Callan has already begun demobilizing. So far, the company has unhooked its dredge from its pipeline and is removing its booster pumps and other equipment from the river. Callan should have all of its equipment back at the command site dock by this weekend.
Yesterday, Keith Jordan, a resident of Kings Lake Estates, greeted the news joyfully. “Hallelujah! It’s simply amazing how quiet it is tonight. It’s been a long 8 months!” Jordan had a booster pump anchored behind his home the entire time and complained several times to the Corps about noise.
Callan operated the blue dredge that worked the area downstream from the West Lake Houston Parkway bridge since approximately January.
Callan dredge near King’s Harbor on Jan. 31, 2019. West Lake Houston Parkway Bridge in background. Callan booster pump on far side of bridge.
Mouth Bar Contract Extension Ahead of Schedule
In other news, Great Lakes is far ahead of schedule on a contract extension. The extension is a separate mission assignment from FEMA to the Corps for slightly more than $17 million. It involves dredging 500,000 cubic yards of sediment from the mouth bar. The Corps originally thought the extension would take until January, 2020. However, at the current rate, Great Lakes could finish next month – in less than half the time predicted.
Five-hundred thousand cubic yards will barely scratch the surface of what needs to be removed and may not even be sufficient to cut a channel through the mouth bar area, thus leaving most of the mouth bar intact. It is unclear at this time what the plans are to restore conveyance through this area of the West Fork.
Current Dredging Photos from Carolyn Daniel
A reader, Carolyn Daniel, sent me several pictures taken earlier this week from the window of an airplane as it descended into Bush Intercontinental Airport. They show the Great Lakes Dredge south of the mouth bar. The company also removed vegetation from leading edge of the mouth bar itself. Perhaps they hoped that river currents could help erode the bar which contains far more than 500,000 cubic yards.
Great Lakes Dredge near Mouth Bar with Kingwood in background. Looking north. Town Center is on left and Kings Point on the right. Photo courtesy of Carolyn Daniel. Taken 8/5/2019.Seconds later, as her plane descended, Carolyn Daniel grabbed this shot of mouth bar dredging. Also looking north, it shows Atascocita Point in the foreground and Fosters Mill and Kings Point in the background.
These images illustrate the enormity of the task ahead and the need to be ruthlessly efficient with resources and time.
Challenges Ahead
Tomorrow, I will look at some of the challenges ahead, and some of the obstacles to restoring conveyance.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/8/2019with photos from Carolyn Daniel
709 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_3555.jpeg?fit=1500%2C1125&ssl=111251500adminadmin2019-08-08 17:40:342019-08-08 17:40:44First Phase of West Fork Dredging Completed
This month, you have three opportunities to attend meetings that could help reduce flooding in the Lake Houston area.
TWDB Visits Tomball to Solicit Input on State’s First Flood Plan
On Friday, August 9, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) will hold a meeting in Tomball. Purpose: to solicit public opinion on rules and guidelines for Texas’ first statewide flood plan. Here’s more information about the event and the TWDB. The TWDB is the state’s water agency. It’s primary mission is developing and maintaining lakes and reservoirs that support economic growth. This year, the legislature put them into the flood mitigation business, too. They’re looking for the best ways to spend $800 million on flood mitigation from the state’s Rainy Day Fund. TWDB will hold the event at:
Beckendorf Conference Center at Lone Star College–Tomball
30555 Tomball Pkwy.
Tomball, TX 77375
9:30-11:30 a.m.
Friday, August 9
Sign up for more information about these meetings and other flood information at the TWDB’s website. You can also contact the TWDB at (512) 463-8725 or flood@twdb.texas.gov.
TWDB Makes Repeat Appearance at Houston City Hall
If you can’t make the event in Tomball, you have another chance. TWDB will repeat the event at:
Houston City Hall
Council Chamber, 2nd Floor
901 Bagby Street
Houston, TX 77002
9:30 to 11:30
Friday, August 23
Montgomery County Will Hear Testimony on Closing Detention Loophole
You don’t have to be a Montgomery County resident to testify. As downstream residents of the Lake Houston Area, you may be affected by this more than Montgomery County residents are.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/7/2019
708 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/SchoolBus.jpg?fit=1500%2C1689&ssl=116891500adminadmin2019-08-06 21:55:552019-08-06 21:56:05Mark Your Calendar: Important Meetings Related to Flooding
An article in the New York Times about a looming water crisis caught my eye today. Datelined Bangalore, India, the article describes how “Countries that are home to one-fourth of Earth’s population face an increasingly urgent risk: The prospect of running out of water.” So what does that have to do with flooding? Many of those countries also experience cyclic flooding. Sound familiar?
