Since last September, the Army Corps of Engineers has had two contractors, each with approximately 30 people, working 24/7 on the the West Fork of the San Jacinto.
Moving 1.9 Million Cubic Yards of Earth
Together, they’re removing approximately 1.9 million cubic yards of sediment left behind by Hurricane Harvey that is blocking the conveyance of the river. It’s hard to move that much sand and silt without getting your hands dirty, as these pictures by the Army Corps clearly demonstrate.
One crew started at River Grove and is working downstream toward the mid-point of a 2.1 mile stretch of the West Fork. The other started at the mid-point and is working downstream toward where Ben’s Branch enters the river, just past Kings Harbor.
The Corps uses approximately 10 miles of 22- and 24-inch pipeline weighing more than 5 million pounds to pump sediment from the river back upstream to two placement areas. One is south of Kingwood College off Sorters Road, shown below. The other is off Townsend in Humble.The pipe floating in the foreground is rubber and designed to float. This gives the dredge room to maneuver. The pipe in the background with the orange flotation collars is rubber and bends a little. The steel pipe above does not bend.Farm Boy is helping to anchor the dredge while a service boat transfers crew.Looking toward the rear of the dredge. The blue part is the pump. The red containers in the background house electric motors. Cables tie the dredge to a CenterPoint substation in Forest Cove. Before dredging, this giant dune almost completely blocked the West Fork about a half mile downstream from River Grove Park. The Great Lakes Dredge and Dock crew is still working to remove it. While it looks like all sand from the air, beneath the surface, crews are encountering dead trees and roots that get caught in cutter baskets on the dredge. (Photo by Bob Rehak)When that happens, productivity slows and crews must manually pick the material from the chisels on the dredge.Note the pile of roots and sticks growing the men.Here you get a better idea of how the roots and vines can clog the intakes on the cutter head. Dredging needs to stop many times each day to remove this material.The “chisels” on the cutter head break up sand which the “cutter basket” then sweeps up. Pumps inside the steel cage suck the sand into the pipe and pump it back upstream to placement areas. Once the dredge starts pumping again, the flow must be calibrated with three booster pumps attached to each line. At least one crew member mans each booster pump to coordinate with the others. They must avoid over- or under-pressure situations. This shows a close up of one of the three booster pumps used by Great Lakes, the Army Corps’ lead contractor on the job. Callan Marine is a subcontractor to Great Lakes and also has three booster pumps.This shot gives you an idea of how massive these pipelines are……and how much sediment they can pump per minute. There’s enough sediment moving here to fill up a dump truck in less than a minute.The Eagle Sorters Mine is dredging this pit even as Army Corp contractors fill it up. Sand and silt recovered from the river may wind up in roadbeds or be used for mortar in the construction trades.
1.4 Million Cubic Yards Recovered to Date
Corps Engineers said that since Sept. 20, 2018, approximately 1.4 million cubic yards of Hurricane Harvey silt and debris have been pumped into the two placement areas. Ultimately, they expect to pump approximately 1.8 -1.9 million cubic yards to meet FEMA requirements, restore the river to pre-Harvey conditions, and to reduce flood risks.
Safety Warning
These images illustrate why boaters should stay away from the West Fork for now. It’s not safe. The FEMA funded emergency flood action should complete in early May, 2019.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 4/3/2019 with images courtesy of the Army Corps of Engineers
582 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/ECU-Burly-Guy.jpg?fit=1500%2C2250&ssl=122501500adminadmin2019-04-03 16:30:352019-04-03 18:02:48A Dirty Job, But Someone Has To Do It: Life of a Dredger on the West Fork
The Galveston District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Branch announced today public comments were forwarded to Romerica Investments, LLC, regarding permit application SWG-2016-00384 for a project in Kingwood, Texas.
Poster of Commercial District displayed by Romerica at Kingwood Public Meeting on 3/18/2019
Thirty Days from March 28
“We appreciate the time and effort of those concerned to meet the extended deadline,” said Elizabeth Shelton, a USACE Galveston District Regulatory project manager. “We have forwarded the public notice comments received to the applicant for response by letter dated 28 March 2019. The applicant has 30 days from the date of the letter to respond to the comments received.”
That means Romerica has until April 27 to respond to the hundreds of letters written by concerned residents and environmental groups. At this point, that means they have 24 days left to respond.
Discharge of Fill into Wetlands and Streams
Shelton said the Corps Regulatory Division’s role, in this permit application, is to evaluate, under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, the proposed activity, the discharge of fill material into waters of the U.S., and the compliance of this proposed activity with other Federal laws, as applicable.
“The Division is evaluating the discharge of 68,323 cubic yards of fill material into 42.35 acres of wetlands and an estimated 285 cubic yards of fill material into 771 linear feet of streams adjacent to the West Fork of the San Jacinto River,” said Shelton.
The initial close of comment period was January 29. Corps Regulatory Division officials made the decision to allow for 30 additional days which extended the comment period to March 1.
