Ninety-one more acres. Gone. Without a care or hint of caution. This used to be a forest and wetlands. With deer. Seasonal ponds. And creeks running through it. Adjacent to the West Fork of the San Jacinto.
And most of it is in the floodplain. Which will likely be expanded shortly after this development is built.
New development between Sorters Road and the West Fork of the San Jacinto. Drone photo by Franz Willette, BCAeronautics.
Now it’s barren. Dirt in the process of becoming concrete and asphalt shingles. Three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath tributes to willful blindness. The “vision” of a Colorado developer. Who saw an opportunity to buy cheap, flood-prone land and sell high. If they marketed it right.
Maybe they will call the high-density, starter homes “river estates.” Maybe the streets will bear the names of the birds or wild animals that once lived here. Eagle Pond. White Tail Trail. Or maybe the names will invoke the imagery of an exclusive retreat by the shore of a natural wonder. Sandy Shore Lane. Hidden Springs.
But the reality will be far different. Mold. Rot. Silicosis from the surrounding sand mines. Flooding. Repairs. Living with fear every time a storm approaches. Years lost hassling with adjusters and contractors. Paying for the home over and over again…every time it is rebuilt. Tax protests. Eventual buyouts. Abandonment. Decay. Demolition.
Panning right from previous shot. The West Fork of the San Jacinto is lost between the sand mines in the background. Drone photo by Franz Willette, BCAeronautics.
And finally eventual restoration of the forest and wetlands, that if left intact, could have avoided all the pain and suffering. Here. And downstream. Where other people had no idea that tax-subsidized flood-insurance would encourage the death of caution and put them at risk, too.
More sand mines in background. Sorters Road runs diagonally from center bottom to center right.Drone photo by Franz Willette, BCAeronautics.Drone photo by Franz Willette, BCAeronautics. Drone photo by Franz Willette, BCAeronautics.
More on Throwing Caution to Wind
As a side note: Did you notice something else in the photos of this Montgomery County development? Just like Woodridge Village, silt fences have major gaps! Runoff is going directly into ditches which lead to the West Fork. I wonder if the Montgomery County permitting authorities and TCEQ know about that. LJA Engineers probably hasn’t gotten around to inspecting this one yet. Are you seeing a pattern here?
All thoughts expressed in this post are 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/2019/07/BCAeronautics-Oakhurst-West-1.jpg?fit=1500%2C1125&ssl=111251500adminadmin2019-07-11 14:43:192019-07-11 23:51:47Living on the Edge or The Death of Caution
This morning, Invest 92L intensified into a tropical storm and received the name Barry. However, it is also shifting east, reducing the threat to the Houston area. We are now entirely outside the cone of uncertainty.
Sporadic Thunderstorms Now Main Threat From Barry
The main threat now to the Houston area from Barry: showers and thunderstorms as high moisture levels and disturbances approach from the ENE/NE today. According to Harris County Meteorologist Jeff Lindner, “It is possible a few outer rain bands could move into the area Friday and Saturday. These bands would produce brief heavy rainfall and gusty winds.”
Risk of Flash Flooding Extremely Low
The National Weather Service puts us outside the area with even a 5% risk of flash flooding.
Even the rainfall potential is minimal. Light green represents less than 2 inches of rainfall and it covers only our souther counties.
Here’s where the heavy rains are located at this moment. From this image, you can see that the storm still does not have a tightly defined center of rotation.
Natural color image showing extent of disturbances.
Heavy Surf and Higher than Normal Tides Predicted
If you were planning on boating offshore this weekend, you probably want to rethink those plans.
Seas should increase across all of the northern Gulf of Mexico because of Barry. Lindner expects waves in the 6-8 foot range along the upper Texas coast by the weekend, with some possibly even higher east of Galveston. This will also elevate tides along Gulf facing beaches. Tides should peak Saturday 2.0-2.5 feet above normal.
All that water coming in produces strong undertows when it goes out. If you like watching waves, watch from a safe distance.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 7/11/2019
681 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/071119_145531_5day_cone_no_line_and_wind.png?fit=897%2C736&ssl=1736897adminadmin2019-07-11 11:42:032019-07-11 11:42:11Invest 92L Now Tropical Storm Barry, but Threat to Houston Diminished
In response to citizen requests after the May 7th flood, Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) has been excavating the portion of Ben’s Branch near North Park Drive and Woodland Hills Drive in Kingwood. The St. Martha Catholic school on the south side of the creek and Kids in Action on the north side both flooded during that event.
Infrequent Maintenance and Upstream Development Took Their Toll
The ditch had become badly filled in due to infrequent maintenance and upstream development. This project, covered by HCFCD’s maintenance budget began last month.
Thomas Blailock, a reader, has been sending in these pictures showing the progress.
Much of the creek has been cleared already. And just in time for Hurricane Barry! I’m sure all the merchants along North Park are breathing a sigh of relief.
Looking west from Woodland Hills at Bens Branch. Photo courtesy of Thomas Blailock.Looking east from Woodland Hills at Bens Branch. Photo courtesy of Thomas Blailock.By comparison, here’s a “before” shot taken about two weeks ago. Photo courtesy of Thomas Blailock.
Next Up: Lower Portion of Ben’s Branch
This project is separate from the excavation that will soon begin on Ben’s Branch south of Kingwood Drive. We should soon see about 8,000 truckloads of dirt coming out of that reach of the stream.
Twelve senior residents of Kingwood Village Estates died near that area after Harvey. They passed as a result of injuries suffered during the evacuation or the stress of losing their homes.