Uncanny Parallels to Houston
In yet another uncanny parallel to our situation – i.e., with the Water Wars in Montgomery County – “…some are squandering what water they have. Several are relying too heavily on groundwater, which instead they should be replenishing and saving for times of drought.”
In Chennai, India’s fourth largest city, residents accustomed to relying on groundwater for years now find none left. So the city is forced to transport water from farther and farther away (like our Luce Bayou Project). They lose significant amounts in the process due to evaporation and leakage.
The World Resources Institute expects the number of people worldwide living in “extremely high water stress” to nearly double in the next decade.
Cape Town, a city roughly the size of Houston, had to ration water last year.
Drought and Flooding Solutions Often Overlap
In Bangalore, lakes that once dotted the city have been filled in, much the way we fill in wetlands, so they can no longer collect rainwater and serve as the city’s water storage tanks.
That parallel reminded me of the dwindling water capacity in Lake Houston due to sedimentation. With backup supplies in Lake Livingston and Lake Conroe, Houston certainly doesn’t have to worry about running out of water any time soon. But as recent sedimentation surveys near the mouth bar showed, we do have to worry about loss of lake capacity.
Difference map developed by Tetra Tech for City of Houston in Feb/March, 2019, showing areas of deposition and scour near the West Fork Mouth Bar. Overall, Tetra Tech estimates that this small 350-acre area of Lake Houston gained 504-acre feet of sedimentsince the previous survey in 2011. Brown areas represent more than 5 FEET of deposition.
Drought and floods represent two sides of the same coin. This article reminded me that solutions to one problem can also help solve the other. For instance…
Developing adequate surface water supplies and saving ground water as the backup. This can reduce subsidence which can lead to flooding.
Improving lake/river capacity by dredging can eliminate blockages that also cause flooding.
As we move forward with West Fork and maintenance dredging, we should remember this. We aren’t just looking at costs that benefit Lake Houston residents. We’re looking at costs that benefit millions of residents in the larger metropolitan area. It’s not just about flooding. It’s also about water capacity for a rapidly growing population.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/6/2019
707 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/DifferenceMap.jpg?fit=2004%2C1340&ssl=113402004adminadmin2019-08-06 20:53:322019-08-06 21:01:50NY Times Article Says Quarter of Humanity Facing Looming Water Crisis
First Phase of West Fork Dredging Completed
The Army Corps has completed the original scope of its West Fork Emergency Dredging Project. Great Lakes, the prime contractor, finished its portion of the job in mid-April. This week, Callan Marine, the subcontractor, finished its portion of the dredging.
Subcontractor Callan Marine Now Demobilizing
Callan has already begun demobilizing. So far, the company has unhooked its dredge from its pipeline and is removing its booster pumps and other equipment from the river. Callan should have all of its equipment back at the command site dock by this weekend.
Yesterday, Keith Jordan, a resident of Kings Lake Estates, greeted the news joyfully. “Hallelujah! It’s simply amazing how quiet it is tonight. It’s been a long 8 months!” Jordan had a booster pump anchored behind his home the entire time and complained several times to the Corps about noise.
Callan operated the blue dredge that worked the area downstream from the West Lake Houston Parkway bridge since approximately January.
Mouth Bar Contract Extension Ahead of Schedule
In other news, Great Lakes is far ahead of schedule on a contract extension. The extension is a separate mission assignment from FEMA to the Corps for slightly more than $17 million. It involves dredging 500,000 cubic yards of sediment from the mouth bar. The Corps originally thought the extension would take until January, 2020. However, at the current rate, Great Lakes could finish next month – in less than half the time predicted.
Current Dredging Photos from Carolyn Daniel
A reader, Carolyn Daniel, sent me several pictures taken earlier this week from the window of an airplane as it descended into Bush Intercontinental Airport. They show the Great Lakes Dredge south of the mouth bar. The company also removed vegetation from leading edge of the mouth bar itself. Perhaps they hoped that river currents could help erode the bar which contains far more than 500,000 cubic yards.
