8/5/2026 – In 2020 – three years after Hurricane Harvey – the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) applied for $500,000 grant from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to study Joint Reservoir Operations between Lake Conroe and Lake Houston. They hoped they could reduce flooding through better coordination of releases from the two dams.
March 2026 Public Input Session in Humble
Earlier this year, SJRA held a public input session at the Humble Civic Center where it outlined the goals of the study and listened to dozens of downstream residents still harboring PTSD from flooding and angry about delays.
At the event, SJRA said it would present its conclusions this FALL in The Woodlands. Now, five months later, the schedule has slipped to Spring 2027. See the screen capture below from SJRA’s website.
Matt Barrett, PE, SJRA’s Water Resources and Flood Management Division Manager, offered this explanation for the delay in an email.
Barrett said, “We are budgeting more time for reviews due to the number of partners involved. A couple other items that impacted the schedule and may delay the report are the modeling for the pre-release analysis, as well as required coordination with the ongoing Lake Houston Gates Project. We also expect a fair amount of stakeholder engagement.”
At the July SJRA Board Meeting, General Manager Aubrey Spear said that the Joint Operations study could not be done before the gate design was completed. Spear said he would have more information at the October SJRA Board Meeting. Mr. Sprear’s comments about the study begin at about 14:30 into this video and last for about 3 minutes.
Mr. Spear addressing SJRA Board Members at their 7/23/26 meeting.
Houston City Council Member Fred Flickinger said today that the part of the Gates project that the SJRA needs to finish its work should be ready in 4-6 weeks.
Before Mr. Spear concluded his remarks at the SJRA Board Meeting, he spent another minute addressing the status of SJRA’s long-delayed sand-trap study, which has been sitting on the shelf for more than four years.
No SJRA Study Results Implemented Yet
SJRA has conducted a number of studies since Hurricane Harvey. They include a:
Study for building regional detention basins on Birch and Walnut Creeks, (far upstream on Spring Creek).
Yet nine years after Harvey, to my knowledge…
No drainage recommendations from any of these studies have ever been constructed.
The 661-page Birch and Walnut Creek study took so long that recommendations could not be implemented. By the time it was finished, the land had been sold to developers. A large solar farm was already built on one of the parcels needed when the SJRA Board reviewed the results and decided to take no action.
I hope the same does not happen with the Joint Ops study. Downstream residents desperately need something actionable this time from the SJRA.
One expert familiar with the issues involved told me, “Frankly, there’s no reason this study could not have moved forward long ago. It’s about procedures and operations. If the design of the gates changes, just update the procedure manual.”
Plea for Downstream Involvement
At every SJRA Board meeting, one or more residents from Lake Conroe speak during the public comments to oppose any pre-release. Downstream residents rarely if ever appear. So, the “no pre-release” mantra goes unchallenged. The SJRA Board needs to hear opposing points of view if downstream residents ever hope to see recommendations from the Joint Ops study implemented.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/5/2026
3263 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/2026/08/SJRA-Board-Meeting.png?fit=1646%2C914&ssl=19141646adminadmin2026-08-05 17:02:142026-08-06 08:54:08SJRA Announces More Delays on Joint Reservoir Operations Study
7/4/2026 – Yesterday, the Texas General Land Office (GLO) posted Amendment 22 to its Hurricane Harvey $5.6 billion State Action Plan for public comment. That began a 30-day public comment period is required under federal law. The GLO administers disaster aid for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development in Texas.
Cover of Amendment 22 to GLO’s Harvey Action Plan
Allocation and Language Updates
The proposed amendment updates funding allocations and administrative language to better align available resources with current program needs. It also supports the effective and strategic expenditure of federal disaster recovery funds. And it ensures continued implementation of Hurricane Harvey recovery programs.
Table 1 (pages 11-13) summarizes the financial impact of the changes.
State of Texas – Total + $3.1 Million
State of Texas – City of Houston Homeowner Assistance + $1.7 million
State of Texas – Affordable Rental – $2.4 million
State of Texas – Housing Project Delivery + $3.8 million
City of Houston – Total -$3.1 million
City of Houston – Single Family Development – $1.4 million
City of Houston – Economic Revitalization – $1.7 million
City of Houston – Multi-Family Rental +$12.7 thousand
City of Houston – Public Services –$12.7 thousand
Two financial changes to City programs offset each other.
Two more, totaling $3.1 million, will send money back to the State. Using that, plus a decrease of $2.4 million from the State’s own Affordable Rental program, the State will bump up the totals for its Houston Homeowner Assistance Program and Housing Project Delivery.
On pages 7-8, you can find an index to text changes in the 493-page Action Plan. But at the end of the day, most could have been handled in a casual conversation around the water cooler.
Usually they amount to less need than anticipated in one category, so they shift money where the need is greater than anticipated.
The totals all offset and balance each other, like debits and credits. But hats off to GLO for its transparency and thoroughness.
