Due to Covid, the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) Board of Directors will hold its regular board meeting via webinar Thursday morning. Start time is 8 a.m. One of the more interesting things on the agenda is a first peak at the San Jacinto River Basin Master Drainage Plan. Chuck Gilman, SJRA Director of Water Resources and Flood Management, says that Halff & Associates will provide a high level summary of the results and recommendations.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
If you choose to participate via the GoToWebinar App, you WILL have the opportunity to provide comments during the designated portion of the meeting.
You can also LISTEN to the meeting via a telephone conference call, but you will NOT have the opportunity to provide comments if you choose this option. Only webinar participants may comment.
Telephone conference call phone number: 415-655-0052 and the audio access code is 882-885-021.
AGENDA
These meetings can run several hours. For folks who may not be able to see the whole meeting, but want to see the drainage plan presentation, here’s the full agenda. SJRA can not predict when the master drainage plan presentation will start.
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. PUBLIC COMMENTS (3 minutes per speaker)
3. DIVISION UPDATES – Receive updates from Operational Divisions and General & Administration Division related to ongoing projects, staff reports, or items on the consent agenda.
G & A: Jace Houston, General Manager
G & A: Heather Ramsey Cook, Director of Communications and Public Affairs
G & A: Tom Michel, Director of Finance and Administration
Woodlands: Chris Meeks, Utility Enterprise O&M Manager
GRP: Chris Meeks, Utility Enterprise O&M Manager
Lake Conroe: Bret Raley, Lake Conroe Division Manager
Highlands: Jay Smith, Highlands Division Manager
Flood Management: Chuck Gilman, Director of Water Resources and Flood Management
4. CONSENT AGENDA – This agenda consists of ministerial or “housekeeping” items required by law, such as routine bids, contracts, purchases, resolutions, and orders; items previously approved by Board action, such as adoption of items that are part of an approved budget or capital improvement projects, interlocal agreements, or action which is required by law or delegated to the General Manager; and items of a non-controversial nature. These items will be considered by a single motion unless removed and placed on the Regular Agenda for individual consideration at the request of any Director.
G&A
RAW WATER ENTERPRISE
5. REGULAR AGENDA
Items requiring individual consideration by the Board of Directors.
G&A
Resolution Adopting Policies and Procedures Related to Contracting with Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs)
RAW WATER ENTERPRISE
Amended and Restated Water Conveyance Contract with Coastal Water Authority
Ratify Contract for Time and Materials Services with Masters Advanced Remediation Service, Inc.
6. BRIEFINGS AND PRESENTATIONS
Presentation regarding the San Jacinto Regional Watershed Master Drainage Plan Project.
Presentation regarding the Fiscal Year 2021 Operating Budgets.
Presentation regarding the proposed Rate Order for Raw Water Customers.
Presentation regarding the proposed Rate Order for Woodlands Division Customers.
7. EXECUTIVE SESSION (Not open to public)
Consultations with attorney regarding:
Litigation related to Hurricane Harvey, including additional legal services to be provided by Hunton Andrews Kurth, LLP;
Litigation related to GRP water line breaks (Line Segments W2A and W2B); and
Expedited Declaratory Judgement Act litigation and other litigation related to GRP.
8. RECONVENE in Open Session
9. SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT for Lawsuit with Various Parties Associated with GRP Transmission Line Segments W2A and W2B
10. ANNOUNCEMENTS / FUTURE AGENDA
11. ADJOURN
Posted by Bob Rehak on 7/22/2020
1058 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Overview_8x11_4_30_2019-1-e1563798772703.jpg?fit=850%2C1100&ssl=11100850adminadmin2020-07-22 09:44:352020-07-22 09:50:39SJRA to Offer First Peak at Master Drainage Study Results Thursday Morning
Houston Public Works will conduct its final 5-month-long bridge repair project on the West Lake Houston Parkway Bridge beginning Monday, August 3. The project consists of repairing bents 25-28 underneath the bridge.
