The developer says he purchased 110 acres. He will reserve 20 acres of that (18%) for detention. The remaining 90 acres, he says, are all above the 500-year floodplain. The lowest part of the property sits at 50 feet above sea level. That’s 7.5 feet above the average level of Lake Houston. However, he says the highest properties, those closest to Kingwood Drive, are at 90 feet.
Possible names for the development include Kingwood Heights and Holley Heights, to help offset the fear of flooding and communicate the location above the current 500 year floodplain.
Holley says he conducted environmental, wetland, and tree surveys on the property in the last year. He wants to preserve as many trees as possible. Lot sizes will range from half- to 1+ acres.
USGS Shows No Wetlands Issues for Property
USGS shows no wetlands on the Kingwood Cove Golf Course, though it does show two ponds.
FEMA Shows Narrow 500-year Flood Zone
In the map below, the cross-hatched area represents the floodway. The aqua colored area represents the 100-year floodplain and the brown area the 500-year floodplain. The narrowness of the 500-year band indicates a steep slope. In fact, the land rises sharply from a low river terrace to a higher terrace in that transition zone.
FEMA’s National Flood Hazard Layer View shows only the extreme lower portion of the course in flood hazard areas.
Timing of Development
Holley says people could start building homes on the old course early next year. However, he did not say whether the property was permitted yet.
Other local subdivisions developed by Holley include: Kings Harbor, Deer Ridge Estates, Kings Lake Estates, and Summer Lake Ranch. Holley has developed land in the Kingwood area since 1992.
Is Drainage Sufficient?
Mr. Holley did say that 41 Forest Cove homeowners flooded during Imelda last year. Based on their concerns, he said that he is increasing drainage. He declined to answer other questions until he gets “further along in the engineering.”
Many neighbors have expressed concerns about the loss of pervious cover to streets, driveways, rooftops, etc. If the land is going to be developed, low density makes the most sense. And one or two families per acre certainly is better than four to eight. We have seen many such higher-density developments upstream in Montgomery County. Take Northpark Woods, for instance. Many Montgomery County developments do not even require detention ponds.
This project resides both within the City of Houston and Harris County. I will continue to watch it as the engineering evolves.
Detention in Floodways Less Effective
About 4 acres of the 20 acres on the lower terrace sits in the floodway. One flood expert told me, “Generally, detention basins in the floodway aren’t as effective (compared to those in a floodplain) because they get full of water before they can be of much use during a flood event. A detention basin works where it can fill up and store water during a major flood event, basically an extension of the natural floodplain.”
Posted by Bob Rehak on 4/14/2020
959 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Kingwood-Cove-Flood-Zones.jpg?fit=1200%2C918&ssl=19181200adminadmin2020-04-14 17:05:512020-04-14 17:18:41Ron Holley Describes His Vision for Forest Cove Golf-Course Development
Union Pacific (UP) has completed the new railroad bridge over the San Jacinto West Fork near US59. During Harvey, the narrow supports of the old bridge caught many trees swept downstream by the flood. The new bridge, two years in the making, has wider supports designed to let trees pass through in the next flood.
History of Project
Shortly after Harvey, UP repaired the old bridge to facilitate northbound rail traffic out of Houston. Then the company started building a new bridge – between and over the supports of the old one. The effort was a marvel of American ingenuity. The new bridge also contains U-shaped spans designed to support the weight of heavy trains over the wider supports.
This afternoon, crews were dismantling the last of the massive cranes used to erect the new bridge.
One Less Contributor to Flooding to Worry About
This is yet another piece of the puzzle designed to reduce flooding in the Humble-Kingwood area. No one can say for sure, how much the logjam created by the old bridge contributed to flooding during Harvey. One thing is certain, however. That’s one less thing to worry about in the future.
Trees caught in the supports of the old pedestrian bridge over 59 and the railroad bridge during Harvey.Harvey knocked out part of the bridge. Photo taken in March 2018.Note how close the supports are on the far side of the bridge.
Here’s how the sleek new bridge looked from downstream today. Photo looking west toward 59 behind the railroad bridge.Another shot from the opposite direction taken today. Looking east from under the US59 bridge.Hopefully no trees will get caught between these supports.
Dismantling Construction Crane
All around the job site on the south shore of the West Fork at 59, crews today could be seen demobilizing. It took one large crane to dismantle another.
Dismantling the large crane used in construction (see three photos above). Shot taken today, 4/13/2020.
This will help reduce flooding. It should also make boating far more pleasurable through this area.
Congratulations and thanks to the hard-working people of the Union Pacific railroad.