Submit all comments to cdr@recovery.texas.govby 5:00 p.m. on September 2, 2026. Per federal requirements, the GLO must respond to public comments before the amendment can be sent to HUD for final approval.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/4/2027
3262 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Amendment-22-Cover.jpg?fit=1100%2C771&ssl=17711100adminadmin2026-08-04 17:48:102026-08-04 17:48:11Public Comment Period Opens for Amendment 22 to GLO’s Harvey Action Plan
Since Dr. Tina Petersen’s last update on 5/1/2026, the new schedule shows that, of 28 projects in the Disaster Relief (DR) and Mitigation (MIT) groups, expected completion dates have:
Marcus Stuckett, new Executive Director of HCFCD, at Taylor Gully/Woodridge Groundbreaking on 7/20/26
Of an additional seven neighborhood drainage projects, six should finish before the end of this year.
Beating the CDBG Clock
Stuckett replaced Petersen a little more than a month ago. Petersen resigned under pressure when it finally became clear that the county could lose hundreds of millions of dollars due to missed deadlines on CDBG jobs.
As Petersen came under increasing pressure, she developed a plan with the Texas General Land Office (GLO). The plan applied spending from three different types of CDBG jobs against the $322 million designated for the DR group. Those have the tightest deadline – February 28, 2027. Just seven months away!
The other two types of projects being applied against the DR total include Mitigation (MIT) and neighborhood drainage.
By applying spending from the latter two groups against the DR total, HCFCD hopes to meet its obligation to spend $322 million by the end of February, 2027. Worst case, HCFCD will reduce its potential losses.
Only $56.77 million has been spent to date in the DR and MIT groups, with $67.33 million in the neighborhood drainage group. Those total $124.1 million. That means…
…the $322 million finish line is still $197.9 million away.
Calculated from HCFCD spreadsheet submitted to Commissioners Court for 8/6/26 meeting.
How Deep is the Hole?
This transmittal shows that Stuckett still needs to get HCFCD out of a deep hole that Petersen left HCFCD in.
About one third of the $322 million has been spent to date.
That leave two thirds to spend within the next seven months.
Seven months represents about 15 percent of the time between the announcement of the CDBG-DR award and the deadline for spending it.
So, HCFCD must spend the remaining two thirds in 15 percent of the time.
That’s a tall order. It’s sad that Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia defended Stuckett’s predecessor to the bitter end and delayed her exit by a year or more as the CDBG funds fell into a deeper and deeper hole.
Now, it will take extraordinary effort to climb out of that hole.
The spreadsheet submitted by Stuckett for the next commissioners court meeting is extremely detailed: about 40 lines deep by 51 columns across.
Such updates will hopefully let commissioners discuss any concerns they have. And help HCFCD answer their questions.
In the next few months, accurate and timely updates will also show whether the current “running rate” will get us to the $322 million finish line in time.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/1/26
3259 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/2026/08/Stuckett-at-Woodridge-Groundbreaking.jpg?fit=1100%2C733&ssl=17331100adminadmin2026-08-01 17:07:542026-08-01 18:44:27HCFCD Still Has Steep Hill to Climb on CDBG Projects
SJRA Announces More Delays on Joint Reservoir Operations Study
8/5/2026 – In 2020 – three years after Hurricane Harvey – the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) applied for $500,000 grant from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to study Joint Reservoir Operations between Lake Conroe and Lake Houston. They hoped they could reduce flooding through better coordination of releases from the two dams.
March 2026 Public Input Session in Humble
Earlier this year, SJRA held a public input session at the Humble Civic Center where it outlined the goals of the study and listened to dozens of downstream residents still harboring PTSD from flooding and angry about delays.
At the event, SJRA said it would present its conclusions this FALL in The Woodlands. Now, five months later, the schedule has slipped to Spring 2027. See the screen capture below from SJRA’s website.
Proffered Reasons for Delays
Matt Barrett, PE, SJRA’s Water Resources and Flood Management Division Manager, offered this explanation for the delay in an email.
Barrett said, “We are budgeting more time for reviews due to the number of partners involved. A couple other items that impacted the schedule and may delay the report are the modeling for the pre-release analysis, as well as required coordination with the ongoing Lake Houston Gates Project. We also expect a fair amount of stakeholder engagement.”
At the July SJRA Board Meeting, General Manager Aubrey Spear said that the Joint Operations study could not be done before the gate design was completed. Spear said he would have more information at the October SJRA Board Meeting. Mr. Sprear’s comments about the study begin at about 14:30 into this video and last for about 3 minutes.
Houston City Council Member Fred Flickinger said today that the part of the Gates project that the SJRA needs to finish its work should be ready in 4-6 weeks.
Before Mr. Spear concluded his remarks at the SJRA Board Meeting, he spent another minute addressing the status of SJRA’s long-delayed sand-trap study, which has been sitting on the shelf for more than four years.
