leverages Almost a Quarter Billion
“It will take several years to complete construction, but this award will allow us to make repairs to the drainage system and to restore the facility back to pre-disaster design, capacity and function. The federal cost share for this project is 90 percent, which allows our local taxpayer dollars to go further. We are extremely thankful to FEMA and TDEM (Texas Division of Emergency Management),” he continued.
The Flood Control District will be responsible for the remaining 10 percent of the project cost. However, thanks to legislation passed by the Texas State Legislature in 2019, which established the Texas Infrastructure Resiliency Fund – Hurricane Harvey Account, the State of Texas is expected to reimburse up to 75 percent of that local share, bringing the total cost to the Flood Control District down to approximately $6.25 million.
Construction to Start in Late 2022
According to Black, the cutting edge methods used by the Flood Control District team have rarely, if ever, been used on such a scale and took several years of close collaboration with TDEM and FEMA to receive approval.
As we have seen with other projects since Harvey, this is a complex process involving multiple steps. The money first has to work its way down from Washington. Then HCFCD must get it from TDEM. After that come preliminary engineering, final engineering, permitting, bidding, and approvals.
HCFCD expects first construction to start sometime in late 2022.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/9/2021
1441 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Tropical Wave 94L Approaching Barbados This Morning
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is currently tracking two tropical disturbances in the Atlantic Basin. The one closest to the Caribbean rates a 70% chance of development. The system is not currently a threat to the Gulf of Mexico but you should keep your eye on it.
Invest 94L
According to the NHC, showers and thunderstorms have become more concentrated this morning in association with a low pressure system located about 150 miles east of Barbados.
Environmental conditions favor additional development. A tropical depression will likely form later today or tonight while the low moves west-northwestward at 10 to 15 mph.
The disturbance will reach portions of the Lesser Antilles tonight. It will move near the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on Tuesday and reach Hispaniola around the middle of this week. Tropical storm watches or warnings could be required today with shorter-than-normal lead times for portions of the Lesser Antilles, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
In addition, heavy rains and flooding are likely for the Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
Radar from Barbados along with satellite images show a broad and elongated area of low pressure with scattered to numerous areas of disorganized convection. Details on the exact track will be important as to determine how much the system will interact with the island chain.
Jeff Lindner, Harris County’s meteorologist warns that, “While the system is currently no immediate threat to Texas, residents should at least keep an eye on the forecast for updates over the next week.”
Second Area Less of a Threat
Disorganized showers and thunderstorms have changed little in association with an elongated low pressure area located several hundred miles east of the Lesser Antilles. Development of this system is becoming less likely during the next few days while it moves toward the west or west-southwest at around 10 mph. Formation chance through 5 days…low…20 percent.
Preparedness
The peak of hurricane season is just a little more than a month away. This is the time of year when you should become serious about preparedness if you haven’t already done so.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/9/2021 based on information from the NHC and HCFCD
1441 Days since Hurricane Harvey