Harris County Flood Control District has just launched a new portion of its website designed to explain the proposed $2.5 billion flood bond package. Residents will go to the polls on August 25, the anniversary of Hurricane Harvey, to vote on the package. For details about the bond package, access the site at https://www.hcfcd.org/bond-program/.
The site is organized by all watersheds in Harris County. For people new to the Lake Houston area, we live within the San Jacinto watershed. Within each watershed, the site also talks about:
Potential project types
Community engagement meetings
Community input
Frequently asked questions
One of the more interesting features of the site is an interactive map with icons representing the locations of potential projects. Clicking on an icon reveals the type of project under consideration at that location, the number of people affected and more.
Preliminary map of projects currently under consideration within the San Jacinto River Watershed.
Transparency and Equity Among Goals for Flood Bond
Remember several important things: In addition to flood mitigation, two goals of this project are transparency and equity. The county wants to ensure that the bond money helps each watershed throughout the area, and that money is spent in ways that will help the largest number of people and yield the greatest benefit. That’s why you see the population numbers for each watershed and the number of people affected by each project as you click on icons throughout the map.
More Projects Than Dollars To Do Them
The county has far more potential projects than dollars. Some projects currently under consideration may not make the final cut. Likewise, other projects not yet listed could make the final cut. According to Matt Zeve of Harris County Flood Control, “Our staff is working furiously to define projects for the bond.”
Community Input Meeting for Flood Bond on June 14
Zeve says the County is also soliciting citizen input through community meetings and the website itself. Mark your calendar. One of the first meetings will be in Kingwood at:
Kingwood Community Center
4102 Rustic Woods Drive
Kingwood, Texas 77345
“The Harris County Flood Control District accomplishes its mission by working with our partners and local stakeholders to evaluate, develop, and implement flood damage reduction plans and then perform long-term maintenance of drainage infrastructure,” says the site.
Flood damage reduction plans and projects can include:
Modifications of streams and bayous to increase the amount of stormwater they carry
Creation of detention basins to store excess stormwater
Nonstructural flood mitigation tools
Any combination of the above
Types of Flood Bond Projects Currently Under Consideration
Currently, the vast majority of projects fall into the following categories. Types of projects eligible for bond funding include:
Voluntary Home Buyouts – The purchase of flood-prone structures from willing sellers in areas that are too deep in the floodplain to benefit from structural flood risk reduction projects, or in areas where flood risk reduction projects are not feasible. This process includes the demolition of the structure and relocation of the seller to higher ground.
Storm Repair – Major maintenance projects that restore the designed function and capacity of a channel or stormwater detention basin.
Subdivision Drainage Improvement – Partnership projects with the Harris County Engineering Department and a Municipal Utility District to provide drainage improvements to subdivisions in unincorporated Harris County.
Local Projects – Flood risk reduction projects such as channel modifications or stormwater detention basin construction using only Harris County Flood Control District funds.
Partnership Projects – Flood risk reduction projects such as channel modifications or stormwater detention basin construction using a combination of Harris County Flood Control District funding and funding from local, state, or federal partners such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Prioritization of Projects
Make sure you read the Frequently Asked Questions. One asks, “How will projects be prioritized?” Answer: “High on the priority list are construction-ready projects with federal funding partners (such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency) that give the County “the most bang for its flood control buck.”… Consideration is also given to areas that have a lower level of current protection as compared to other areas in the county.”
The county will give highest consideration to projects that meet the following criteria:
Provides the greatest potential flood risk reduction benefits relative to the community’s population
Causes NO increase in existing flood risks upstream or downstream
Offers potential for multiple benefits, in addition to flood risk reduction
Features long-term viability and relatively low maintenance
Includes a clearly defined drainage issue and flood risk reduction benefit
Uses readily available, proven engineering techniques and industry standards
Poses NO undue burden on disadvantaged communities
Minimizes adverse impacts on the environment
Submit Your Flood Bond Ideas Now
If you have ideas to contribute, submit them now so that they can receive the full consideration they deserve. Remember: when it comes to “equity,” historically the San Jacinto watershed has received 0% of flood mitigation budgets, but we suffered 13% of the damage in the region during Harvey. For an excellent discussion of equity and needs throughout the region, see the Greater Houston Flood Mitigation Consortium’s report.
The consortium’s report provides an excellent summary of the needs of the San Jacinto watershed.
Posted on May 31 by Bob Rehak. Thanks to Clay Crawford the tip.
275 Days since Hurricane Harvey
00adminadmin2018-05-31 05:22:472018-05-31 06:13:58Harris County Flood Control Solicits Ideas for Flood Bond Package on New Portion of Website
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has posted bid specifications for its emergency dredging project on the West Fork of the San Jacinto River between Humble and Kingwood.
