Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin announced today that the City of Houston has completed Kingwood Storm Line Inspections. Only a few spots needed debris removal. The rest were clear, according to Martin.
City storm line inspection in May 2019 with Elm Grove flood-victim Keith Jennings looking on.
30 Miles of Stormwater Drains Now Clear
When the City encountered debris, crews removed it with specialized equipment and personnel trained to work in confined spaces, says Martin. Public Works inspected approximately 150,000 linear feet or about 30 miles of storm water lines.
Subdivisions Inspected
The communities inspected include:
Elm Grove
Hunter’s Ridge
North & South Woodland Hills
Bear Branch
Forest Cove
Greentree Village
Kings Crossing
Kings Forest
Kings Point
Kingwood Lakes
Kingwood Place Village
Lakeshore
Magnolia Point (Huffman)
Mills Branch
North Kingwood Forest
Riverchase
Sand Creek Village
Sherwood Trails
Woodspring Village
Woodstream Village
Trailwood Village.
Public Works inspected Kingwood villages impacted by Tropical Storm Imelda and others based on the number of reports made to 3-1-1.
Storm Drain Photos Available for Inspection
Martin has posted every community’s storm-line inspection photos in his Facebook Photo Albums.
How and Why to Report Storm Line Problems
It is critically important that if you identify areas with drainage issues that you report them to 3-1-1.
The City determines larger drainage (or other infrastructure) projects from 3-1-1 reports. The more calls about an issue, the higher the project’s priority.
Join Adopt-A-Drain Program
Martin encourages neighborhoods to Adopt-A-Drain. He gave a shout out to those who have already adopted and named their drains in the Kingwood Area. They include: Big Bertha, Maleficent, Shrader’s Drain, A1 Signs, Lil Bandingo’s Drain, Botta Boom Drain and many more!
“Residents, businesses, and community groups can take advantage of lots of drains and naming opportunities while helping decrease debris in our drainage system,” said Martin.
Other Ways to Help Ensure Free-Flowing Storm Lines
Here’s how residents can help:
Make sure trash cans don’t tip before they are picked up
Ensure yard clippings and leaves stay out of gutters
Make sure yard crews don’t blow clippings down storm drains
Clear gutters before bad weather
Never throw trash or other items down drains or inlets.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/5/2020
1011 Days since Hurricane Harveyand 260 since Imelda
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Victim_03.jpg?fit=1000%2C1500&ssl=115001000adminadmin2020-06-05 14:49:152020-06-05 14:52:30Kingwood Storm Line Inspections Complete
Last week, while driving through Forest Cove, I noticed construction activity and Harris County Flood Control District signs at the Kingwood Diversion Ditch near Walnut Lane. The area downstream from the bridge has some of the worst erosion of any ditch in Kingwood.
Area Now Under Repair As It Looked in 2009
Kingwood Diversion Ditch in 2009. Looking south from Walnut Lane. Forest Cove on right.
Erosion was bad for years and only got worse during major storms in 2015, 2016, and 2017. Massive slabs of the banks broke off in chunks, threatening trails and adjacent homes.
Since the picture above in 2009, the ditch has eroded both down and outward to increase its conveyance as new subdivisions upstream scabbed off of Kingwood’s infrastructure.
Pictures of Work in Progress Today
Oh, what a difference a decade makes! Note the exposed storm drains in the pictures below that you cannot see in the picture above.
Looking south from Walnut Lane Bridge.Exposed, elevated and crushed storm drains due to erosion.
The erosion left storm drains elevated and exposed to the ravages of floodwaters. Some were crushed, causing water to back up into streets and drainage ditches during heavy rains.
The area that collapsed circa 2009 above is the same area shown under construction today.
The velocity of water through this ditch during floods has earned it the nickname “Kingwood Rapids” from white-water enthusiasts.
Storm drains left exposed and elevated as the ditch widened and deepened itself to accommodate upstream development such as Woodridge Forest.HCFCD works to restore and stabilize banks, and repair damaged storm drains.Crumpled drains being removed by excavator.
How the Diversion Ditch Got Its Name
The Kingwood Diversion Ditch got its name when Friendswood realized that Ben’s Branch could not hold all the water being brought to it by adjacent subdivisions.
So Friendswood literally built a ditch that diverts a portion of the water coming down Ben’s Branch from Montgomery County just above Northpark Drive.
The point of diversion. Believe it or not, that’s Ben’s Branch flowing from bottom to top. As Ben’s Branch squeezes down, it forces water into the diversion ditch, which splits off to the right, just south of the new St. Martha’s Catholic Church.From there, the ditch goes under Northpark Drive, past Woodland Hills, and south to the river.
Arrival time along the U.S. Gulf Coast should be sometime Sunday evening, according to current predictions.
Impacts to U.S.
Strong winds and high seas are expected east of the storm center.
Risks to the US mainland include storm surge, heavy rainfall, and high winds beginning this weekend from Texas to the Florida Panhandle.
NHC emphasizes that it is still to soon to determine the exact location, timing and magnitude of these impacts. The best plan: monitor progress of the storm and make sure you are prepared.
Houston Likely To Be On Clean Side
Current projections take the storm up Central Louisiana. So Houston will likely be on the “clean” side of the storm. Because rotation around a low is counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere, the storm is likely to dump the most rain east of the center.
5-day forecast as of 10 a.m. CDT on Thursday from NHC. Note how cone has shifted east of Galveston Bay.
10% Chance of Tropical-Storm-Force Winds in Houston
Forecasters currently give Houston a 10% chance of experiencing tropical storm force winds.
