At its monthly meeting, members of the KSA Parks Committee voted unanimously to approve $60,000 to begin emergency repairs to East End Park immediately. The vote followed a presentation by Bob Rehak (me), Park Steward; Dee Price, KSA President; and Maryanne Fortson, KSA Secretary and President of Fosters Mill.
Safety Concerns Jumpstart Repairs
The presentation detailed damage by Imelda and historic East Fork flooding that put most of the park under water during the tropical storm. Much of the discussion focused on safety concerns following a review of photos taken from land, boat and helicopter, including those below.
Pelican Overlook Trail consumed by erosion from river during Imelda.Same scene from river shows undercut banks. People standing near river could trigger dangerous cave ins.More trail erosion in East End Park. The river migrated approximately 50 feet south consuming large parts of two trails.
The photos (including those above) showed significant bank erosion to the northern shoreline of the park. The river undercut two trails as it migrated south about fifty feet during the storm. Parts of two trails fell into the river: the Pelican Overlook and Eagle Point Trails.
Photos (above) taken from Josh Alberson’s boat show significant undercutting of the shoreline in those areas. That means, someone standing on the edge could trigger a cave in.
KSA has tried to close the park three times, but people keep tearing down the warning signs.
Options Discussed but NOT Included in Emergency Repairs
As part of the discussion on the motion, the Committee examined several alternative solutions to restoring the park to full functionality.
A short new trail (further inland) will reconnect the two parts of the severed Pelican Overlook Trail.
Fallen logs will block off the parts of the existing trail in danger of caving into the river. Metal signs will be screwed into the logs warning people of dangers ahead.
KSA will abandon the Eagle Point Trail and rename it the “Dunes Area” of the park. Residents can still access the Dunes Area, but no trails will run through it. This will reduce current and future repair and maintenance costs; repairing that area consumed a large portion of the budget after Harvey. The dunes should offer a new experience for park-goers, especially those who like climbing or hiking in sand for cardio workouts.
As a separate project (not included in the $60,000), KSA will explore the cost of building a new trail that connects the South Loop and Pelican Overlook trails without going all the way back to the main entry trail. It would go to the south of the “overflow channel” that carries floodwater through that section of the park and would not require bridges.
Also as a separate project, KSA would compare two options for replacing a portion of the South Loop trail. The portion – between Heron’s Rest and the turn-off to the main boardwalk – turns into mud after every flood. The mud comes from several inches of silt deposited on TOP of the crushed granite trail. The first option: relocating the trail atop a berm that parallels the current trail about 50 feet further inland. The second option: replacing the current trail with a low boardwalk, like the ones near Alligator Alley.
Dunes Area Will Revert to Nature
This birds’ nest used to be the height of a basketball hoop. After Imelda, it’s ankle high.Photo by John Knoezer.
Emergency Repairs Will Include…
The Parks Committee appointed Rehak, Fortson and Price as a subcommittee to approve emergency repair costs, rather than wait another month for the Parks Committee to meet again. Included in the emergency repairs:
Tree removal, where necessary
Patching trails scoured by the flood to create a stable hiking and jogging surface
Resurfacing most muddy areas with crushed granite
Boardwalk repairs
Restoring the telephone poles in the parking lot to their original positions
Replacing trail underliner on hills with gravel to create a more stable base for crushed granite. The latter will form the top finished surface.
Erecting barricades and signs warning of hazardous conditions where the river undercut existing trails
Cleaning all boardwalks and benches
Removing all flood debris from trails.
Restoring An Ecological Gem
An estimated 70,000 to 80,000 visitors per year use East End Park. It is an ecological gem, valued as much for the 150 bird species that migrate through the park and a herd of deer that lives in the park year round, as for the quiet, restorative atmosphere that bonds families together on nature walks.
Five area cross country teams also use the park for practice. Joggers value the soft surface of crushed granite. It’s much easier on knees and backs than concrete.
East End Park is also one of the few dog-friendly parks in the City of Houston. Different people like the park for different reasons. It has so much to offer.
I remember one time, seeing a man sitting at a new bench in a particularly beautiful part of the park. He came day after day to walk in beauty and meditate on nature. One day, I asked him what he got out of it. It gave him the motivation, he said, to cope with chemo.
The poster below shows how the park looked then and how it will soon look again.
