6/25/26 – After 15 minutes in executive session this morning, Harris County Commissioners unanimously approved Marcus Stuckett as the new head of Harris County Flood Control District.
Marcus Stuckett, new Executive Director of HCFCD
2-Years of Debate Boil Down to 57 Words
Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey PE made the motion.
Ramsey: I’d like to make a motion to ratify the appointment of Marcus Stuckett as executive director of the Harris County Flood Control District, with an effective date of hire of June 29th, 2026.
Ellis: I’ll second it.
Hidalgo: Can I second this one? Okay. All in favor?
(Four vote AYE, Garcia remained silent.)
Hidalgo: Any opposed? Abstentions? Okay. Motion carries. Unanimously. Congratulations to the new director.
The official record will show Garcia voted in favor of hiring Stuckett despite the fact that he remained silent. Unless a court member explicitly states that he/she votes Against or Abstains, the vote counts as FOR.
It was all over in 57 words and 41 seconds.
Under Dr. Tina Petersen, Stuckett’s predecessor, the speed of project execution slowed precipitously.
The slow rate of project execution put hundreds of millions of dollars of federal partnership funding at risk because of looming deadlines that HCFCD would likely miss.
However, shortly after this morning’s vote in Commissioners Court, the Texas General Land Office (GLO) released this statement from Commissioner Dawn Buckingham. She said that she looks forward to working with Stuckett to serve the residents of Harris County. She added:
“Time is of the essence. Harris County residents deserve nothing less than ‘full speed ahead’ to ensure these projects are completed on time in accordance with the federal deadline.”
– Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D.
“Like Changing a Tire on a Busy Freeway”
Stuckett inherits Petersen’s problems and a volatile, high-pressure, politically charged situation despite the apparent unanimity of today’s decision.
One observer said this about Stuckett’s return to HCFCD: “It will be like changing a tire on a busy freeway with traffic flying by at 70 MPH.”
There’s still a chance that HCFCD could miss deadlines on some projects. But the people I consulted for this story say that Stuckett is Harris County’s best hope for saving the federal funds.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/25/26
3222 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/2026/06/Marcus-Stuckett-cropped.jpg?fit=1100%2C883&ssl=18831100adminadmin2026-06-25 13:12:052026-06-25 13:39:13Stuckett Unanimously Approved as New Head of HCFCD
6/24/26 – Traffic now flows smoothly – straight through – on new Northpark Drive surface lanes all the way from US59 to Russell Palmer Road and beyond! Yesterday afternoon, crews switched crossing arms and traffic signals at Loop 494 and the Union Pacific Railroad Tracks.
Traffic flowed smoothly all the way down Northpark! And within an hour, Harper Brothers started demolishing the old lanes.
Demolishing old asphalt lanes near UPRR tracks. Photo courtesy of Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority.
The switch to the new surface lanes now opens the way for bridge construction over the tracks and 494. That’s the good news.
Impact of Intersection Reconstruction
However, the Loop 494 intersection is being demolished for storm sewer work and repaving. Northpark Project Manager Ralph De Leon expects that could take as long as 4-5 weeks. However, Harper Brothers Construction hopes to shorten that time.
East-west traffic will remain open and unobstructed during reconstruction of the intersection. However, north-south traffic on Loop 494 will be diverted onto Northpark. To continue north or south, traffic will have to go east or west on Northpark until it reaches a crossover. After making a U-turn, drivers will then have to double back to 494 and turn north or south again.
It sounds complicated. But the drone photos below will help visualize it. All pictures below were taken around 3PM on 6/23/26.
Note in- and outbound Northpark traffic now using new concrete feeder lanes. Also note northbound 494 traffic turning right on Northpark to loop around and get to the other side of the intersection.
North- and southbound traffic may find it easier to use US59 for the next month.
Contractors demolishing the old, asphalt center lanes near railroad and Loop 494 intersection Facing east. Wider shot shows east/west traffic now crossing 494 and tracks straight through in both directions.Facing south. Note Loop 494 traffic being diverted onto Northpark in both directions.Inbound is now a straight shot as far as the eye can see.
Traffic no longer does a zig-zag near the tracks as it did for months.