Bents underneath the West Lake Houston Parkway Bridge. Photo taken 9/16/2018, one year after Harvey. Note the flood debris still caught in the bents.This is a random photo and not intended to show the damaged bents.
Cost More than $4 Million
The cost of the project is $4,385,197 and will be funded through the Dedicated Drainage and Street Renewal Fund. The contractor for the project is NBG Contracting, Inc. The work is expected to be completed by Saturday, January 9, weather permitting.
Road Closures and Schedule
On Monday, August 3, work will begin at 7:00 a.m. by closing the outer lanes of the bridge. Two-way traffic will be maintained on the inner lanes. Construction activities are expected to take place Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Crews will occasionally work from Sunday at 5:00 p.m. though Monday at 5:00 a.m. when work requires closure of one side of the bridge. During these occasional work hours, pedestrian sidewalks along both sides of the bridge will be barricaded and closed for safety.
Please be aware of flagmen and orange traffic cones in place on-site assisting with traffic flow through the construction zone. All lanes of the bridge and pedestrian sidewalks will reopen following the completion of the project on Saturday, January 9, weather permitting.
This project follows the completion of repairs done by Houston Public Works this spring and the temporary repairs last October after three bearing pads slipped from their concrete beams. The work completed this month are the final repairs needed for the bridge to ensure the longevity of the infrastructure.
For more information, please contact Mayor Pro Tem Martin’s office at (832) 393-3008 or via email at districte@houstontx.gov.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 7/21/2020with thanks to Josh Alberson for piloting the boat
1057 Days after Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/ImeldaWoodstream_001_02.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=18001200adminadmin2020-07-21 18:13:222020-07-21 18:17:42More West Lake Houston Parkway Bridge Repairs Scheduled
Forecasters predicted a higher than average hurricane season. We will find out whether they are right in the next three months – the peak of the season. But the rain train has already started.
Distribution of tropical storms and hurricanes by date in last hundred years.Source: NOAA.
The tropical wave that moved onshore yesterday produced 2 to 4 inches of rain over League City this morning.
Meanwhile, two more storms are stacked up out in the Gulf and Atlantic. (See below.) The National Hurricane Center gives the orange one a 40% chance of developing and red one a 90% chance in the next five days.
Source: National Hurricane Center as of 3PM Tuesday 7/21/2020.As of 6:30 PM on 7/21/2020 the NHC has upgraded the central Atlantic Storm to a tropical depression, likely to enter the Caribbean this weekend. Source: NOAAOne model has the storm building into a hurricane. However, most don’t at this time. The intensity forecast for days 4-5 is low confidence according to Jeff Lindner, Harris County meteorologist.
Tropical Wave Likely to Arrive Friday
NOAA says that a tropical wave currently over Cuba is producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms over western Cuba. NHC expects this system to reach the northwestern Gulf on Thursday and Friday. Tropical formation chance currently equals 40 percent.
Jeff Lindner, Harris County meteorologist, says, “Regardless of development, widespread showers and thunderstorms will begin to impact the upper TX coast as early as late Thursday evening. More likely the impact will be Friday and lasting into Saturday. Some of this rainfall will be heavy. Winds will increase into the 15-25kt range with seas building to 3-5 feet by late Thursday and likely higher on Friday.”
Here’s how it all looks on the GOES-East satellite imagery in earth colors. Note the system about to enter the Gulf and the steady stream of clouds rolling off the western coast of Africa and across the Atlantic.
Note clouds over western Cuba and another mass starting to spin in mid-Atlantic.Closer shot with land masses outlined.
I nicknamed the steady stream of clouds “the rain train.”
Trade Winds Powered Global Commerce for Centuries
Technically, though, they’re called the trade winds. The term has an interesting origin. For centuries, they powered trade between Europe and the Americas. This time of year, sailors from Europe heading to the Americas would first sail south to Western Africa. There, they would pick up the trade winds (visible in the photos above) that powered them west.
After completing their trade, they would head north along the Eastern Coast of the U.S. and pick up a return flow that would take them back to Europe.
It was a reliable, but often deadly route.