Bid documents available publicly online reveal details, maps, scope and timing of the project. Specifications, maps and amendments total more than 300 pages. See highlights below.
Start and Completion Dates
Opening of bids for the San Jacinto River Emergency dredging project, originally scheduled for May 29, has been moved to June 12, 2018. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expects to award the job shortly after bids are opened.
The winning bidder is expected to commence work within five calendar days after the award of the job. The winning bidder is also expected to complete the work within 180 calendar days from the award. That would put the new completion date in mid-January 2019. The core expects bidders to staff the project sufficiently to complete work within that time.
From River Grove Park to Just Beyond
West Lake Houston Parkway Bridge
The project will focus on the area from River Grove Park in Kingwood to slightly east of the West Lake Houston Parkway bridge.
Dredging will start near River Grove Park and end just east of the West Lake Houston Parkway Bridge.
The objective: to restore the main river channel to pre-Harvey conditions by removing sand and other debris, such as dead trees, that obstruct the flow of the river.
Removal and Storage Methods
Sediment may be excavated or dredged mechanically. Regardless of how it is removed, it must be placed in one of two designated sand pits. The first is between Townsen and the West Fork, east of US59 and Wilson Road. The second is west of US59, between Sorters Road and the West Fork, south of Kingwood College.
Sediment will be transported via pipeline or trucks to one of two sand pits for permanent storage.
The disposal area south of the river will be filled first – up to the existing ground elevation. When the pit is filled, it will be graded to prevent ponding and make sure it drains toward the San Jacinto River.
The remainder of the sand will go to the second site near Sorters Road. It is unclear at this point whether enough sand will be dredged to fill those pits.
Restoration
Neither sand, nor other debris, will be stored on the river’s banks where it could be washed back into the river.
Fences, roads, ditches, private or public grounds, and other structures or improvements damaged as a result of the contractor’s operations must be repaired or rebuilt at the contractor’s expense.
If fresh deposits from new storms during the term of the project require additional dredging, the Corps will expand the scope to include those.
The Lake Houston Area Grassroots Flood Prevention Initiative will be hosting a meeting June 11 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Kingwood Community Center, 4102 Rustic Woods, 77339. So mark your calendars and plan to attend.
Eduardo Irigoyen, Project Leader for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ San Jacinto River West Fork Dredging Project, will discuss the project and take questions.
Additionally, the Flood Prevention Initiative organizers will provide updates on other important issues. They include the potential lowering of Lake Conroe during August and September (as well as next April and May), dam upgrades for Lake Houston, and the upcoming Harris County Flood Mitigation Bond Election.
The meeting is free and open to the public.
Posted May 30, 2018 by Bob Rehak
274 Days since Hurricane Harvey
00adminadmin2018-05-29 19:56:572018-05-30 05:37:34San Jacinto West Fork Emergency Dredging Project Details
During Harvey tens of thousands of people in the Houston area outside of 100-year and 500-year flood plains flooded. Do you really know your home’s location relative to official flood plains? It could be important during lesser floods and affect the cost of flood insurance.
This FEMA web site shows interactive flood plain maps that can give you a wealth of information about the risk to your property.
When you get to the entry page, agree to terms and conditions
Type in your address to get a detailed view of risk for yourself and your neighborhood. Or you can also type in something more general, such as Kingwood TX, to see the contour of flood plains in the entire community.
On the left-hand panel, check both boxes under “Effective Flood Insurance Rate Map.”
The legend is on the right. Some explanations:
Anything in solid purple is in the FLOODWAY. Expect frequent flooding and major damage.
Anything under the fuchsia diagonal stripes is in the 100-year plain. People there have a 1% probability of flooding every year – and a 26% chance of flooding during the life of a 30-year mortgage.
Anything under grey diagonal stripes is in the 500-year flood plain. People there have a 0.2% probability of flooding every year – and a 5.8% chance of flooding during the life of a 30-year mortgage.
Properties outside those zones are in an area of overall lower risk. Lower-cost, preferred-rate, flood insurance policies (known as Preferred Risk Policies) are often an option in these areas. See your local insurance agent or visit floodsmart.gov for more information.
If you entered your specific address, click the info button above the map, then click the star on your property to learn more about your risk. After the box pops up, you can click “View Detailed Flood Report” for even more information.
You can hide both the legend and check box panels by clicking on the >> double arrows at the top of each panel.
Zoom and move about, as you would Google Maps.
Use the measuring tool above the map to check your distance from flood zones and hazards such as streams, ditches and rivers.
