The City of Houston’s Stormwater Action Team began rehabilitating a roadside ditch in Forest Cove on Monday, July 27, 2020. The project area includes Cypress Lane and Palmetto Lane. The map below shows the project limits highlighted in red.
Location of work in Forest Cove
Crews will work Monday through Saturday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. They should complete the work by November 24, weather permitting.
Scope of Work
The scope of work includes:
Regrading and re-establishing of the roadside ditches
Replacing of the culverts and resetting them to match the flow line of the ditch
Replacing the driveway where the culverts are replaced
Increasing the capacity of any culverts less than 24 inches in diameter
Removing any unpermitted culverts or other encroachments in the City Right of Way.
Impact on Traffic, Neighborhood
Construction will not impact any water or sewer services.
Expect temporary loss of driveway access, lane closures, construction noise and debris, and limited roadside parking during the project.
Flagmen and orange traffic cones will help with traffic flow through the construction zone as the project will require one lane closure. However, traffic will flow two ways at all times.
Businesses and residents will have access to driveways and sidewalks at all times, and may experience an increase in noise levels due to trucks and equipment in the area.
For More Information
For more information, please contact Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin’s office at (832) 393-3008 or via email at districte@houstontx.gov.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/5/2020
1072 Days after Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Cypress-Ln-SWAT-Project.png?fit=1200%2C630&ssl=16301200adminadmin2020-08-05 10:42:212020-08-05 10:42:33City of Houston’s Stormwater Action Team Begins Ditch Rehabilitation in Forest Cove
The New Caney ISD has removed a long swath of trees that separated Sorters-McClellan Road from the site of its new high school south of the Kingwood Medical Center. Removal of the trees – beforethe construction of the detention pond for the site – removes the last barrier between sheet flow and residents downhill.
Similarities to Woodridge Village
Clearcutting creates a condition similar to that of Woodridge Village. Woodridge contributed to flooding Elm Grove and North Kingwood Forest twice last year after Perry Homes cleared the site before installing all the required detention. With nothing to retain runoff in a major storm, water could inundate Sorters Road and the homes on the opposite side of it in McClellan Circle.
This once again raises the question of whether contractors follow best practices for construction.
The site is in both Montgomery County and the City of Houston. But Montgomery County claims the City took the lead in permitting this site. MoCo claims it does not even have any drainage plans.
Looking south along Sorters Road at the site of New Caney ISD High School #3. Land slopes from left to right and foreground to background. Recently, contractors removed all trees next to the road. A large detention pond is supposed to be installed next to the tree line at the far end of the site. See below.
Building Pad Site Complete But No Detention Pond Yet
As of July 20, 2020, New Caney ISD had this to say about the project. “The site has been cleared and rough grading is at 90 percent completion.” Contractors have completed the building pad and will start installing the concrete piers concurrent with the underground storm and sanitary systems.
General plan for New Caney High School #3. North is left, east is up.Detention pond should be at far end of the photo above.
This approximately 50-60 acre site slopes toward the corner in the upper right by 10 to 15 feet depending on where you start.Sources: Google Earth Pro and USGS National Map Viewer.USGS National Map Viewer still shows old par 3 golf course on which the new high school will be built.
This is a 5% slope compared to the 1.8% slope on Woodridge Village.
Comparing Google Earth Elevation Profiles
The steepness of the slope accelerates runoff in the absence of features to slow it down.
Current State of Site
Here are some more shots showing the current state of construction on the site.
Looking NW toward the Eagle Sorters Sand Mine in the top left.Looking NE toward HCA Kingwood Medical Center and Insperity.Looking SE toward retail establishments that front US59, barely visible in the top left of the frame.
There seem to be some berms in the corners of the property. They may slow down sheet flow in a large storm. But the berms are absent over the large area in the center where the high school building itself will go.
Peak of Hurricane Season 5 Weeks Away
Let’s hope they get the detention in before the next big storm. No one wants a repeat of Woodridge.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/4/2020
1071 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/2020/08/20200803-DJI_0295-2.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=19001200adminadmin2020-08-04 19:04:222020-08-04 19:17:18New Caney ISD Clearcutting Site of High School #3 Before Installing Detention
The Texas General Land Office (GLO) published its proposed Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR) Action Plan last week for floods in Texas during 2019. This 136-page document is available for public review and comment through August 27, 2020. It describes rules that the GLO will use to distribute $212,714 million in CDBG-DR grants from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
As matters of national policy, HUD has required grantees to spend at least 80 percent of the allocation on unmet needs in HUD identified most impacted and distressed (MID) areas; the remaining 20 percent will address unmet needs in other eligible counties. Also 70% of the funds must go to meet the needs of Low-to-Moderate Income persons.
