Beginning March 27, 2018, the City of Houston lowered the level of Lake Houston in anticipation of flash flooding. The storm hit Kingwood in the afternoon of the 28th and was over by the morning of the 29th According to Harris County Flood Control rain gages, we received 2.64 inches of rain at the Kingwood Country Club and 3.36 inches at the US59 bridge. Areas upstream received as much as 5.5 inches. An average across the watershed was close to 4.
Thank you, Dave Martin and Sylvester Turner!
Mayor Sylvester Turner and Council Member Dave Martin should be congratulated on their decision to lower Lake Houston. Some low-lying areas like River Grove Park flooded. However, as of this writing, I’m not aware of any homes that flooded. Surely there would have been major property damage, given all the siltation from Hurricane Harvey, had the lake been at its normal level.
How the rain affected different parts of Kingwood
The underpass at the 59 bridge was closed due to high water early in the morning on the 29th. This is a perennial choke point. It has gotten worse since Harvey.
At Scenic Shores in Kings Point, the river was well within its banks thanks to the decision to lower the lake.
How much was it lowered? 2.5 feet according to the Coastal Water Authority.
Below is a photo taken last night in Kingwood Greens. It shows vast expanses of sand before the rain started. There were no reports of flooding in Kingwood Greens today, again, thanks in large part to the decision to lower the lake before the storm.
In Kings Lake Estates on the south side of the San Jacinto River, across from Kingwood Greens, the water got close. A resident sent this pic.
The homeowner above stated, “I am literally stunned how high the water is at my property right now even though the lake level was extremely low only 24 hours ago….and only after a modest rain storm last night.” To underscore the need to begin dredging immediately, he added, “This has NEVER happened before with such a minor rain event!”
Worst Flooding At River Grove Park
River Grove still has that massive sand bar blocking the drainage ditch. Water backed up behind that and flooded the park – for the second time within a month! See four images below.
As of 2:30 PM on March 29th, the disc golf course, playing fields, boat dock area and boardwalk at River Grove were totally under water. Additionally, about a third of the parking lot was under water and the flood level was continuing to rise.
All in all though, we lucked out with this storm largely because of the decision to lower the lake. Without that, flooding would have been much worse.
Anxiously Awaiting Dredging
Yesterday, the county approved money to begin dredging this area. Hopefully that will help cure the flooding woes at River Grove and give us a great margin of safety elsewhere.
As bad as these pictures look, about three weeks ago, on one-fifth the amount of rain that we received last night, the flooding was far worse.Before Harvey and the giant sand blockage at the base of the drainage ditch, River Grove could take twice as much rain without this much flooding.
As the resident who owned the gazebo above said, “With no major dredging, Kingwood residents better start praying every single day that we don’t get a tropical storm or even minor hurricane. We need dredging SOON!”
Posted by Bob Rehak on March 29, 2018
212 days since Hurricane Harvey
00adminadmin2018-03-29 17:42:432023-11-22 09:04:24Impact of March 28/29 Rain and Lower Lake Level on Kingwood
On March 27, 2018, Houston City Council Member Dave Martin’s office issued a press release about an adjustment to the level of Lake Houston that would reduce the likelihood of flooding. Today, March 28, 2018, this office released this clarification on how much the level would be lowered and for how long.
Clarification: Temporary Reduction to the Level of Lake Houston
Houston, TX – To clarify a press release that went out yesterday regarding the reduction of Lake Houston, the level of the Lake is temporarily being reduced for seasonal rain events until the river, lake, and interior channels can be dredged. Harris County has approved the request for qualifications for engineering and environmental permitting to support the dredging of the West Fork of the San Jacinto River.
Once the lake is lowered to 40 feet it is the City of Houston’s plan to adjust the spillway gates to maintain a level of 40 feet temporarily moving forward this rainy and hurricane season. The lake is currently releasing 7,600 cubic feet per second, and the elevation is 40.52 feet. No major changes in policy have been made. This temporary reduction addresses the immediate concerns of the Lake Houston Community, including Kingwood, Humble, Atascocita, and Huffman.
This lower lake level will continue to be observed while the City works with area partners to address siltation and other coordination efforts with Lake Conroe. The City of Houston will continue to monitor and evaluate water demand, weather patterns and other mitigation activities.