However, Houston still has a 10% chance of experiencing tropical-storm-force winds because of the width of the storm.
Arrival of Winds Saturday Night into Sunday Morning
Earliest arrival time of tropical storm force winds will likely be Saturday night into Sunday morning.
Winds should arrive Saturday night or Sunday.
Impacts Far Wider than Cone of Uncertainty
Storm impacts can be felt far beyond the center of the storm as the satellite image below shows. Heavy rainfall will arrive well in advance of and extend well east of Cristobal’s center.
Tropical storm and storm-surge watches could be issued tonight or Friday.
As you prepare for Cristobal, remember how wide the feeder bands are.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/4/2020
1010 Days after Hurricane Harvey and 259 after Imelda
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Cristobal.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=112001200adminadmin2020-06-04 10:38:532020-06-04 10:48:04Cristobal Likely to Reach U.S. Gulf Coast Sunday into Monday
Kingwood Storm Line Inspections Complete
Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin announced today that the City of Houston has completed Kingwood Storm Line Inspections. Only a few spots needed debris removal. The rest were clear, according to Martin.
30 Miles of Stormwater Drains Now Clear
When the City encountered debris, crews removed it with specialized equipment and personnel trained to work in confined spaces, says Martin. Public Works inspected approximately 150,000 linear feet or about 30 miles of storm water lines.
Subdivisions Inspected
The communities inspected include:
Public Works inspected Kingwood villages impacted by Tropical Storm Imelda and others based on the number of reports made to 3-1-1.
Storm Drain Photos Available for Inspection
Martin has posted every community’s storm-line inspection photos in his Facebook Photo Albums.
How and Why to Report Storm Line Problems
The City determines larger drainage (or other infrastructure) projects from 3-1-1 reports. The more calls about an issue, the higher the project’s priority.
Join Adopt-A-Drain Program
Martin encourages neighborhoods to Adopt-A-Drain. He gave a shout out to those who have already adopted and named their drains in the Kingwood Area. They include: Big Bertha, Maleficent, Shrader’s Drain, A1 Signs, Lil Bandingo’s Drain, Botta Boom Drain and many more!
“Residents, businesses, and community groups can take advantage of lots of drains and naming opportunities while helping decrease debris in our drainage system,” said Martin.
Other Ways to Help Ensure Free-Flowing Storm Lines
Here’s how residents can help:
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/5/2020
1011 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 260 since Imelda
HCFCD Begins Kingwood Diversion Ditch Repairs
Last week, while driving through Forest Cove, I noticed construction activity and Harris County Flood Control District signs at the Kingwood Diversion Ditch near Walnut Lane. The area downstream from the bridge has some of the worst erosion of any ditch in Kingwood.
Area Now Under Repair As It Looked in 2009
Erosion was bad for years and only got worse during major storms in 2015, 2016, and 2017. Massive slabs of the banks broke off in chunks, threatening trails and adjacent homes.
Since the picture above in 2009, the ditch has eroded both down and outward to increase its conveyance as new subdivisions upstream scabbed off of Kingwood’s infrastructure.
Pictures of Work in Progress Today
Oh, what a difference a decade makes! Note the exposed storm drains in the pictures below that you cannot see in the picture above.
The erosion left storm drains elevated and exposed to the ravages of floodwaters. Some were crushed, causing water to back up into streets and drainage ditches during heavy rains.
The velocity of water through this ditch during floods has earned it the nickname “Kingwood Rapids” from white-water enthusiasts.
How the Diversion Ditch Got Its Name
The Kingwood Diversion Ditch got its name when Friendswood realized that Ben’s Branch could not hold all the water being brought to it by adjacent subdivisions.
So Friendswood literally built a ditch that diverts a portion of the water coming down Ben’s Branch from Montgomery County just above Northpark Drive.
Luckily, Friendswood designed the bridges over the Diversion Ditch to accommodate expansion of the ditch. HCFCD is studying that possibility now as part of the Kingwood Area Drainage Analysis. Results of the study should be published this fall.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/5/2020
1011 Days after Harvey
Cristobal Likely to Reach U.S. Gulf Coast Sunday into Monday
The latest report from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) as of 10 a.m. 6/4/2020 indicates that Tropical Storm Cristobal has moved inland in southern Mexico and has weakened to a tropical depression. All coastal watches and warnings in Mexico have been lifted. Maximum sustained winds are now at 35 mph with higher gusts. However, the NHC also predicts that the storm will move back over water by Friday afternoon and then re-intensify into a tropical storm as it moves north into the central Gulf Saturday and Sunday.
Impacts to U.S.
Strong winds and high seas are expected east of the storm center.
NHC emphasizes that it is still to soon to determine the exact location, timing and magnitude of these impacts. The best plan: monitor progress of the storm and make sure you are prepared.
Houston Likely To Be On Clean Side
Current projections take the storm up Central Louisiana. So Houston will likely be on the “clean” side of the storm. Because rotation around a low is counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere, the storm is likely to dump the most rain east of the center.
10% Chance of Tropical-Storm-Force Winds in Houston
Forecasters currently give Houston a 10% chance of experiencing tropical storm force winds.
Arrival of Winds Saturday Night into Sunday Morning
Earliest arrival time of tropical storm force winds will likely be Saturday night into Sunday morning.
Impacts Far Wider than Cone of Uncertainty
Storm impacts can be felt far beyond the center of the storm as the satellite image below shows. Heavy rainfall will arrive well in advance of and extend well east of Cristobal’s center.
Tropical storm and storm-surge watches could be issued tonight or Friday.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/4/2020
1010 Days after Hurricane Harvey and 259 after Imelda