Mike Eberle (owner of Lakeside Plumbing, Mike’s Hobby Shop, and Gulf Coast Raceway) and his son led the fight to have the Porter Dam removed. Mike’s son, a contractor, contacted TexDoT, showed them Mike’s pictures of the flooding, and TexDoT responded. By this afternoon, I found workmen with a backhoe and bulldozer removing blacktop and earth.
I could not tell whether the workers represented TexDoT or the owners of the property. They were not eager to talk to me while I had a camera. Their truck had no logo.
Backhoe begins removing the blockage that flooded several blocks of homes and businesses.
Regardless, the good news is that they are removing the Porter Dam. I will follow up again later if the job doesn’t get done.
But for now, it looks like Christmas has come early to the people of Porter, thanks to the efforts of Mike Eberle and his son. And this gift is so big, it won’t fit under the tree.
A much-happier Mike Eberle, in his hobby shop on East Knox Drive in Porter in front of his collection of miniature trains.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/21/2018
479 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Porter-DamPorterDam_5_01.jpg?fit=1500%2C1000&ssl=110001500adminadmin2018-12-21 15:38:182018-12-21 15:38:25Christmas Comes Early to Porter Dam Flood Victims
I’ve posted dozens of times about the dangers of mining in floodways. A local canoeist, Don Harbour, Jr., paddled down the West Fork of the San Jacinto twice during the last flood. He says he saw three breaches in one sand mine. The water was moving too fast to get pictures of all three, he says, but he did manage to get several shots. They eloquently illustrate the dangers of mining so close to the river.
Harbour, Jr. says he paddled by this mine on Saturday, December 8, and noticed water rushing into it.
River breaching into mine. Photo courtesy of Don Harbour, Jr.
The following Wednesday, December 12, he paddled down the river again and saw the reverse.
Sand mine sending sediment into river as flood went down. Photo courtesy of Don Harbour, Jr.
On that same trip, he photographed the owners frantically trying to plug the leaks in dangerous conditions.
Repairs to other breaches. Photo courtesy of Don Harbour, Jr.
Altogether, Harbour, Jr. says he saw three breaches in one mine in one week.
I have seen video of a fourth breach at the same mine last August. It appeared as though it was created with a backhoe. Six months later, the TCEQ says it is still investigating the August breach.
When Pro Business Means No Business, It’s Time to Rethink Mining in Floodways
Breaches allow the escape of sand and silt. They contribute to the buildup of sediment dams in the river. Those then contribute to downstream flooding.
When a rain that averaged only 5 inches across the watershed breaches the dike of one mine three times in one week, it’s time to rethink mining in floodways.
Such dangerous business practices can reduce growth.
The growth rate in the Humble ISD this past year dropped from 6% to 1% due to flooding, in part, caused by sedimentation.
44% of the businesses in the Lake Houston Chamber were damaged or destroyed during Harvey.
100% of the businesses in Kingwood Town Center and Kings Harbor were damaged or destroyed.
Move Miners Back from River
We don’t want to drive miners out of state; we just need them to move out of the floodway.
We don’t allow unsafe vehicles on the road. Why do we allow unsafe mining on the river?
Here’s the dike of another mine farther upriver. I took this picture shortly after Harvey. But the same dike breached again during the July 4th flood this year.
Sand mines on the West Fork come right up to the river where floodwaters repeatedly breach dikes.
Texas is the only state that has no minimum setbacks of mines from rivers. In contrast, Alaska allows no mining within 1,000 feet of a public water source. Other states and countries establish erosion hazard zones taking into account factors such as:
Many geologists and engineers believe erosion hazard zones represent a safer approach to determining setbacks.
Posted by Bob Rehak on December 21, 2018
479 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Harbour3.jpg?fit=750%2C587&ssl=1587750adminadmin2018-12-21 06:00:272018-12-21 06:18:21Sand Mine Dike Breached 3 Times in 1 Week During Minor Flood
Mike Eberle, a local entrepreneur owns Lakeside Plumbing, Gulf Coast Raceway and Mike’s Hobby Shop in Porter just off 494 on Knox. He arrived at work on December 8th to find his plumbing business flooded and his other two businesses surrounded by water.
Ditch Backing Up
This time, the culprit wasn’t Harvey or the San Jacinto River; Eberle’s businesses lie more than 3.5 miles from the river. It was someone who built a needless road over a drainage ditch. Because the capacity of the culvert under the road did not match the capacity of culverts farther up the ditch, water backed up for blocks. It flooded surrounding properties including homes, businesses and a church.
Properties flooded by constriction of drainage ditch. Photo by Mike Eberle. Flooded lot at Gulf Coast Raceway. Mike’s Hobby Shop and Lakeview Plumbing are on same property in background. Photo by Mike Eberle. Nearly submerged mailboxes show depth of flooding. Photo by Mike Eberle.