Next Up: Edgewater Park
Bridge construction had delayed development of Harris County Precinct 4’s new Edgewater Park immediately to the west. Let’s hope that can now get underway soon.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 4/13/2020
958 Days after Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/20200413-RJR_0532.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=18001200adminadmin2020-04-13 16:10:162020-04-13 16:10:27New UP Railroad Bridge Over West Fork Complete
Ever since Harvey filled up the lagoon next to the River Grove boardwalk, Kingwood residents have clamored to restore the area. This week they got their wish. Kayden Industries has removed its two dredges and the giant “shaker” that separated sand from water. This morning, all that remained of the operation was a front-end loader, a giant pile of sand, and dump trucks rapidly carrying it away. They should be done with the operation this week.
Damage Due to Harvey
Here’s the story in pictures starting with Harvey.
The lagoon next to the popular boardwalk at Kingwood’s River Grove Park has totally filled in with sand deposited by Hurricane Harvey.Harvey also left a 10-foot high sandbar that blocked the drainage ditch that runs through River Grove.
Remove up to five feet of sand covering the parking lot and areas near the boardwalk
Restore soccer fields also covered in sand
Repave access roads and parking lots undermined by churning floodwaters
Inspect the boardwalk to ensure it was structurally sound.
Draw up a dredging plan for the lagoon with an engineer.
Identify a suitable place to put the spoils.
Bid the job.
Approve the plan and expenditure.
Note height of sand in River Grove parking lot relative to parking sign in background.
It was a monumental effort. Dee Price, KSA President and steward of River Grove Park, and Bruce Casto, KSA’s maintenance man, deserve kudos for spearheading the effort and saving this park.
Between Harvey and the end of 2019, vegetation had grown up over the sand deposited in the lagoon.Step one in the dredging: Remove the vegetation that had grown on the sand.Then, Kayden Industries mobilized a mini dredge. The dredging took seven weeks.
Drying the Spoils Before Trucking
Kayden also brought in this giant machine to separate sand from water. It works like an oilfield shaker used to separate drilling cuttings from drilling mud.
Last Week, Demobilization Began
Almost two months after it started, Kayden began demobilizing. Resident Josh Alberson captured the image below with his drone.
Last week, Kayden Industries started demobilizing their equipment. Here we see one of the two dredges getting ready for removal from the water. Kayden brought in a smaller dredge when the City lowered the level of the lake suddenly. The first dredge is up on blocks behind the pile of sand.Photo courtesy of Josh Alberson.This morning, where the shaker once stood, nothing but some sand remains.A giant pile of sand still blocks the boat dock.But dump trucks were lining up to receive the sand and carry it to a placement area in Humble out of the flood plain.The finished job: a beautifully restored lagoon, complete with some marshes to attract birds.
Water along the boardwalk is 3-5 feet deep, so don’t let kids play in it. That could be dangerous.
Some Repaving Left to Do
All the heavy traffic has taken a toll on park roads. “Everyone needs to understand that the paving problems on the road between the gate and the first stop sign were there long before we started trucking dirt,” said Dee Price, KSA President. “We have patched that area numerous times in the past.” Price said KSA needs to mill and re-pave that piece of road as the group did with the soccer road. Price plans to put that project in the next fiscal-year budget. But for now, she says, “We need to patch it again until we can do the major improvement next year.”
Posted by Bob Rehak on April 14, 2020 with thanks to Josh Alberson for the drone imagery
958 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/20200413-RJR_0511.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=18001200adminadmin2020-04-13 13:20:592024-03-12 18:38:56River Grove Dredging Done, Only Cleanup Left
Ron Holley Describes His Vision for Forest Cove Golf-Course Development
In April 2019, Ron Holley, a major Kingwood developer, bought the Kingwood Cove Golf Course. Neighbors immediately started asking questions about how his plans could affect potential flooding. Forty-one Forest Cove residents flooded during Imelda last year. On 4/12 this year, Holley shared his vision for the property in a KPRC radio interview.
Description of Development
The developer says he purchased 110 acres. He will reserve 20 acres of that (18%) for detention. The remaining 90 acres, he says, are all above the 500-year floodplain. The lowest part of the property sits at 50 feet above sea level. That’s 7.5 feet above the average level of Lake Houston. However, he says the highest properties, those closest to Kingwood Drive, are at 90 feet.
Possible names for the development include Kingwood Heights and Holley Heights, to help offset the fear of flooding and communicate the location above the current 500 year floodplain.
Holley says he conducted environmental, wetland, and tree surveys on the property in the last year. He wants to preserve as many trees as possible. Lot sizes will range from half- to 1+ acres.
USGS Shows No Wetlands Issues for Property
FEMA Shows Narrow 500-year Flood Zone
In the map below, the cross-hatched area represents the floodway. The aqua colored area represents the 100-year floodplain and the brown area the 500-year floodplain. The narrowness of the 500-year band indicates a steep slope. In fact, the land rises sharply from a low river terrace to a higher terrace in that transition zone.