The GLO is in charge of distributing money in Texas (through municipal and county governments) to people and areas affected by disasters declared as federal emergencies. In Texas in 2019 that meant ten counties in the Lower Rio Grand Valley and southeast Texas.
Eligible counties where damage occurred
From June 24 to June 25, 2019, high rain totals within Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy Counties in the Rio Grand Valley led to street flooding and road closures; nearly 1,200 homes destroyed or in need of major repair; and over 100 people evacuated. Rainfall totals ranged from 12 and 18 inches in some locations.
In September, Tropical Storm Imelda caused $8 billion worth of damage in Chambers, Harris, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery, San Jacinto and Orange Counties. Imelda, the seventh wettest storm in US history, dropped 40+ inches of rain in Chambers, Jefferson, and Liberty Counties. The highest total was in Fannett in Jefferson County where 44.29 inches fell.
How Money Will Be Distributed
HUD wants its money to increase the resiliency of homes and communities. Of the $212.714 million:
70% will go to improving housing resiliency
30% will go to improving infrastructure resiliency
Allocation by location and program in dollars and percentages.
Eligible Single-Family Home Improvements
Single-family home resiliency solutions may include:
Elevating the first floor of habitable area;
Breakaway ground floor walls;
Reinforced roofs;
Storm shutters;
Use of ENERGY STAR appliances and fixtures;
Mold and mildew resistant products.
Eligible Multifamily Solutions
Multifamily resiliency solutions include:
Elevation;
Retention basins;
Fire-safe landscaping;
Firewalls;
Landscaped floodwalls
Eligible Infrastructure Solutions
Eligible infrastructure solutions include:
Elevating critical systems, facilities, and roadways above base flood elevation;
Installing backup power generators for critical systems (water, sewer, etc.);
Avoiding an increase in impervious cover by keeping projects in their original footprint and encouraging the use of building practices that allow for more pervious coverage;
Replanting with only native vegetation to preserve the natural environment;
Storm water management including installing retention basins, larger culverts and debris guards, and erosion control solutions; and
Supporting local community efforts to enhance building codes and regulations.
Limitations on Studies
Studies funded with this money may include, but are not limited to, flood control, resilient housing solutions, homelessness, or other efforts to mitigate future housing and residential damages.
Not for Feint of Heart
Warning: these 136-pages are intended for government experts and grant writers who deal with such programs all day every day. The information and its organization will prove difficult for average citizens. Think about the brain freeze you get with the giant DQ Blizzard. Now you have the picture.
Regardless, the persistent reader will be rewarded with a wealth of data about who was impacted when, where and how. Even the homeless.
The persistent reader will also get a good feeling for what’s allowed and not allowed under these rules. For instance, in 2019 disasters, victims can use grants to pay off loans. That was not allowed in Harvey.
Keep in mind that the dollars mentioned here are just for 2019 disasters, not Harvey, which follows similar, but not identical guidelines.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/3/2020
1070 Days after Hurricane Harvey and 319 after Imelda
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Cover.jpg?fit=934%2C1214&ssl=11214934adminadmin2020-08-03 18:13:502020-08-03 18:32:0970 Percent of HUD Grants in Texas for 2019 Floods Going to Low-to-Moderate Income Households, Neighborhoods
City of Houston’s Stormwater Action Team Begins Ditch Rehabilitation in Forest Cove
The City of Houston’s Stormwater Action Team began rehabilitating a roadside ditch in Forest Cove on Monday, July 27, 2020. The project area includes Cypress Lane and Palmetto Lane. The map below shows the project limits highlighted in red.
Crews will work Monday through Saturday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. They should complete the work by November 24, weather permitting.
Scope of Work
The scope of work includes:
Impact on Traffic, Neighborhood
Construction will not impact any water or sewer services.
Flagmen and orange traffic cones will help with traffic flow through the construction zone as the project will require one lane closure. However, traffic will flow two ways at all times.
Businesses and residents will have access to driveways and sidewalks at all times, and may experience an increase in noise levels due to trucks and equipment in the area.