What East End Park looked like BEFORE Imelda.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/3/2019 with gratitude to Josh Alberson, John Knoezer, Dee Price, Maryanne Fortson, National Helicopter Service and the entire KSA Parks Committee
765 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 14 since Imelda
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/EEP_001_23.jpg?fit=1500%2C1000&ssl=110001500adminadmin2019-10-03 23:50:352019-10-03 23:50:44KSA Approves $60,000 to Begin Emergency Repairs to East End Park Immediately
Houston City Council Member Dave Martin would like for Kingwood residents to know that the City of Houston has filed cease-and-desist orders against Perry Homes, Double Oak Construction, Inc., and Figure Four Partners, Ltd. for the discharge of stormwater from the Woodridge Village development site.
Erosion within Woodridge Forest. Photo taken two days after Imelda on 9/21/2019How the streets looked in Elm Grove on 9/20/2019.
Basis of Cease-and-Desist Order
These cease-and-desist orders were issued in response to the discharge of sand, silt, sediment, and debris from the development site into the Municipal Storm Sewer System (MS4) on September 19, 2019.
This discharge is in direct violation of City of Houston Ordinance: ARTICLE XII. – STORM WATER DISCHARGES, DIVISION 5 – ILLICIT DISCHARGES AND CONNECTIONS, Section 47-741 – Discharge to MS4 prohibited (a) A person commits an offense if the person threatens to introduce, introduces or causes to be introduced into the MS4 any discharge that is not composed entirely of storm water.
Severe Damage to COH Property and Citizens
This discharge has caused severe damage to the City of Houston’s MS4 and to the property of the citizens of the City of Houston.
As a result of this discharge, the City of Houston started last week a 12-week extensive investigation of the stormwater system located within Elm Grove and other effected communities within the far northeast section of Kingwood. This investigation is currently 10 percent complete.
Another Update Coming on October 17
Another update on this investigation will be provided during the Council Member Martin’s Kingwood Town Hall Meeting to be held on Thursday, October 17, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. located at the Kingwood Community Center (4102 Rustic Woods, Kingwood, TX 77345).
Council Member Martin is actively pursuing additional measures to be taken to further protect the residents of Kingwood. Although he has not yet specified what those are, members of his staff implied that they may be seeking to throw executives for the defendants into jail until the situation is remedied.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/2/2019
764 Days After Hurricane Harvey and 13 after Imelda
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Helicopter_144.jpg?fit=1500%2C1000&ssl=110001500adminadmin2019-10-02 17:13:052019-10-02 17:13:16City of Houston Files Cease-and-Desist Order Against Perry Homes, Double Oak, and Figure Four Partners
In the 2+ years since Hurricane Harvey, many East Fork residents complained that the West Fork was getting all the media attention and remediation dollars. Imelda may have just changed that narrative. An East Fork Mouth Bar rapidly increased in size during the storm.
Rapid Increase in Sedimentation Between Royal Shores and Luce Bayou
Between Luce Bayou and Royal Shores, Josh Alberson, an East Fork resident and boater says the channel recently measured as much as 18 feet deep. Last weekend, when checking cross-sections on the depth finder of his jet boat, the deepest part of the channel measured three to four feet in that same area. Here’s what it looks like from a helicopter pointing south toward Lake Houston and the FM1960 Bridge.
East Fork Mouth Bar. Photo taken one week after Imelda on 9/27/19.
It’s clear that portions of these bars preceded Imelda, just as portions of the West Fork Mouth Bar preceded Harvey. You can tell that by the vegetation. However, you can also see the immense recent growth of these bars in the areas without vegetation.
Shots taken from the boat show vast expanses of sand now clogging the East Fork.
Looking south toward the entrance to Lake Houston.Photo taken on 9/29/19.Channel between here and Luce Bayou (out of frame on the left) averaged 3-4 feet deep.Looking west toward Royal Shores from same location. Photo taken 9/29/19.Looking east toward Luce Bayou, I captured this shot of a dead tree on 9/29/19. It underscores how shallow the river is at this location. More than half the root ball sits above water.
Hundreds, Possibly Thousands of Trees Down
Upstream, hundreds, if not thousands of trees were uprooted by Imelda. The City and DRC had just completed removing such hazards. They did a thorough and beautiful job. However, Imelda will mean starting over…at least on the East Fork.