Entry Pond Status
Elsewhere along the length of the project, another visible sign of progress is the entry ponds at US59. They will double as detention ponds that handle additional runoff from the extra lanes being added to Northpark. They will also serve as beautiful, welcoming entrances to the community.
North entry pond at 59/NorthparkSouth entry pond as of 6/23/26
Excavating, grading and lining both detention basins
Finish demo of old lanes
Finish installation of illumination.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/24/26
3221 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/DJI_20260623153929_0462_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2026-06-24 09:31:472026-06-24 19:54:41Northpark Surface Lanes Now Open from US59 Past Russell Palmer
6/23/26 – In May of this year, I posted a PowerPoint from the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District showing a preview of their 2025 annual groundwater report. The final report has since been published. You can follow the links below to its component parts:
Two-page overview/info sheet – explains at a high level how drought, population growth, and regulation interact to influence groundwater use and subsidence
The people at the Subsidence District are real scientists. Anyone interested in earth sciences will find this material enlightening. It could even make a great summer science project for your students.
Report Shows Impact of Regulation in Reducing Subsidence
By comparing groundwater reports from previous years, you can see how subsidence has shifted in reponse to regulations. The earliest-regulated areas have minimized subsidence, while it still rages in areas only recently regulated.
Figure 17 from Page 27.
Two centimeters is a little less than an inch. So in a decade, those areas with maroon shading could sink 8-12 inches.
But downstream areas are sinking less. Far less. That’s called differential subsidence. And differential subsidence can reduce the elevation of one area relative to others nearby. You can clearly see differential subsidence in this map, which features InSAR data (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar).
Impacts of Subsidence on Infrastructure, Property Values
For instance, the Lake Houston Dam is sinking at a much slower rate than areas upstream in Montgomery County. That, in essence, tilts the lake toward its headwaters, reducing the safety margin that people built their homes above the floodplain.
But even before you flood, you could experience subsidence as cracks in concrete or in the walls of your home. Subsidence can even trigger geologic faulting.
Woodlands faulting damage triggered by subsidence.Home split by subsidenceSteps separating from house
Combatting Subsidence
Combatting subsidence requires reducing groundwater usage. Said another way, it requires getting on surface water. That’s why the City has spent $2 billion to quintuple the treated surface water supply from Lake Houston.
Northeast Water Purification Plant Expansion in progress in 2023.
The North Harris County Regional Water Authority is also constructing an additional 94 miles of transmission and distribution lines to connect 45 Municipal Utility Districts and get them off groundwater.
That’s how serious subsidence is.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/23/2026
3220 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Subsidence-2021-to-2025-2.jpg?fit=1100%2C825&ssl=18251100adminadmin2026-06-23 14:27:192026-06-29 12:01:12HGSD Issues Final 2025 Report on Groundwater, Subsidence
Stuckett Unanimously Approved as New Head of HCFCD
6/25/26 – After 15 minutes in executive session this morning, Harris County Commissioners unanimously approved Marcus Stuckett as the new head of Harris County Flood Control District.
2-Years of Debate Boil Down to 57 Words
Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey PE made the motion.
Ramsey: I’d like to make a motion to ratify the appointment of Marcus Stuckett as executive director of the Harris County Flood Control District, with an effective date of hire of June 29th, 2026.
Ellis: I’ll second it.
Hidalgo: Can I second this one? Okay. All in favor?
(Four vote AYE, Garcia remained silent.)
Hidalgo: Any opposed? Abstentions? Okay. Motion carries. Unanimously. Congratulations to the new director.
The official record will show Garcia voted in favor of hiring Stuckett despite the fact that he remained silent. Unless a court member explicitly states that he/she votes Against or Abstains, the vote counts as FOR.
Under Dr. Tina Petersen, Stuckett’s predecessor, the speed of project execution slowed precipitously.
The slow rate of project execution put hundreds of millions of dollars of federal partnership funding at risk because of looming deadlines that HCFCD would likely miss.
Regardless, last night Garcia took to the airwaves to continue promoting Petersen and question the appointment of Stuckett on procedural grounds. See his comments on KHOU Channel 11, ABC Channel 13 and Fox Channel 26.