Timing of Development
Holley says people could start building homes on the old course early next year. However, he did not say whether the property was permitted yet.
Other local subdivisions developed by Holley include: Kings Harbor, Deer Ridge Estates, Kings Lake Estates, and Summer Lake Ranch. Holley has developed land in the Kingwood area since 1992.
Is Drainage Sufficient?
Mr. Holley did say that 41 Forest Cove homeowners flooded during Imelda last year. Based on their concerns, he said that he is increasing drainage. He declined to answer other questions until he gets “further along in the engineering.”
Many neighbors have expressed concerns about the loss of pervious cover to streets, driveways, rooftops, etc. If the land is going to be developed, low density makes the most sense. And one or two families per acre certainly is better than four to eight. We have seen many such higher-density developments upstream in Montgomery County. Take Northpark Woods, for instance. Many Montgomery County developments do not even require detention ponds.
This project resides both within the City of Houston and Harris County. I will continue to watch it as the engineering evolves.
Detention in Floodways Less Effective
About 4 acres of the 20 acres on the lower terrace sits in the floodway. One flood expert told me, “Generally, detention basins in the floodway aren’t as effective (compared to those in a floodplain) because they get full of water before they can be of much use during a flood event. A detention basin works where it can fill up and store water during a major flood event, basically an extension of the natural floodplain.”
Posted by Bob Rehak on 4/14/2020
959 Days since Hurricane Harvey
New UP Railroad Bridge Over West Fork Complete
Union Pacific (UP) has completed the new railroad bridge over the San Jacinto West Fork near US59. During Harvey, the narrow supports of the old bridge caught many trees swept downstream by the flood. The new bridge, two years in the making, has wider supports designed to let trees pass through in the next flood.
History of Project
Shortly after Harvey, UP repaired the old bridge to facilitate northbound rail traffic out of Houston. Then the company started building a new bridge – between and over the supports of the old one. The effort was a marvel of American ingenuity. The new bridge also contains U-shaped spans designed to support the weight of heavy trains over the wider supports.
This afternoon, crews were dismantling the last of the massive cranes used to erect the new bridge.
One Less Contributor to Flooding to Worry About
This is yet another piece of the puzzle designed to reduce flooding in the Humble-Kingwood area. No one can say for sure, how much the logjam created by the old bridge contributed to flooding during Harvey. One thing is certain, however. That’s one less thing to worry about in the future.
One Month Ago
Photos of Completed Bridge
Dismantling Construction Crane
All around the job site on the south shore of the West Fork at 59, crews today could be seen demobilizing. It took one large crane to dismantle another.
This will help reduce flooding. It should also make boating far more pleasurable through this area.
Congratulations and thanks to the hard-working people of the Union Pacific railroad.
Next Up: Edgewater Park
Bridge construction had delayed development of Harris County Precinct 4’s new Edgewater Park immediately to the west. Let’s hope that can now get underway soon.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 4/13/2020
958 Days after Hurricane Harvey
River Grove Dredging Done, Only Cleanup Left
Ever since Harvey filled up the lagoon next to the River Grove boardwalk, Kingwood residents have clamored to restore the area. This week they got their wish. Kayden Industries has removed its two dredges and the giant “shaker” that separated sand from water. This morning, all that remained of the operation was a front-end loader, a giant pile of sand, and dump trucks rapidly carrying it away. They should be done with the operation this week.
Damage Due to Harvey
Here’s the story in pictures starting with Harvey.
Army Corps Breaks Through Blockage
KSA Excavates Park and Plans Dredging
It took the next year for KSA to:
It was a monumental effort. Dee Price, KSA President and steward of River Grove Park, and Bruce Casto, KSA’s maintenance man, deserve kudos for spearheading the effort and saving this park.
Step One for Dredging: Remove Vegetation
KSA approved River Grove dredging in November of 2019 but left the park open for the holidays. Mobilization began in January and dredging finally began in February of 2020.
Drying the Spoils Before Trucking
Last Week, Demobilization Began
Almost two months after it started, Kayden began demobilizing. Resident Josh Alberson captured the image below with his drone.
Some Repaving Left to Do
All the heavy traffic has taken a toll on park roads. “Everyone needs to understand that the paving problems on the road between the gate and the first stop sign were there long before we started trucking dirt,” said Dee Price, KSA President. “We have patched that area numerous times in the past.” Price said KSA needs to mill and re-pave that piece of road as the group did with the soccer road. Price plans to put that project in the next fiscal-year budget. But for now, she says, “We need to patch it again until we can do the major improvement next year.”
Posted by Bob Rehak on April 14, 2020 with thanks to Josh Alberson for the drone imagery
958 Days since Hurricane Harvey