Giant Sand Bars Now Filling More than Half of River
The sand bar opposite East End Park migrated downstream. It also expanded outward and may have contributed to significant erosion on the parks northern shore. It now cuts off more than half the river. Not surprisingly The river appears to have migrated south in this area by at least 50 feet.Opposite the massive sand bar above, entire trails have been washed away in East End Park. Beware of possible bank collapse. Very dangerous conditions exist on trails. Do not use the park until repairs have been completed.The storm deposited other sand bars father upstream, like this one in the approximate area of Woodstream. It was just below where Taylor Gully enters the river at Dunham Road.
Fourth Breach Discovered at Sand Mine
Still unknown: how much of a role multiple breaches at the Triple PG mine played in sedimentation.
View of partial breach near north end of Triple PG mine from Caney Creek. Photo by Charlie Fahrmeier. Taken on 9/30/19. Above the partial breach shown in the photo above. Fahrmeier says he found the grass all laying down in one direction indicating rushing water inundated it recently. Photo taken on 9/30/19.
Role of Sand Mine Under Investigation
Dan Huberty today announced that Ken Paxton, the state attorney general, has agreed to investigate the Triple PG mine. A spokesman for the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration said investigators were headed to the site today. The TCEQ has also launched an investigation.
Clearly, the mine is not responsible for all of the sand in the river. But its location in TWO floodways, four possible breaches, and loss of a major portion of its stockpile indicate it played some role in the massive sedimentation.
Looking south across the Triple PG Mine’s main stockpile. White Oak Creek swept in from the right and Caney Creek from the left. The stockpile measures approximately 20 acres and has risen to an estimated 90-100 feet at times. On this day, 9/27/19, it was much smaller. Whether that was due to erosion or sales is unknown.Notice all the equipment laying on its side to the right of the metal buildings.
Substantial Repairs?
After a breach in May, the mine simply dumped sand in the hole which quickly eroded again. Photo taken 9/29/19.
I doubt this meets the TCEQ requirements for substantial repairs.
Close up of breach repair. It appears to be nothing but sand.Photo 9/29/19.
Whether these repairs were intended to fail or whether the operator didn’t care if they failed, the result was the same. More sand in the river. And more gunk in your drinking water supply.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/2/2019with thanks to Josh Alberson and Charlie Fahrmeier.
764 Days after Hurricane Harvey and 13 since Imelda
All thoughts expressed in this post represent my opinions on matters of public policy 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/2019/10/MouthBar9.27.19_1500dpi.jpg?fit=1500%2C1000&ssl=110001500adminadmin2019-10-01 21:38:002019-10-01 22:06:53East Fork Mouth Bar Rapidly Developing
KSA Approves $60,000 to Begin Emergency Repairs to East End Park Immediately
At its monthly meeting, members of the KSA Parks Committee voted unanimously to approve $60,000 to begin emergency repairs to East End Park immediately. The vote followed a presentation by Bob Rehak (me), Park Steward; Dee Price, KSA President; and Maryanne Fortson, KSA Secretary and President of Fosters Mill.
Safety Concerns Jumpstart Repairs
The presentation detailed damage by Imelda and historic East Fork flooding that put most of the park under water during the tropical storm. Much of the discussion focused on safety concerns following a review of photos taken from land, boat and helicopter, including those below.
The photos (including those above) showed significant bank erosion to the northern shoreline of the park. The river undercut two trails as it migrated south about fifty feet during the storm. Parts of two trails fell into the river: the Pelican Overlook and Eagle Point Trails.
Photos (above) taken from Josh Alberson’s boat show significant undercutting of the shoreline in those areas. That means, someone standing on the edge could trigger a cave in.
Options Discussed but NOT Included in Emergency Repairs
As part of the discussion on the motion, the Committee examined several alternative solutions to restoring the park to full functionality.
Dunes Area Will Revert to Nature
Emergency Repairs Will Include…
The Parks Committee appointed Rehak, Fortson and Price as a subcommittee to approve emergency repair costs, rather than wait another month for the Parks Committee to meet again. Included in the emergency repairs:
Restoring An Ecological Gem
An estimated 70,000 to 80,000 visitors per year use East End Park. It is an ecological gem, valued as much for the 150 bird species that migrate through the park and a herd of deer that lives in the park year round, as for the quiet, restorative atmosphere that bonds families together on nature walks.
Five area cross country teams also use the park for practice. Joggers value the soft surface of crushed granite. It’s much easier on knees and backs than concrete.
East End Park is also one of the few dog-friendly parks in the City of Houston. Different people like the park for different reasons. It has so much to offer.