In the event, the City of Houston has a need for additional water, the City has the ability through existing water rights to call water from Lake Conroe and Lake Livingston to meet high demand. For more information, please contact the District E office at (832) 393-3008 or via email at districte@houstontx.gov.
-End-
One day after the City started lowering the level of Lake Houston, this is what the West Fork looked like. Below is a photo taken in Kingwood Greens courtesy of Dianne Lansden looking toward the south shore of the river. The two foot reduction in lake level revealed just how much the capacity of the West Fork has been reduced by sand deposits.
Posted 211 days after Hurricane Harvey
00adminadmin2018-03-28 21:21:202018-03-29 17:55:25Clarification from District E on Lake Level Adjustment
Today, District E Houston City Council Member Dave Martin, who has been working tirelessly on flood issues since Hurricane Harvey, issued the following press release. It announces the lowering of Lake Houston on a long-term basis which should help reduce the danger of flooding by giving the watershed more capacity to absorb heavy rains. This is welcome news, especially as hurricane season approaches.
The full text of the press release follows. It contains updates on other related issues including a vote on dredging today in Harris County commissioner’s court. Note the comment about the extent of dredging. The program they are considering stops at West Lake Houston Parkway. That will probably not be welcome news for people in Kingwood Greens, Town Center, Kings Harbor, Fosters Mill and Kings Point. Hopefully, this is just the start of a more extensive dredging program.
Effective Immediately the Level of Lake Houston is Being Reduced
Houston, TX – Houston City Council Member Dave Martin would like to announce that after a meeting held yesterday with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, the daily pooling level of Lake Houston will be reduced from 42.5 feet to 40 feet, effective immediately. Last night, Houston Public Works Director, Carol Haddock, directed the Coastal Water Authority to start lowering the level of Lake Houston in advance of Wednesday’s predicted storms. Council Member Martin has confirmed that all gates at Lake Houston are open and the level of Lake Houston is anticipated to reach the desired 40 foot mark by Wednesday evening.
Once the lake is lowered to 40 feet it is the City of Houston’s plan to adjust the spillway gates to maintain a level of 40 feet moving forward on a long-term basis. This will address the immediate concerns of the Lake Houston Community, including Kingwood, Humble, Atascocita, and Huffman. This lower lake level will continue to be observed while the City works with area partners to address siltation and other coordination efforts with Lake Conroe. The City of Houston will continue to monitor and evaluate water demand, weather patterns and other mitigation activities.
This morning, Harris County Commissioner’s Court will vote to authorize requests for qualifications (RFQ) for engineering and other services to identify watershed-wide flood risks, evaluate food mitigation strategies that address those risks and develop recommendations to enhance the flood warning system and action plans used by the emergency managers in the San Jacinto River Basin from its headwaters in Lake Houston across Harris County Precincts 1, 2, and 4. Harris County will be working with the San Jacinto River Authority as well as other municipalities to accomplish this task which was a part of Governor Greg Abbott’s charges for the region.
Additionally, Harris County will also be requesting authorization for RFQs for engineering, environmental permitting, and other services in support of dredging the West Fork of the San Jacinto River from IH-59 to Lake Houston Parkway. This was another of Governor Abbott’s charges during his visit to the Kingwood Area. All parties are committed to working together to swiftly move the dredging project forward in preparation for this year’s hurricane season.
Council Member Martin has been working diligently over the last few weeks to make sure the efforts of dredging are not short lived. The visit of Texas Land Commissioner, George P. Bush, and continued communication with the Governor’s office have allowed us to partner with the Aggregate Production Operators (APO) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The continued interest and participation of statewide leaders helps local efforts by assisting us in identifying red tape and providing solutions to these obstacles. Next Tuesday, April 3, we anticipate a visit from Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick who has expressed an interest in touring the San Jacinto Watershed by air and water.
These state partnerships allow us the opportunity to closely evaluate existing regulations for sand mining as well as the ability to increase the strength of these existing policies. The regional APOs have stepped up to the table and want to be a part of the solution. Texas Senator Brandon Creighton and Texas State Representative Dan Huberty continue to be champions for stricter sand mining regulations to protect our watershed.
The problem of flooding within the San Jacinto Watershed is a difficult one to tackle due to the size of the watershed and many jurisdictions involved but Council Member Martin is creating relationships where none have existed before and knows that working together will get us further along the path to a long term solution.