For More Information
For more information, please contact Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin’s office at (832) 393-3008 or via email at districte@houstontx.gov.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/5/2020
1072 Days after Hurricane Harvey
New Caney ISD Clearcutting Site of High School #3 Before Installing Detention
The New Caney ISD has removed a long swath of trees that separated Sorters-McClellan Road from the site of its new high school south of the Kingwood Medical Center. Removal of the trees – before the construction of the detention pond for the site – removes the last barrier between sheet flow and residents downhill.
Similarities to Woodridge Village
Clearcutting creates a condition similar to that of Woodridge Village. Woodridge contributed to flooding Elm Grove and North Kingwood Forest twice last year after Perry Homes cleared the site before installing all the required detention. With nothing to retain runoff in a major storm, water could inundate Sorters Road and the homes on the opposite side of it in McClellan Circle.
The site is in both Montgomery County and the City of Houston. But Montgomery County claims the City took the lead in permitting this site. MoCo claims it does not even have any drainage plans.
Building Pad Site Complete But No Detention Pond Yet
As of July 20, 2020, New Caney ISD had this to say about the project. “The site has been cleared and rough grading is at 90 percent completion.” Contractors have completed the building pad and will start installing the concrete piers concurrent with the underground storm and sanitary systems.
How Site Looked in June
Steep Slope Accelerates Runoff
The steepness of the slope accelerates runoff in the absence of features to slow it down.
Current State of Site
Here are some more shots showing the current state of construction on the site.
There seem to be some berms in the corners of the property. They may slow down sheet flow in a large storm. But the berms are absent over the large area in the center where the high school building itself will go.
Peak of Hurricane Season 5 Weeks Away
Let’s hope they get the detention in before the next big storm. No one wants a repeat of Woodridge.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/4/2020
1071 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.
70 Percent of HUD Grants in Texas for 2019 Floods Going to Low-to-Moderate Income Households, Neighborhoods
The Texas General Land Office (GLO) published its proposed Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR) Action Plan last week for floods in Texas during 2019. This 136-page document is available for public review and comment through August 27, 2020. It describes rules that the GLO will use to distribute $212,714 million in CDBG-DR grants from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Eligible Counties Where Damage Occurred
The GLO is in charge of distributing money in Texas (through municipal and county governments) to people and areas affected by disasters declared as federal emergencies. In Texas in 2019 that meant ten counties in the Lower Rio Grand Valley and southeast Texas.
From June 24 to June 25, 2019, high rain totals within Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy Counties in the Rio Grand Valley led to street flooding and road closures; nearly 1,200 homes destroyed or in need of major repair; and over 100 people evacuated. Rainfall totals ranged from 12 and 18 inches in some locations.
In September, Tropical Storm Imelda caused $8 billion worth of damage in Chambers, Harris, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery, San Jacinto and Orange Counties. Imelda, the seventh wettest storm in US history, dropped 40+ inches of rain in Chambers, Jefferson, and Liberty Counties. The highest total was in Fannett in Jefferson County where 44.29 inches fell.
How Money Will Be Distributed
HUD wants its money to increase the resiliency of homes and communities. Of the $212.714 million:
Here’s the breakdown by by location and program in dollars and percentages. For a complete description of each program, see the Plan.
Eligible Single-Family Home Improvements
Single-family home resiliency solutions may include:
Eligible Multifamily Solutions
Multifamily resiliency solutions include:
Eligible Infrastructure Solutions
Eligible infrastructure solutions include:
Limitations on Studies
Studies funded with this money may include, but are not limited to, flood control, resilient housing solutions, homelessness, or other efforts to mitigate future housing and residential damages.
Not for Feint of Heart
Warning: these 136-pages are intended for government experts and grant writers who deal with such programs all day every day. The information and its organization will prove difficult for average citizens. Think about the brain freeze you get with the giant DQ Blizzard. Now you have the picture.
Regardless, the persistent reader will be rewarded with a wealth of data about who was impacted when, where and how. Even the homeless.
The persistent reader will also get a good feeling for what’s allowed and not allowed under these rules. For instance, in 2019 disasters, victims can use grants to pay off loans. That was not allowed in Harvey.
Keep in mind that the dollars mentioned here are just for 2019 disasters, not Harvey, which follows similar, but not identical guidelines.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/3/2020
1070 Days after Hurricane Harvey and 319 after Imelda