I remember one time, seeing a man sitting at a new bench in a particularly beautiful part of the park. He came day after day to walk in beauty and meditate on nature. One day, I asked him what he got out of it. It gave him the motivation, he said, to cope with chemo.
The poster below shows how the park looked then and how it will soon look again.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/3/2019 with gratitude to Josh Alberson, John Knoezer, Dee Price, Maryanne Fortson, National Helicopter Service and the entire KSA Parks Committee
765 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 14 since Imelda
City of Houston Files Cease-and-Desist Order Against Perry Homes, Double Oak, and Figure Four Partners
Houston City Council Member Dave Martin would like for Kingwood residents to know that the City of Houston has filed cease-and-desist orders against Perry Homes, Double Oak Construction, Inc., and Figure Four Partners, Ltd. for the discharge of stormwater from the Woodridge Village development site.
Basis of Cease-and-Desist Order
These cease-and-desist orders were issued in response to the discharge of sand, silt, sediment, and debris from the development site into the Municipal Storm Sewer System (MS4) on September 19, 2019.
This discharge is in direct violation of City of Houston Ordinance: ARTICLE XII. – STORM WATER DISCHARGES, DIVISION 5 – ILLICIT DISCHARGES AND CONNECTIONS, Section 47-741 – Discharge to MS4 prohibited (a) A person commits an offense if the person threatens to introduce, introduces or causes to be introduced into the MS4 any discharge that is not composed entirely of storm water.
Severe Damage to COH Property and Citizens
This discharge has caused severe damage to the City of Houston’s MS4 and to the property of the citizens of the City of Houston.
As a result of this discharge, the City of Houston started last week a 12-week extensive investigation of the stormwater system located within Elm Grove and other effected communities within the far northeast section of Kingwood. This investigation is currently 10 percent complete.
Another Update Coming on October 17
Another update on this investigation will be provided during the Council Member Martin’s Kingwood Town Hall Meeting to be held on Thursday, October 17, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. located at the Kingwood Community Center (4102 Rustic Woods, Kingwood, TX 77345).
Council Member Martin is actively pursuing additional measures to be taken to further protect the residents of Kingwood. Although he has not yet specified what those are, members of his staff implied that they may be seeking to throw executives for the defendants into jail until the situation is remedied.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/2/2019
764 Days After Hurricane Harvey and 13 after Imelda
East Fork Mouth Bar Rapidly Developing
In the 2+ years since Hurricane Harvey, many East Fork residents complained that the West Fork was getting all the media attention and remediation dollars. Imelda may have just changed that narrative. An East Fork Mouth Bar rapidly increased in size during the storm.
Rapid Increase in Sedimentation Between Royal Shores and Luce Bayou
Between Luce Bayou and Royal Shores, Josh Alberson, an East Fork resident and boater says the channel recently measured as much as 18 feet deep. Last weekend, when checking cross-sections on the depth finder of his jet boat, the deepest part of the channel measured three to four feet in that same area. Here’s what it looks like from a helicopter pointing south toward Lake Houston and the FM1960 Bridge.
It’s clear that portions of these bars preceded Imelda, just as portions of the West Fork Mouth Bar preceded Harvey. You can tell that by the vegetation. However, you can also see the immense recent growth of these bars in the areas without vegetation.
Shots taken from the boat show vast expanses of sand now clogging the East Fork.
Hundreds, Possibly Thousands of Trees Down
Giant Sand Bars Now Filling More than Half of River
Fourth Breach Discovered at Sand Mine
Charlie Fahrmeier discovered yet another breach at the mine on Monday; this one partial.
Role of Sand Mine Under Investigation
Dan Huberty today announced that Ken Paxton, the state attorney general, has agreed to investigate the Triple PG mine. A spokesman for the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration said investigators were headed to the site today. The TCEQ has also launched an investigation.
Clearly, the mine is not responsible for all of the sand in the river. But its location in TWO floodways, four possible breaches, and loss of a major portion of its stockpile indicate it played some role in the massive sedimentation.
Substantial Repairs?
I doubt this meets the TCEQ requirements for substantial repairs.
Whether these repairs were intended to fail or whether the operator didn’t care if they failed, the result was the same. More sand in the river. And more gunk in your drinking water supply.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/2/2019 with thanks to Josh Alberson and Charlie Fahrmeier.
764 Days after Hurricane Harvey and 13 since Imelda
All thoughts expressed in this post represent my opinions on matters of public policy and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP statute of the Great State of Texas.