Guide to Terminology
If you need help interpreting all the acronyms and technical language in the check boxes and legend, consult this PDF: How to read a FEMA Map
The PDF above is definitely worth a read. It explains the “language” of flooding and flood insurance. It also explains how to protest a designation if you think the map has misclassified your property, for instance, if your slab has been elevated relative to the average level around you.
Experiment with the different tools and views in the map. Zoom out to see the risk in surrounding areas. The interactive exploration is fascinating.
Regardless of how far you are from flood plains or how high you are above them, if you live in Harris County, seriously consider flood insurance. During Harvey, more homes flooded outside the 500-year flood plain than inside.
A Less Powerful, but Easier-to-Understand Alternative
Harris County Flood Control offers a web site similar to FEMA’s; it has fewer options and less information, but is easier to understand and navigate. It’s actually called a “flood education mapping tool.” See: http://www.harriscountyfemt.org/Index.aspx.
The flood education mapping tool from Harris County Flood Control District has fewer options but is easier to understand.
How to Find the Elevation of Your Home
If you don’t already know the elevation of your home from surveys, deeds or insurance docs, try this web site: https://elevationmap.net/.
My thanks to Paul Margaritis, a long-time Kingwood resident. Paul forwarded this information to RefuceFlooding.com.
Posted 5/29/2018 by Bob Rehak
273 days since Hurricane Harvey
00adminadmin2018-05-29 04:51:242018-05-29 16:40:45Where do you live relative to official flood plains?
Harris County Flood Control Solicits Ideas for Flood Bond Package on New Portion of Website
Harris County Flood Control District has just launched a new portion of its website designed to explain the proposed $2.5 billion flood bond package. Residents will go to the polls on August 25, the anniversary of Hurricane Harvey, to vote on the package. For details about the bond package, access the site at https://www.hcfcd.org/bond-program/.
The site is organized by all watersheds in Harris County. For people new to the Lake Houston area, we live within the San Jacinto watershed. Within each watershed, the site also talks about:
One of the more interesting features of the site is an interactive map with icons representing the locations of potential projects. Clicking on an icon reveals the type of project under consideration at that location, the number of people affected and more.
Preliminary map of projects currently under consideration within the San Jacinto River Watershed.
Transparency and Equity Among Goals for Flood Bond
Remember several important things: In addition to flood mitigation, two goals of this project are transparency and equity. The county wants to ensure that the bond money helps each watershed throughout the area, and that money is spent in ways that will help the largest number of people and yield the greatest benefit. That’s why you see the population numbers for each watershed and the number of people affected by each project as you click on icons throughout the map.
More Projects Than Dollars To Do Them
The county has far more potential projects than dollars. Some projects currently under consideration may not make the final cut. Likewise, other projects not yet listed could make the final cut. According to Matt Zeve of Harris County Flood Control, “Our staff is working furiously to define projects for the bond.”
Community Input Meeting for Flood Bond on June 14
Zeve says the County is also soliciting citizen input through community meetings and the website itself. Mark your calendar. One of the first meetings will be in Kingwood at:
Kingwood Community Center
4102 Rustic Woods Drive
Kingwood, Texas 77345
June 14, 2018
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Citizens can also submit input through the website.
“The Harris County Flood Control District accomplishes its mission by working with our partners and local stakeholders to evaluate, develop, and implement flood damage reduction plans and then perform long-term maintenance of drainage infrastructure,” says the site.
Flood damage reduction plans and projects can include:
Types of Flood Bond Projects Currently Under Consideration
Currently, the vast majority of projects fall into the following categories. Types of projects eligible for bond funding include:
Prioritization of Projects
Make sure you read the Frequently Asked Questions. One asks, “How will projects be prioritized?” Answer: “High on the priority list are construction-ready projects with federal funding partners (such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency) that give the County “the most bang for its flood control buck.”… Consideration is also given to areas that have a lower level of current protection as compared to other areas in the county.”
The county will give highest consideration to projects that meet the following criteria:
Submit Your Flood Bond Ideas Now
If you have ideas to contribute, submit them now so that they can receive the full consideration they deserve. Remember: when it comes to “equity,” historically the San Jacinto watershed has received 0% of flood mitigation budgets, but we suffered 13% of the damage in the region during Harvey. For an excellent discussion of equity and needs throughout the region, see the Greater Houston Flood Mitigation Consortium’s report.
The consortium’s report provides an excellent summary of the needs of the San Jacinto watershed.
Posted on May 31 by Bob Rehak. Thanks to Clay Crawford the tip.
275 Days since Hurricane Harvey
San Jacinto West Fork Emergency Dredging Project Details
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has posted bid specifications for its emergency dredging project on the West Fork of the San Jacinto River between Humble and Kingwood.