Of the 691 ships identified by the Spanish researchers that were lost between between 1492 and 1898, 91.2% were sunk by severe weather – mainly tropical storms and hurricanes.
There’s an island off the coast of Honduras called Guanaja. The Spanish called it Isla de Los Pinos. Isle of Pines. It’s one of the few islands in the Caribbean with native pine trees. Columbus visited there on his fourth voyage. And according to local legend, Spanish sailors would often stop there after crossing the Atlantic to replenish their masts.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 7/21/2020, updated at 6:30 pm with info on TD7.
1057 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Atlantic-Geocolor.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=112001200adminadmin2020-07-21 16:30:422020-07-21 18:32:15Get Ready for the Rain Train
SJRA to Offer First Peak at Master Drainage Study Results Thursday Morning
Due to Covid, the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) Board of Directors will hold its regular board meeting via webinar Thursday morning. Start time is 8 a.m. One of the more interesting things on the agenda is a first peak at the San Jacinto River Basin Master Drainage Plan. Chuck Gilman, SJRA Director of Water Resources and Flood Management, says that Halff & Associates will provide a high level summary of the results and recommendations.
Master Drainage Plan Goals
The San Jacinto Regional Watershed Master Drainage Plan goals include:
The study covers more than 3000 square miles!
The four partners in the project include Harris County Flood Control, SJRA, Montgomery County and City of Houston.
This web site explains the study in more detail, but not the results. At least not yet. The final report should be published in a month or two.
How to Attend the Virtual Meeting
You have to options to “attend” the meeting: webinar or telephone conference call.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
If you choose to participate via the GoToWebinar App, you WILL have the opportunity to provide comments during the designated portion of the meeting.
You can also LISTEN to the meeting via a telephone conference call, but you will NOT have the opportunity to provide comments if you choose this option. Only webinar participants may comment.
AGENDA
These meetings can run several hours. For folks who may not be able to see the whole meeting, but want to see the drainage plan presentation, here’s the full agenda. SJRA can not predict when the master drainage plan presentation will start.
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. PUBLIC COMMENTS (3 minutes per speaker)
3. DIVISION UPDATES – Receive updates from Operational Divisions and General & Administration Division related to ongoing projects, staff reports, or items on the consent agenda.
4. CONSENT AGENDA – This agenda consists of ministerial or “housekeeping” items required by law, such as routine bids, contracts, purchases, resolutions, and orders; items previously approved by Board action, such as adoption of items that are part of an approved budget or capital improvement projects, interlocal agreements, or action which is required by law or delegated to the General Manager; and items of a non-controversial nature. These items will be considered by a single motion unless removed and placed on the Regular Agenda for individual consideration at the request of any Director.
5. REGULAR AGENDA
Items requiring individual consideration by the Board of Directors.
G&A
RAW WATER ENTERPRISE
6. BRIEFINGS AND PRESENTATIONS
7. EXECUTIVE SESSION (Not open to public)
Consultations with attorney regarding:
8. RECONVENE in Open Session
9. SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT for Lawsuit with Various Parties Associated with GRP Transmission Line Segments W2A and W2B
10. ANNOUNCEMENTS / FUTURE AGENDA
11. ADJOURN
Posted by Bob Rehak on 7/22/2020
1058 Days since Hurricane Harvey
More West Lake Houston Parkway Bridge Repairs Scheduled
This post is a bit off topic but it does relate to Hurricane Harvey. Harvey damaged the West Lake Houston Parkway bridge. So you can add this to the list of the area’s damages from Harvey.
Houston Public Works will conduct its final 5-month-long bridge repair project on the West Lake Houston Parkway Bridge beginning Monday, August 3. The project consists of repairing bents 25-28 underneath the bridge.
What is a Bent?
A “bent” is the combination of the cap and piles. They act as supports for the entire bridge. Here’s an easy-to-read and well illustrated primer on bridge inspection that describes the purpose of bents. (See photo below of the West Lake Houston Parkway Bridge bents.)