Romerica will be giving a brief presentation at the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce BizCom meeting, on Thursday, April 4th, , 11 a.m., at Kingwood Park High School. Ms. Leah Manlove Howard, CMC, Chief Strategy Officer, VP and Program Chair of the American Advertisers Federation – Houston; and Michelle Hundley, President & CEO, Stratus Consulting will deliver the Heron Project Update, according to the Chamber.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 4/3/2019
582 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Herons.jpg?fit=1500%2C2000&ssl=120001500adminadmin2019-04-02 22:08:222019-04-02 22:09:10Next Countdown Clock Starts Ticking for Romerica’s High-Rise Development in Kingwood
In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, more than 10,000 rescue missions were conducted, $125 billion worth of damage was reported, and more 700,000 residents registered for Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance. The storm caused so much property damage, that the damage to people’s health has largely been overlooked. Documenting that damage has been the goal of the Hurricane Harvey Registry and Rice University in collaboration with many local government, environmental and health care leaders.
Key Findings of Hurricane Harvey Registry
Their first report issued in February, 2019, reflects the input of almost 10,000 respondents. Among this self-selected sample:
44% experienced flooded homes
55% had damaged homes
34% had vehicle damage
43% lost electricity
41% lost income
Almost half lost the use of their homes for 20 weeks. Sixty-five percent had to live among piles of trash for seven weeks; that’s the average time it took to clear piles.
People who experienced flooding were at risk for exposure to sewage, toxic chemicals, and other hazardous substances. Lack of knowledge, proper cleaning materials, and protective gear increased health risk. Exposure to mold, bacteria and toxins have been linked to new and worsening respiratory conditions.
Most Common Physical Maladies
Among the physical symptoms people showed:
50% complained of runny noses
26% experienced headaches or migraines
23% had problems concentrating
20% had shortness of breath
10% experienced skin rash.
People who lived in homes during cleanup reported much higher incidences of these problems than those who lived with relatives or somewhere else.
From page 9 of the Hurricane Harvey Registry Report. Share your Harvey experience at HarveyRegistry.rice.edu.
Psychological Aspects Revealed by Hurricane Harvey Registry
Property loss and damage correlate highly with poor mental health among hurricane survivors. Unemployment, physical illness or injury, and housing insecurity related to hurricanes have also been linked to mental health problems.
37% of respondents reported difficulty sleeping “sometimes or always”
33% reported feeling “numb” sometimes or always
30% reported dreaming about the flood sometimes or always
The report explores many other psychological dimensions of the aftermath.
Interestingly, psychological reactions to natural disasters occur in waves of emotional highs and lows. They take place well beyond the event’s anniversary and reveal an inability to put the storm behind them.
Difficulty of Putting Past Behind
Compared to those who didn’t flood, people who DID flood were almost THREE times more likely to say they OFTEN:
“..tried not to think about it.”
…”had waves of strong feelings about it.”
“…thought about it when I didn’t mean to.” Or…
“Other things kept making me think about it.”
They were FIVE times more likely to say that they were aware that “I still had a lot of feelings about it, but I didn’t deal with them.”
Unmet Needs Revealed by Study
Researchers hope their work will help the region better understand and identify gaps in air quality regulations and help devise better intervention efforts aimed at addressing asthma within the state.
They also note that mental health services remain a significant need for the entire region. “Oftentimes, in the aftermath of traumatic stress,” they say, “it can take months for mental health conditions to manifest.”
Long-term displacement, financial challenges, and adverse health effects all contribute to anxiety, stress, persistent headaches, and other mental health related symptoms.
The researchers request that if you have not registered already, please make sure to visit HarveyRegistry.rice.edu. If you have friends, family, or neighbors in the region who have not registered, please make sure to share the link with them.
To view the full list of more than 50 researchers and sponsors who contributed to the Hurricane Harvey Registry project, download the full report.
Posted by Bob Rehak on April 2, 2019
581 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Screen-Shot-2019-04-02-at-4.02.45-PM-copy.jpg?fit=1500%2C935&ssl=19351500adminadmin2019-04-02 17:41:002019-04-02 17:43:45How Harvey Affected Houstonians Physically and Mentally
A Dirty Job, But Someone Has To Do It: Life of a Dredger on the West Fork
Since last September, the Army Corps of Engineers has had two contractors, each with approximately 30 people, working 24/7 on the the West Fork of the San Jacinto.
Moving 1.9 Million Cubic Yards of Earth
Together, they’re removing approximately 1.9 million cubic yards of sediment left behind by Hurricane Harvey that is blocking the conveyance of the river. It’s hard to move that much sand and silt without getting your hands dirty, as these pictures by the Army Corps clearly demonstrate.
One crew started at River Grove and is working downstream toward the mid-point of a 2.1 mile stretch of the West Fork. The other started at the mid-point and is working downstream toward where Ben’s Branch enters the river, just past Kings Harbor.
1.4 Million Cubic Yards Recovered to Date
Corps Engineers said that since Sept. 20, 2018, approximately 1.4 million cubic yards of Hurricane Harvey silt and debris have been pumped into the two placement areas. Ultimately, they expect to pump approximately 1.8 -1.9 million cubic yards to meet FEMA requirements, restore the river to pre-Harvey conditions, and to reduce flood risks.