For more information, please contact the District E office at (832) 393-3008 or via email at districte@houstontx.gov.
Posted 210 days after Hurricane Harvey.
00adminadmin2018-03-27 12:02:062018-03-27 15:21:24Level of Lake Houston Being Lowered and Other Flooding Updates
Impact of March 28/29 Rain and Lower Lake Level on Kingwood
Beginning March 27, 2018, the City of Houston lowered the level of Lake Houston in anticipation of flash flooding. The storm hit Kingwood in the afternoon of the 28th and was over by the morning of the 29th According to Harris County Flood Control rain gages, we received 2.64 inches of rain at the Kingwood Country Club and 3.36 inches at the US59 bridge. Areas upstream received as much as 5.5 inches. An average across the watershed was close to 4.
Thank you, Dave Martin and Sylvester Turner!
Mayor Sylvester Turner and Council Member Dave Martin should be congratulated on their decision to lower Lake Houston. Some low-lying areas like River Grove Park flooded. However, as of this writing, I’m not aware of any homes that flooded. Surely there would have been major property damage, given all the siltation from Hurricane Harvey, had the lake been at its normal level.
How the rain affected different parts of Kingwood
The underpass at the 59 bridge was closed due to high water early in the morning on the 29th. This is a perennial choke point. It has gotten worse since Harvey.
At Scenic Shores in Kings Point, the river was well within its banks thanks to the decision to lower the lake.
How much was it lowered? 2.5 feet according to the Coastal Water Authority.
Below is a photo taken last night in Kingwood Greens. It shows vast expanses of sand before the rain started. There were no reports of flooding in Kingwood Greens today, again, thanks in large part to the decision to lower the lake before the storm.
In Kings Lake Estates on the south side of the San Jacinto River, across from Kingwood Greens, the water got close. A resident sent this pic.
The homeowner above stated, “I am literally stunned how high the water is at my property right now even though the lake level was extremely low only 24 hours ago….and only after a modest rain storm last night.” To underscore the need to begin dredging immediately, he added, “This has NEVER happened before with such a minor rain event!”
Worst Flooding At River Grove Park
River Grove still has that massive sand bar blocking the drainage ditch. Water backed up behind that and flooded the park – for the second time within a month! See four images below.
As of 2:30 PM on March 29th, the disc golf course, playing fields, boat dock area and boardwalk at River Grove were totally under water. Additionally, about a third of the parking lot was under water and the flood level was continuing to rise.
Anxiously Awaiting Dredging
Yesterday, the county approved money to begin dredging this area. Hopefully that will help cure the flooding woes at River Grove and give us a great margin of safety elsewhere.
As bad as these pictures look, about three weeks ago, on one-fifth the amount of rain that we received last night, the flooding was far worse. Before Harvey and the giant sand blockage at the base of the drainage ditch, River Grove could take twice as much rain without this much flooding.
As the resident who owned the gazebo above said, “With no major dredging, Kingwood residents better start praying every single day that we don’t get a tropical storm or even minor hurricane. We need dredging SOON!”
Posted by Bob Rehak on March 29, 2018
212 days since Hurricane Harvey
Clarification from District E on Lake Level Adjustment
On March 27, 2018, Houston City Council Member Dave Martin’s office issued a press release about an adjustment to the level of Lake Houston that would reduce the likelihood of flooding. Today, March 28, 2018, this office released this clarification on how much the level would be lowered and for how long.
Level of Lake Houston Being Lowered and Other Flooding Updates
Today, District E Houston City Council Member Dave Martin, who has been working tirelessly on flood issues since Hurricane Harvey, issued the following press release. It announces the lowering of Lake Houston on a long-term basis which should help reduce the danger of flooding by giving the watershed more capacity to absorb heavy rains. This is welcome news, especially as hurricane season approaches.
The full text of the press release follows. It contains updates on other related issues including a vote on dredging today in Harris County commissioner’s court. Note the comment about the extent of dredging. The program they are considering stops at West Lake Houston Parkway. That will probably not be welcome news for people in Kingwood Greens, Town Center, Kings Harbor, Fosters Mill and Kings Point. Hopefully, this is just the start of a more extensive dredging program.