These images illustrate the enormity of the task ahead and the need to be ruthlessly efficient with resources and time.
Challenges Ahead
Tomorrow, I will look at some of the challenges ahead, and some of the obstacles to restoring conveyance.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/8/2019 with photos from Carolyn Daniel
709 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Mark Your Calendar: Important Meetings Related to Flooding
This month, you have three opportunities to attend meetings that could help reduce flooding in the Lake Houston area.
TWDB Visits Tomball to Solicit Input on State’s First Flood Plan
On Friday, August 9, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) will hold a meeting in Tomball. Purpose: to solicit public opinion on rules and guidelines for Texas’ first statewide flood plan. Here’s more information about the event and the TWDB. The TWDB is the state’s water agency. It’s primary mission is developing and maintaining lakes and reservoirs that support economic growth. This year, the legislature put them into the flood mitigation business, too. They’re looking for the best ways to spend $800 million on flood mitigation from the state’s Rainy Day Fund. TWDB will hold the event at:
Sign up for more information about these meetings and other flood information at the TWDB’s website. You can also contact the TWDB at (512) 463-8725 or flood@twdb.texas.gov.
TWDB Makes Repeat Appearance at Houston City Hall
If you can’t make the event in Tomball, you have another chance. TWDB will repeat the event at:
Montgomery County Will Hear Testimony on Closing Detention Loophole
On Tuesday, August 27th, Montgomery County Commissioners will consider a motion to close a loophole that allows developers to avoid building detention ponds. Expect developers to testify against closing the “flood routing study” loophole. You can testify FOR closing it, however.
The meeting starts at 9:30. Montgomery County has special sign-up procedures for citizens who wish to testify; make sure you sign up beforehand. Check the agenda beforehand to plan your time. You can also register your opinion with county commissioners via phone or email.
You don’t have to be a Montgomery County resident to testify. As downstream residents of the Lake Houston Area, you may be affected by this more than Montgomery County residents are.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/7/2019
708 Days since Hurricane Harvey
NY Times Article Says Quarter of Humanity Facing Looming Water Crisis
An article in the New York Times about a looming water crisis caught my eye today. Datelined Bangalore, India, the article describes how “Countries that are home to one-fourth of Earth’s population face an increasingly urgent risk: The prospect of running out of water.” So what does that have to do with flooding? Many of those countries also experience cyclic flooding. Sound familiar?
Uncanny Parallels to Houston
In yet another uncanny parallel to our situation – i.e., with the Water Wars in Montgomery County – “…some are squandering what water they have. Several are relying too heavily on groundwater, which instead they should be replenishing and saving for times of drought.”
And then we have the subsidence parallel. Mexico City, claim the authors, draws groundwater so fast that the city is literally sinking.
In Chennai, India’s fourth largest city, residents accustomed to relying on groundwater for years now find none left. So the city is forced to transport water from farther and farther away (like our Luce Bayou Project). They lose significant amounts in the process due to evaporation and leakage.
The World Resources Institute expects the number of people worldwide living in “extremely high water stress” to nearly double in the next decade.
Cape Town, a city roughly the size of Houston, had to ration water last year.
Drought and Flooding Solutions Often Overlap
In Bangalore, lakes that once dotted the city have been filled in, much the way we fill in wetlands, so they can no longer collect rainwater and serve as the city’s water storage tanks.
That parallel reminded me of the dwindling water capacity in Lake Houston due to sedimentation. With backup supplies in Lake Livingston and Lake Conroe, Houston certainly doesn’t have to worry about running out of water any time soon. But as recent sedimentation surveys near the mouth bar showed, we do have to worry about loss of lake capacity.
Drought and floods represent two sides of the same coin. This article reminded me that solutions to one problem can also help solve the other. For instance…
As we move forward with West Fork and maintenance dredging, we should remember this. We aren’t just looking at costs that benefit Lake Houston residents. We’re looking at costs that benefit millions of residents in the larger metropolitan area. It’s not just about flooding. It’s also about water capacity for a rapidly growing population.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/6/2019
707 Days since Hurricane Harvey