Taylor Gulley for an Encore
Next up: the upper portion of Taylor Gulley…followed by additional clearing of debris in the lower portion later this summer. Approximately 200 homes flooded adjacent to Taylor Gully in the March 7th storm, due in part to upstream development which has deposited sediment at higher than normal rates in the channel.
A shout out to Barbara Hilburn of Kingwood Lakes who raised awareness about internal drainage issues after Harvey. She has worked long and hard to jumpstart these clean outs.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 7/10/2019
680 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IMG_2071.jpg?fit=1500%2C1125&ssl=111251500adminadmin2019-07-10 15:10:052019-07-10 15:11:31Excavation Continues along Upper Ben’s Branch while HCFCD Gets Ready to Begin on Lower Portion
Living on the Edge or The Death of Caution
Ninety-one more acres. Gone. Without a care or hint of caution. This used to be a forest and wetlands. With deer. Seasonal ponds. And creeks running through it. Adjacent to the West Fork of the San Jacinto.
And most of it is in the floodplain. Which will likely be expanded shortly after this development is built.
Now it’s barren. Dirt in the process of becoming concrete and asphalt shingles. Three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath tributes to willful blindness. The “vision” of a Colorado developer. Who saw an opportunity to buy cheap, flood-prone land and sell high. If they marketed it right.
Maybe they will call the high-density, starter homes “river estates.” Maybe the streets will bear the names of the birds or wild animals that once lived here. Eagle Pond. White Tail Trail. Or maybe the names will invoke the imagery of an exclusive retreat by the shore of a natural wonder. Sandy Shore Lane. Hidden Springs.
But the reality will be far different. Mold. Rot. Silicosis from the surrounding sand mines. Flooding. Repairs. Living with fear every time a storm approaches. Years lost hassling with adjusters and contractors. Paying for the home over and over again…every time it is rebuilt. Tax protests. Eventual buyouts. Abandonment. Decay. Demolition.
And finally eventual restoration of the forest and wetlands, that if left intact, could have avoided all the pain and suffering. Here. And downstream. Where other people had no idea that tax-subsidized flood-insurance would encourage the death of caution and put them at risk, too.
Drone photo by Franz Willette, BCAeronautics.
More on Throwing Caution to Wind
As a side note: Did you notice something else in the photos of this Montgomery County development? Just like Woodridge Village, silt fences have major gaps! Runoff is going directly into ditches which lead to the West Fork. I wonder if the Montgomery County permitting authorities and TCEQ know about that. LJA Engineers probably hasn’t gotten around to inspecting this one yet. Are you seeing a pattern here?
Posted by Bob Rehak on 7/11/2019 with drone photography by Fritz Willette of BCAeronautics
681 Days since Hurricane Harvey
All thoughts expressed in this post are 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.
Invest 92L Now Tropical Storm Barry, but Threat to Houston Diminished
This morning, Invest 92L intensified into a tropical storm and received the name Barry. However, it is also shifting east, reducing the threat to the Houston area. We are now entirely outside the cone of uncertainty.
Sporadic Thunderstorms Now Main Threat From Barry
The main threat now to the Houston area from Barry: showers and thunderstorms as high moisture levels and disturbances approach from the ENE/NE today. According to Harris County Meteorologist Jeff Lindner, “It is possible a few outer rain bands could move into the area Friday and Saturday. These bands would produce brief heavy rainfall and gusty winds.”
Risk of Flash Flooding Extremely Low
Heavy Surf and Higher than Normal Tides Predicted
If you were planning on boating offshore this weekend, you probably want to rethink those plans.
Seas should increase across all of the northern Gulf of Mexico because of Barry. Lindner expects waves in the 6-8 foot range along the upper Texas coast by the weekend, with some possibly even higher east of Galveston. This will also elevate tides along Gulf facing beaches. Tides should peak Saturday 2.0-2.5 feet above normal.
All that water coming in produces strong undertows when it goes out. If you like watching waves, watch from a safe distance.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 7/11/2019
681 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Excavation Continues along Upper Ben’s Branch while HCFCD Gets Ready to Begin on Lower Portion
In response to citizen requests after the May 7th flood, Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) has been excavating the portion of Ben’s Branch near North Park Drive and Woodland Hills Drive in Kingwood. The St. Martha Catholic school on the south side of the creek and Kids in Action on the north side both flooded during that event.
Infrequent Maintenance and Upstream Development Took Their Toll
The ditch had become badly filled in due to infrequent maintenance and upstream development. This project, covered by HCFCD’s maintenance budget began last month.
Thomas Blailock, a reader, has been sending in these pictures showing the progress.
Much of the creek has been cleared already. And just in time for Hurricane Barry! I’m sure all the merchants along North Park are breathing a sigh of relief.
Next Up: Lower Portion of Ben’s Branch
This project is separate from the excavation that will soon begin on Ben’s Branch south of Kingwood Drive. We should soon see about 8,000 truckloads of dirt coming out of that reach of the stream.
Twelve senior residents of Kingwood Village Estates died near that area after Harvey. They passed as a result of injuries suffered during the evacuation or the stress of losing their homes.
Taylor Gulley for an Encore
Next up: the upper portion of Taylor Gulley…followed by additional clearing of debris in the lower portion later this summer. Approximately 200 homes flooded adjacent to Taylor Gully in the March 7th storm, due in part to upstream development which has deposited sediment at higher than normal rates in the channel.
A shout out to Barbara Hilburn of Kingwood Lakes who raised awareness about internal drainage issues after Harvey. She has worked long and hard to jumpstart these clean outs.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 7/10/2019
680 Days since Hurricane Harvey