Safety Warning
These images illustrate why boaters should stay away from the West Fork for now. It’s not safe. The FEMA funded emergency flood action should complete in early May, 2019.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 4/3/2019 with images courtesy of the Army Corps of Engineers
582 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Next Countdown Clock Starts Ticking for Romerica’s High-Rise Development in Kingwood
The Galveston District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Branch announced today public comments were forwarded to Romerica Investments, LLC, regarding permit application SWG-2016-00384 for a project in Kingwood, Texas.
Thirty Days from March 28
“We appreciate the time and effort of those concerned to meet the extended deadline,” said Elizabeth Shelton, a USACE Galveston District Regulatory project manager. “We have forwarded the public notice comments received to the applicant for response by letter dated 28 March 2019. The applicant has 30 days from the date of the letter to respond to the comments received.”
That means Romerica has until April 27 to respond to the hundreds of letters written by concerned residents and environmental groups. At this point, that means they have 24 days left to respond.
Discharge of Fill into Wetlands and Streams
Shelton said the Corps Regulatory Division’s role, in this permit application, is to evaluate, under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, the proposed activity, the discharge of fill material into waters of the U.S., and the compliance of this proposed activity with other Federal laws, as applicable.
“The Division is evaluating the discharge of 68,323 cubic yards of fill material into 42.35 acres of wetlands and an estimated 285 cubic yards of fill material into 771 linear feet of streams adjacent to the West Fork of the San Jacinto River,” said Shelton.
The initial close of comment period was January 29. Corps Regulatory Division officials made the decision to allow for 30 additional days which extended the comment period to March 1.
The notice can be viewed at: https://www.swg.usace.army.mil/Media/Public-Notices/Article/1722068/swg-2016-00384-romerica-investments-llc-west-fork-of-the-san-jacinto-river-harr/
Romerica At BizCom
Romerica will be giving a brief presentation at the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce BizCom meeting, on Thursday, April 4th, , 11 a.m., at Kingwood Park High School. Ms. Leah Manlove Howard, CMC, Chief Strategy Officer, VP and Program Chair of the American Advertisers Federation – Houston; and Michelle Hundley, President & CEO, Stratus Consulting will deliver the Heron Project Update, according to the Chamber.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 4/3/2019
582 Days since Hurricane Harvey
How Harvey Affected Houstonians Physically and Mentally
In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, more than 10,000 rescue missions were conducted, $125 billion worth of damage was reported, and more 700,000 residents registered for Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance. The storm caused so much property damage, that the damage to people’s health has largely been overlooked. Documenting that damage has been the goal of the Hurricane Harvey Registry and Rice University in collaboration with many local government, environmental and health care leaders.
Key Findings of Hurricane Harvey Registry
Their first report issued in February, 2019, reflects the input of almost 10,000 respondents. Among this self-selected sample:
Almost half lost the use of their homes for 20 weeks. Sixty-five percent had to live among piles of trash for seven weeks; that’s the average time it took to clear piles.
People who experienced flooding were at risk for exposure to sewage, toxic chemicals, and other hazardous substances. Lack of knowledge, proper cleaning materials, and protective gear increased health risk. Exposure to mold, bacteria and toxins have been linked to new and worsening respiratory conditions.
Most Common Physical Maladies
Among the physical symptoms people showed:
People who lived in homes during cleanup reported much higher incidences of these problems than those who lived with relatives or somewhere else.
Psychological Aspects Revealed by Hurricane Harvey Registry
Property loss and damage correlate highly with poor mental health among hurricane survivors. Unemployment, physical illness or injury, and housing insecurity related to hurricanes have also been linked to mental health problems.
The report explores many other psychological dimensions of the aftermath.
Interestingly, psychological reactions to natural disasters occur in waves of emotional highs and lows. They take place well beyond the event’s anniversary and reveal an inability to put the storm behind them.
Difficulty of Putting Past Behind
Compared to those who didn’t flood, people who DID flood were almost THREE times more likely to say they OFTEN:
They were FIVE times more likely to say that they were aware that “I still had a lot of feelings about it, but I didn’t deal with them.”
Unmet Needs Revealed by Study
Researchers hope their work will help the region better understand and identify gaps in air quality regulations and help devise better intervention efforts aimed at addressing asthma within the state.
They also note that mental health services remain a significant need for the entire region. “Oftentimes, in the aftermath of traumatic stress,” they say, “it can take months for mental health conditions to manifest.”
Long-term displacement, financial challenges, and adverse health effects all contribute to anxiety, stress, persistent headaches, and other mental health related symptoms.
The researchers request that if you have not registered already, please make sure to visit HarveyRegistry.rice.edu. If you have friends, family, or neighbors in the region who have not registered, please make sure to share the link with them.
To view the full list of more than 50 researchers and sponsors who contributed to the Hurricane Harvey Registry project, download the full report.
Posted by Bob Rehak on April 2, 2019
581 Days since Hurricane Harvey