However, shortly after this morning’s vote in Commissioners Court, the Texas General Land Office (GLO) released this statement from Commissioner Dawn Buckingham. She said that she looks forward to working with Stuckett to serve the residents of Harris County. She added:
“Like Changing a Tire on a Busy Freeway”
Stuckett inherits Petersen’s problems and a volatile, high-pressure, politically charged situation despite the apparent unanimity of today’s decision.
One observer said this about Stuckett’s return to HCFCD: “It will be like changing a tire on a busy freeway with traffic flying by at 70 MPH.”
There’s still a chance that HCFCD could miss deadlines on some projects. But the people I consulted for this story say that Stuckett is Harris County’s best hope for saving the federal funds.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/25/26
3222 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.
Northpark Surface Lanes Now Open from US59 Past Russell Palmer
6/24/26 – Traffic now flows smoothly – straight through – on new Northpark Drive surface lanes all the way from US59 to Russell Palmer Road and beyond! Yesterday afternoon, crews switched crossing arms and traffic signals at Loop 494 and the Union Pacific Railroad Tracks.
Traffic flowed smoothly all the way down Northpark! And within an hour, Harper Brothers started demolishing the old lanes.
The switch to the new surface lanes now opens the way for bridge construction over the tracks and 494. That’s the good news.
Impact of Intersection Reconstruction
However, the Loop 494 intersection is being demolished for storm sewer work and repaving. Northpark Project Manager Ralph De Leon expects that could take as long as 4-5 weeks. However, Harper Brothers Construction hopes to shorten that time.
East-west traffic will remain open and unobstructed during reconstruction of the intersection. However, north-south traffic on Loop 494 will be diverted onto Northpark. To continue north or south, traffic will have to go east or west on Northpark until it reaches a crossover. After making a U-turn, drivers will then have to double back to 494 and turn north or south again.
It sounds complicated. But the drone photos below will help visualize it. All pictures below were taken around 3PM on 6/23/26.
North- and southbound traffic may find it easier to use US59 for the next month.
Traffic no longer does a zig-zag near the tracks as it did for months.
Entry Pond Status
Elsewhere along the length of the project, another visible sign of progress is the entry ponds at US59. They will double as detention ponds that handle additional runoff from the extra lanes being added to Northpark. They will also serve as beautiful, welcoming entrances to the community.
For More Information
Search “Northpark expansion” on this website. Or visit the project pages on the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority website.
You can find a three-week lookahead schedule, here. Major priorities in the next few weeks include:
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/24/26
3221 Days since Hurricane Harvey
HGSD Issues Final 2025 Report on Groundwater, Subsidence
6/23/26 – In May of this year, I posted a PowerPoint from the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District showing a preview of their 2025 annual groundwater report. The final report has since been published. You can follow the links below to its component parts:
The people at the Subsidence District are real scientists. Anyone interested in earth sciences will find this material enlightening. It could even make a great summer science project for your students.
Report Shows Impact of Regulation in Reducing Subsidence
By comparing groundwater reports from previous years, you can see how subsidence has shifted in reponse to regulations. The earliest-regulated areas have minimized subsidence, while it still rages in areas only recently regulated.
Two centimeters is a little less than an inch. So in a decade, those areas with maroon shading could sink 8-12 inches.
But downstream areas are sinking less. Far less. That’s called differential subsidence. And differential subsidence can reduce the elevation of one area relative to others nearby. You can clearly see differential subsidence in this map, which features InSAR data (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar).
Impacts of Subsidence on Infrastructure, Property Values
For instance, the Lake Houston Dam is sinking at a much slower rate than areas upstream in Montgomery County. That, in essence, tilts the lake toward its headwaters, reducing the safety margin that people built their homes above the floodplain.
But even before you flood, you could experience subsidence as cracks in concrete or in the walls of your home. Subsidence can even trigger geologic faulting.
Combatting Subsidence
Combatting subsidence requires reducing groundwater usage. Said another way, it requires getting on surface water. That’s why the City has spent $2 billion to quintuple the treated surface water supply from Lake Houston.
The North Harris County Regional Water Authority is also constructing an additional 94 miles of transmission and distribution lines to connect 45 Municipal Utility Districts and get them off groundwater.
That’s how serious subsidence is.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/23/2026
3220 Days since Hurricane Harvey