Bid documents available publicly online reveal details, maps, scope and timing of the project. Specifications, maps and amendments total more than 300 pages. See highlights below.
Start and Completion Dates
Opening of bids for the San Jacinto River Emergency dredging project, originally scheduled for May 29, has been moved to June 12, 2018. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expects to award the job shortly after bids are opened.
The winning bidder is expected to commence work within five calendar days after the award of the job. The winning bidder is also expected to complete the work within 180 calendar days from the award. That would put the new completion date in mid-January 2019. The core expects bidders to staff the project sufficiently to complete work within that time.
From River Grove Park to Just Beyond
West Lake Houston Parkway Bridge
The project will focus on the area from River Grove Park in Kingwood to slightly east of the West Lake Houston Parkway bridge.
Dredging will start near River Grove Park and end just east of the West Lake Houston Parkway Bridge.
The objective: to restore the main river channel to pre-Harvey conditions by removing sand and other debris, such as dead trees, that obstruct the flow of the river.
Removal and Storage Methods
Sediment may be excavated or dredged mechanically. Regardless of how it is removed, it must be placed in one of two designated sand pits. The first is between Townsen and the West Fork, east of US59 and Wilson Road. The second is west of US59, between Sorters Road and the West Fork, south of Kingwood College.
Sediment will be transported via pipeline or trucks to one of two sand pits for permanent storage.
The disposal area south of the river will be filled first – up to the existing ground elevation. When the pit is filled, it will be graded to prevent ponding and make sure it drains toward the San Jacinto River.
The remainder of the sand will go to the second site near Sorters Road. It is unclear at this point whether enough sand will be dredged to fill those pits.
Restoration
Fences, roads, ditches, private or public grounds, and other structures or improvements damaged as a result of the contractor’s operations must be repaired or rebuilt at the contractor’s expense.
If fresh deposits from new storms during the term of the project require additional dredging, the Corps will expand the scope to include those.
To view the full specs, visit this site: https://govtribe.com/project/usace-west-fork-san-jacinto-river-emergency-debris-removal-harris-county-texas.
Questions? Ask the Corp Directly
The Lake Houston Area Grassroots Flood Prevention Initiative will be hosting a meeting June 11 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Kingwood Community Center, 4102 Rustic Woods, 77339. So mark your calendars and plan to attend.
Eduardo Irigoyen, Project Leader for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ San Jacinto River West Fork Dredging Project, will discuss the project and take questions.
Additionally, the Flood Prevention Initiative organizers will provide updates on other important issues. They include the potential lowering of Lake Conroe during August and September (as well as next April and May), dam upgrades for Lake Houston, and the upcoming Harris County Flood Mitigation Bond Election.
The meeting is free and open to the public.
Posted May 30, 2018 by Bob Rehak
274 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Where do you live relative to official flood plains?
During Harvey tens of thousands of people in the Houston area outside of 100-year and 500-year flood plains flooded. Do you really know your home’s location relative to official flood plains? It could be important during lesser floods and affect the cost of flood insurance.
This FEMA web site shows interactive flood plain maps that can give you a wealth of information about the risk to your property.
Feature-rich, Interactive Flood-Plain Map by FEMA
Access FEMA’s Flood Zone map for this area by going to this web page: http://maps.riskmap6.com/TX/Harris/
Then follow these steps:
Guide to Terminology
If you need help interpreting all the acronyms and technical language in the check boxes and legend, consult this PDF: How to read a FEMA Map
The PDF above is definitely worth a read. It explains the “language” of flooding and flood insurance. It also explains how to protest a designation if you think the map has misclassified your property, for instance, if your slab has been elevated relative to the average level around you.
Experiment with the different tools and views in the map. Zoom out to see the risk in surrounding areas. The interactive exploration is fascinating.
Regardless of how far you are from flood plains or how high you are above them, if you live in Harris County, seriously consider flood insurance. During Harvey, more homes flooded outside the 500-year flood plain than inside.
A Less Powerful, but Easier-to-Understand Alternative
Harris County Flood Control offers a web site similar to FEMA’s; it has fewer options and less information, but is easier to understand and navigate. It’s actually called a “flood education mapping tool.” See: http://www.harriscountyfemt.org/Index.aspx.
The flood education mapping tool from Harris County Flood Control District has fewer options but is easier to understand.
How to Find the Elevation of Your Home
If you don’t already know the elevation of your home from surveys, deeds or insurance docs, try this web site: https://elevationmap.net/.
My thanks to Paul Margaritis, a long-time Kingwood resident. Paul forwarded this information to RefuceFlooding.com.
Posted 5/29/2018 by Bob Rehak
273 days since Hurricane Harvey