Cost More than $4 Million
The cost of the project is $4,385,197 and will be funded through the Dedicated Drainage and Street Renewal Fund. The contractor for the project is NBG Contracting, Inc. The work is expected to be completed by Saturday, January 9, weather permitting.
Road Closures and Schedule
On Monday, August 3, work will begin at 7:00 a.m. by closing the outer lanes of the bridge. Two-way traffic will be maintained on the inner lanes. Construction activities are expected to take place Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Crews will occasionally work from Sunday at 5:00 p.m. though Monday at 5:00 a.m. when work requires closure of one side of the bridge. During these occasional work hours, pedestrian sidewalks along both sides of the bridge will be barricaded and closed for safety.
Please be aware of flagmen and orange traffic cones in place on-site assisting with traffic flow through the construction zone. All lanes of the bridge and pedestrian sidewalks will reopen following the completion of the project on Saturday, January 9, weather permitting.
This project follows the completion of repairs done by Houston Public Works this spring and the temporary repairs last October after three bearing pads slipped from their concrete beams. The work completed this month are the final repairs needed for the bridge to ensure the longevity of the infrastructure.
For more information, please contact Mayor Pro Tem Martin’s office at (832) 393-3008 or via email at districte@houstontx.gov.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 7/21/2020 with thanks to Josh Alberson for piloting the boat
1057 Days after Hurricane Harvey
Get Ready for the Rain Train
Forecasters predicted a higher than average hurricane season. We will find out whether they are right in the next three months – the peak of the season. But the rain train has already started.
The tropical wave that moved onshore yesterday produced 2 to 4 inches of rain over League City this morning.
Other Storms Already Stacking Up in Atlantic
Meanwhile, two more storms are stacked up out in the Gulf and Atlantic. (See below.) The National Hurricane Center gives the orange one a 40% chance of developing and red one a 90% chance in the next five days.
Tropical Wave Likely to Arrive Friday
NOAA says that a tropical wave currently over Cuba is producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms over western Cuba. NHC expects this system to reach the northwestern Gulf on Thursday and Friday. Tropical formation chance currently equals 40 percent.
Jeff Lindner, Harris County meteorologist, says, “Regardless of development, widespread showers and thunderstorms will begin to impact the upper TX coast as early as late Thursday evening. More likely the impact will be Friday and lasting into Saturday. Some of this rainfall will be heavy. Winds will increase into the 15-25kt range with seas building to 3-5 feet by late Thursday and likely higher on Friday.”
90% Chance of Formation for Atlantic Storm
NHC also expects that system midway in the Atlantic (now Tropical Depression 7) to get better organized. However they also say that less favorable conditions could limit additional development of the system by the weekend. Formation chance: 90 percent.
Here’s how it all looks on the GOES-East satellite imagery in earth colors. Note the system about to enter the Gulf and the steady stream of clouds rolling off the western coast of Africa and across the Atlantic.
I nicknamed the steady stream of clouds “the rain train.”
Trade Winds Powered Global Commerce for Centuries
Technically, though, they’re called the trade winds. The term has an interesting origin. For centuries, they powered trade between Europe and the Americas. This time of year, sailors from Europe heading to the Americas would first sail south to Western Africa. There, they would pick up the trade winds (visible in the photos above) that powered them west.
After completing their trade, they would head north along the Eastern Coast of the U.S. and pick up a return flow that would take them back to Europe.
Of the 691 ships identified by the Spanish researchers that were lost between between 1492 and 1898, 91.2% were sunk by severe weather – mainly tropical storms and hurricanes.
Without satellites, hurricanes often caught them by surprise. The storms could snap their masts, at which point they would be “dead in the water.”
There’s an island off the coast of Honduras called Guanaja. The Spanish called it Isla de Los Pinos. Isle of Pines. It’s one of the few islands in the Caribbean with native pine trees. Columbus visited there on his fourth voyage. And according to local legend, Spanish sailors would often stop there after crossing the Atlantic to replenish their masts.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 7/21/2020, updated at 6:30 pm with info on TD7.
1057 Days since Hurricane Harvey