No SJRA Study Results Implemented Yet
SJRA has conducted a number of studies since Hurricane Harvey. They include a:
Yet nine years after Harvey, to my knowledge…
The 661-page Birch and Walnut Creek study took so long that recommendations could not be implemented. By the time it was finished, the land had been sold to developers. A large solar farm was already built on one of the parcels needed when the SJRA Board reviewed the results and decided to take no action.
I hope the same does not happen with the Joint Ops study. Downstream residents desperately need something actionable this time from the SJRA.
One expert familiar with the issues involved told me, “Frankly, there’s no reason this study could not have moved forward long ago. It’s about procedures and operations. If the design of the gates changes, just update the procedure manual.”
Plea for Downstream Involvement
At every SJRA Board meeting, one or more residents from Lake Conroe speak during the public comments to oppose any pre-release. Downstream residents rarely if ever appear. So, the “no pre-release” mantra goes unchallenged. The SJRA Board needs to hear opposing points of view if downstream residents ever hope to see recommendations from the Joint Ops study implemented.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/5/2026
3263 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.
Public Comment Period Opens for Amendment 22 to GLO’s Harvey Action Plan
7/4/2026 – Yesterday, the Texas General Land Office (GLO) posted Amendment 22 to its Hurricane Harvey $5.6 billion State Action Plan for public comment. That began a 30-day public comment period is required under federal law. The GLO administers disaster aid for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development in Texas.
Allocation and Language Updates
The proposed amendment updates funding allocations and administrative language to better align available resources with current program needs. It also supports the effective and strategic expenditure of federal disaster recovery funds. And it ensures continued implementation of Hurricane Harvey recovery programs.
Table 1 (pages 11-13) summarizes the financial impact of the changes.
Two financial changes to City programs offset each other.
Two more, totaling $3.1 million, will send money back to the State. Using that, plus a decrease of $2.4 million from the State’s own Affordable Rental program, the State will bump up the totals for its Houston Homeowner Assistance Program and Housing Project Delivery.
On pages 7-8, you can find an index to text changes in the 493-page Action Plan. But at the end of the day, most could have been handled in a casual conversation around the water cooler.
Usually they amount to less need than anticipated in one category, so they shift money where the need is greater than anticipated.
The totals all offset and balance each other, like debits and credits. But hats off to GLO for its transparency and thoroughness.
Review and Comment
Review the amendment at https://www.glo.texas.gov/sites/default/files/documents/disaster-recovery/public-notice/5b-sap-amend22.pdf
Submit all comments to cdr@recovery.texas.gov by 5:00 p.m. on September 2, 2026. Per federal requirements, the GLO must respond to public comments before the amendment can be sent to HUD for final approval.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/4/2027
3262 Days since Hurricane Harvey
HCFCD Still Has Steep Hill to Climb on CDBG Projects
8/1/26 – A transmittal from Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) to Commissioners Court for their 8/6/26 meeting shows the updated status of all Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Projects.
Since Dr. Tina Petersen’s last update on 5/1/2026, the new schedule shows that, of 28 projects in the Disaster Relief (DR) and Mitigation (MIT) groups, expected completion dates have:
However, schedule delays exceeded gains by a total of 862 days. I assume that’s due to more accurate reporting under HCFCD’s new Executive Director Marcus Stuckett.
Of an additional seven neighborhood drainage projects, six should finish before the end of this year.
Beating the CDBG Clock
Stuckett replaced Petersen a little more than a month ago. Petersen resigned under pressure when it finally became clear that the county could lose hundreds of millions of dollars due to missed deadlines on CDBG jobs.
As Petersen came under increasing pressure, she developed a plan with the Texas General Land Office (GLO). The plan applied spending from three different types of CDBG jobs against the $322 million designated for the DR group. Those have the tightest deadline – February 28, 2027. Just seven months away!
The other two types of projects being applied against the DR total include Mitigation (MIT) and neighborhood drainage.
By applying spending from the latter two groups against the DR total, HCFCD hopes to meet its obligation to spend $322 million by the end of February, 2027. Worst case, HCFCD will reduce its potential losses.
Only $56.77 million has been spent to date in the DR and MIT groups, with $67.33 million in the neighborhood drainage group. Those total $124.1 million. That means…
How Deep is the Hole?
This transmittal shows that Stuckett still needs to get HCFCD out of a deep hole that Petersen left HCFCD in.
That’s a tall order. It’s sad that Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia defended Stuckett’s predecessor to the bitter end and delayed her exit by a year or more as the CDBG funds fell into a deeper and deeper hole.
Now, it will take extraordinary effort to climb out of that hole.
The spreadsheet submitted by Stuckett for the next commissioners court meeting is extremely detailed: about 40 lines deep by 51 columns across.
Such updates will hopefully let commissioners discuss any concerns they have. And help HCFCD answer their questions.
In the next few months, accurate and timely updates will also show whether the current “running rate” will get us to the $322 million finish line in time.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/1/26
3259 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.