South of Kingwood’s HCA Medical Center, contractors have made slow but steady progress on the site for New Caney High School #3 between Sorters-McClellan Road and US59. I reported last November that they were pouring concrete. They still are. But there’s a lot more of it on the ground of the 80+ acre site. About half of the site is now covered with gray concrete. However, the most striking feature is the intensely green detention pond. The grass lining it looks more like a thick blanket of neon green faux fur.
Photos Taken on 3/19/2021
Looking east across the southern part of the site at the large detention pond. Grass in such ponds reduces erosion. The erosion can clog ditches, streams and rivers; and contribute to flooding.US59 cuts through the top of the frame. For orientation, note the Lowes Store in the upper left.Looking south toward the San Jacinto River, which is out of sight above the top of the frame. Sorters-McClellan Road cuts through the upper right of the frame. Approximately half the site is now covered in concrete. Playing fields will eventually occupy the area to the left.Looking NE from the northernmost part of the site. US59 cuts diagonally through the upper right of the frame. Note HCA Medical Center and Insperity in the distance at Kingwood Drive.Artists rendering of New Caney High School #3, looking east. The main entrance of the school will face Sorters-McClellan Road; the playing fields will face US59.General plan for New Caney High School #3. North is to the left.
New Caney ISD’s enrollment grew 31 percent between 2011 and 2016. That ranked NCISD first in the greater Houston area and fourth in the state for percentage enrollment growth. Eventually, the high school will hold 2,250 students. However, the school will open with only 1,350.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/20210319-DJI_0344.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=19001200adminadmin2021-03-25 14:12:262021-03-25 14:12:31Construction Update: New Caney High School #3 Site Going Green and Gray
Harris County Flood Control District’s current excavation/repair project on Taylor Gully is nearing its downstream limit. The project began in January upstream from the Maple Bend Bridge. Drone photos below taken on 3/19/21 show the extent of work downstream from the bridge.
The project has two main objectives: 1) restore the conveyance of the ditch, and repair damaged or blocked storm-drain outfalls and backslope interceptor structures.
Pictures from 3/19/21
Taylor Gully in Woodstream. Direction of flow goes from lower left to upper right toward woods. Total project length is about 2250 feet: 750 upstream and 1500 downstream from the Maple Bend bridge between the two red lines.Looking NE from Maple Bend in Woodstream Village. Upper banks have already been addressed on both sides of channel. Now, excavation seems to be focusing on the lower areas near the water and working back upstream (toward the camera position).Ground level shot in same direction taken with telephoto lens from Maple Bend bridge.Note the height of these drain pipes – 6 feet! They will convey water from storm drains directly into the ditch.
Smaller pipes stacked along the banks (see below) will be used to create backslope interceptors before the job is complete.
Looking back upstream toward the Maple Bend Bridge in the middle ground. Areas beyond the bridge appear complete, but area in foreground does not yet have backslope interceptor pipes installed.(See more below.)
Excavation and final dressing of slopes is almost complete upstream of the bridge. See below. When complete, the downstream slopes will look this way, too!
The two concrete structures on the sides of the the ditch are called backslope interceptors. Swales run parallel to the ditch and catch water before it can flow over the banks. The pipes carry the water beneath the bank to the bottom of the ditch. This is a “best management practice” that reduces erosion and extends maintenance intervals.
Next Steps
The project started in mid-January. At the current rate of progress and assuming cooperative weather, “substantial completion” could happen within a month. Substantial completion is a major milestone for contractors. When they think they are done, they schedule a walkthrough for HCFCD to inspect the work. If anything misses the mark, the Contractor has 30 days to clean-up the “punch list items”. Then HCFCD walks it again. Once the Contractor has addressed all outstanding items, the company demobilizes and the Flood Control District “accepts” the channel.
1303 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 552 since Imelda
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/20210319-DJI_0329.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=19001200adminadmin2021-03-24 15:38:492021-03-24 15:42:48Taylor Gully Excavation, Repairs Now Focusing on Area Downstream from Maple Bend Bridge
Hurricane naming is changing. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has retired the names of Hurricanes Laura, Eta, and Iota from 2020 and Dorian from 2019 because of the death and destruction they caused. WMO also eliminated use of the Greek alphabet when names based on the Latin alphabet are used up. Now, a second list of names, also keyed to the Latin alphabet will be available. In other words, we’ll go around twice with the Latin alphabet if necessary.
The Greek alphabet will not be used in the future because it creates a distraction from the communication of hazard and storm warnings and is potentially confusing.
The 2020 season got off to an early start with a nine named storms from May through July. And for the first time on record, it ended with two MAJOR storms in November. The season was so active that the Greek alphabet was used for only the second time; the first was in 2005.
“In total, 93 names have now been retired from the Atlantic basin list since 1953, when storms began to be named,” says WMO.
Recently retired Hurricane Names
Recap of Storms with Newly Retired Names
2019 – Dorian
Dorian was a Category 5 hurricane and the strongest to hit the Bahamas in modern times. “More than 75 percent of all homes on the island were damaged,” said WMO. The hurricane left 29,500 people homeless and/or jobless.
2020 – Laura
Category 4 Laura hit Louisiana with a 17 feet storm surge. It killed 47 people in the United States and Hispaniola, and caused more than $19 billion in damage.
2020 – Eta & Iota
Hurricanes Eta and Iota hit Nicaragua two weeks apart in November last year. They caused extensive flooding in Central America, killed 272, can caused more than $9 billion in damages.
Reasons for Retiring Greek Alphabet
According to WMO, “The annual name list has been exhausted on two occasions during the past 15 years, and it is likely that this will occur again in the future.”
Because of problems associated with the Greek alphabet, WMO will substitute Latin-based A-Z names (excluding Q, U, X, Y, Z).
Confusion when translating Greek names into some languages.
Too much focus on the novelty of Greek names detracts from safety messaging.
Similarity of Zeta, Eta, Theta, which occur in succession resulted in storms with very similar sounding names occurring simultaneously. This caused confusion.
WMO has already agreed on a supplemental list of Atlantic tropical cyclone names to replace the Greek names. It’s a little bizarre. I noted that they used “Pax.” Pax means stability and peace, not meanings I would normally associate with a Cat 5 hurricane!
Post by Bob Rehak on March 23, 2021, based on information from the World Meteorological Organization.
Construction Update: New Caney High School #3 Site Going Green and Gray
South of Kingwood’s HCA Medical Center, contractors have made slow but steady progress on the site for New Caney High School #3 between Sorters-McClellan Road and US59. I reported last November that they were pouring concrete. They still are. But there’s a lot more of it on the ground of the 80+ acre site. About half of the site is now covered with gray concrete. However, the most striking feature is the intensely green detention pond. The grass lining it looks more like a thick blanket of neon green faux fur.
Photos Taken on 3/19/2021
School to Open in Fall 2022
The NCISD Board of Trustees approved an award of construction contract on May 18 for New Caney High School #3 to Gamma Construction. Gamma should finish construction in time for 2022-23 school year.
New Caney ISD’s enrollment grew 31 percent between 2011 and 2016. That ranked NCISD first in the greater Houston area and fourth in the state for percentage enrollment growth. Eventually, the high school will hold 2,250 students. However, the school will open with only 1,350.
Construction in the District has already caused a realignment of school zones. To see if your student will be affected, see this New Caney ISD web page.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/25/2021
1304 Days after Hurricane Harvey
Taylor Gully Excavation, Repairs Now Focusing on Area Downstream from Maple Bend Bridge
Harris County Flood Control District’s current excavation/repair project on Taylor Gully is nearing its downstream limit. The project began in January upstream from the Maple Bend Bridge. Drone photos below taken on 3/19/21 show the extent of work downstream from the bridge.
The project has two main objectives: 1) restore the conveyance of the ditch, and repair damaged or blocked storm-drain outfalls and backslope interceptor structures.
Pictures from 3/19/21
Smaller pipes stacked along the banks (see below) will be used to create backslope interceptors before the job is complete.
Excavation and final dressing of slopes is almost complete upstream of the bridge. See below. When complete, the downstream slopes will look this way, too!
Next Steps
The project started in mid-January. At the current rate of progress and assuming cooperative weather, “substantial completion” could happen within a month. Substantial completion is a major milestone for contractors. When they think they are done, they schedule a walkthrough for HCFCD to inspect the work. If anything misses the mark, the Contractor has 30 days to clean-up the “punch list items”. Then HCFCD walks it again. Once the Contractor has addressed all outstanding items, the company demobilizes and the Flood Control District “accepts” the channel.
This project is separate from a Taylor Gully preliminary engineering study for capital improvements. The capital improvements could include more upstream detention on the Woodridge Village Property, which has now been purchased by the City and County from Perry Homes on March 4.
A previous study, the Kingwood Area Drainage Analysis, proposed improvements to Taylor Gully in October 2020.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/24/2021
1303 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 552 since Imelda
Hurricane Naming Changes
Hurricane naming is changing. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has retired the names of Hurricanes Laura, Eta, and Iota from 2020 and Dorian from 2019 because of the death and destruction they caused. WMO also eliminated use of the Greek alphabet when names based on the Latin alphabet are used up. Now, a second list of names, also keyed to the Latin alphabet will be available. In other words, we’ll go around twice with the Latin alphabet if necessary.
Changes Result of Record-Breaking 2020 Season
Changes to hurricane naming conventions resulted from the record-breaking 2020 Atlantic season, according to the WMO.
The 2020 season got off to an early start with a nine named storms from May through July. And for the first time on record, it ended with two MAJOR storms in November. The season was so active that the Greek alphabet was used for only the second time; the first was in 2005.
How Retirement of Names Works
WMO rotates Atlantic tropical cyclone name lists every six years. However, extra-deadly storms can have their names retired and replaced.
“In total, 93 names have now been retired from the Atlantic basin list since 1953, when storms began to be named,” says WMO.
Recap of Storms with Newly Retired Names
2019 – Dorian
Dorian was a Category 5 hurricane and the strongest to hit the Bahamas in modern times. “More than 75 percent of all homes on the island were damaged,” said WMO. The hurricane left 29,500 people homeless and/or jobless.
2020 – Laura
Category 4 Laura hit Louisiana with a 17 feet storm surge. It killed 47 people in the United States and Hispaniola, and caused more than $19 billion in damage.
2020 – Eta & Iota
Hurricanes Eta and Iota hit Nicaragua two weeks apart in November last year. They caused extensive flooding in Central America, killed 272, can caused more than $9 billion in damages.
Reasons for Retiring Greek Alphabet
According to WMO, “The annual name list has been exhausted on two occasions during the past 15 years, and it is likely that this will occur again in the future.”
Because of problems associated with the Greek alphabet, WMO will substitute Latin-based A-Z names (excluding Q, U, X, Y, Z).
WMO has already agreed on a supplemental list of Atlantic tropical cyclone names to replace the Greek names. It’s a little bizarre. I noted that they used “Pax.” Pax means stability and peace, not meanings I would normally associate with a Cat 5 hurricane!
Post by Bob Rehak on March 23, 2021, based on information from the World Meteorological Organization.
1302 Days since Hurricane Harvey