The Ditch Constriction
According to Eberle’s son, TexDoT permitted the Road to Nowhere (see below), which Eberle dubbed “The Porter Dam.” Eberle’s son says TexDoT told him that the permit should never have been issued. Supposedly, TexDoT will rip the road out on Friday, December 21. This should make an early and welcome Christmas gift to the neighbors up-ditch who flooded.
The Road to Nowhere crosses a ditch only to end at a detention pond. Photo taken after flood.
On the Road to Nowhere, Eberle looked up the ditch toward his property during the flood. Below is what he saw – water everywhere.
Above the ditch, water backed up for blocks.
Below the ditch…he saw a much different story.
Below the ditch, looking south, the water level was much lower, proving that construction constricted the flow.
Several days after the floodwater receded, you could see why, Note the size of the culverts above the road. In contrast, here’s what the culvert under the Road to Nowhere looks like.
The new culvert has much less capacity.
Property Owner
According to the Montgomery County Appraisal District, the Road to Nowhere is on property owned by Randal A Tr Hendricks, 400 Randal Way in Spring. Hendricks Interests, LLC, also at that address, promotes itself as a developer of residential and commercial properties and has been doing business since 1978. Hendricks currently lists eleven pad sites for sale in the Kroger Center at North Park and 59, slightly south of the Road to Nowhere.
One can only speculate why someone would build a useless road that backed water up onto neighbor’s property.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/20/2018
478 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Eberle-Flood.jpg?fit=1500%2C1125&ssl=111251500adminadmin2018-12-20 16:26:312018-12-20 17:06:05The Porter Dam: Road to Nowhere (Except Flooding)
Christmas Comes Early to Porter Dam Flood Victims
Chalk one up for the little folks. Yesterday I wrote a post about someone who built a Road to Nowhere across a drainage ditch along Loop 494, creating the Porter Dam. An tiny culvert under the road backed water up into properties blocks away. It flooded homes, businesses and a church after the rain on December 7th.
Mike Eberle (owner of Lakeside Plumbing, Mike’s Hobby Shop, and Gulf Coast Raceway) and his son led the fight to have the Porter Dam removed. Mike’s son, a contractor, contacted TexDoT, showed them Mike’s pictures of the flooding, and TexDoT responded. By this afternoon, I found workmen with a backhoe and bulldozer removing blacktop and earth.
I could not tell whether the workers represented TexDoT or the owners of the property. They were not eager to talk to me while I had a camera. Their truck had no logo.
Regardless, the good news is that they are removing the Porter Dam. I will follow up again later if the job doesn’t get done.
But for now, it looks like Christmas has come early to the people of Porter, thanks to the efforts of Mike Eberle and his son. And this gift is so big, it won’t fit under the tree.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/21/2018
479 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Sand Mine Dike Breached 3 Times in 1 Week During Minor Flood
I’ve posted dozens of times about the dangers of mining in floodways. A local canoeist, Don Harbour, Jr., paddled down the West Fork of the San Jacinto twice during the last flood. He says he saw three breaches in one sand mine. The water was moving too fast to get pictures of all three, he says, but he did manage to get several shots. They eloquently illustrate the dangers of mining so close to the river.
Harbour, Jr. says he paddled by this mine on Saturday, December 8, and noticed water rushing into it.
The following Wednesday, December 12, he paddled down the river again and saw the reverse.
On that same trip, he photographed the owners frantically trying to plug the leaks in dangerous conditions.
Altogether, Harbour, Jr. says he saw three breaches in one mine in one week.
I have seen video of a fourth breach at the same mine last August. It appeared as though it was created with a backhoe. Six months later, the TCEQ says it is still investigating the August breach.
When Pro Business Means No Business,
It’s Time to Rethink Mining in Floodways
Breaches allow the escape of sand and silt. They contribute to the buildup of sediment dams in the river. Those then contribute to downstream flooding.
When a rain that averaged only 5 inches across the watershed breaches the dike of one mine three times in one week, it’s time to rethink mining in floodways.
Such dangerous business practices can reduce growth.
Move Miners Back from River
We don’t want to drive miners out of state; we just need them to move out of the floodway.
Here’s the dike of another mine farther upriver. I took this picture shortly after Harvey. But the same dike breached again during the July 4th flood this year.
Texas is the only state that has no minimum setbacks of mines from rivers. In contrast, Alaska allows no mining within 1,000 feet of a public water source. Other states and countries establish erosion hazard zones taking into account factors such as:
Many geologists and engineers believe erosion hazard zones represent a safer approach to determining setbacks.
Posted by Bob Rehak on December 21, 2018
479 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The Porter Dam: Road to Nowhere (Except Flooding)
Mike Eberle, a local entrepreneur owns Lakeside Plumbing, Gulf Coast Raceway and Mike’s Hobby Shop in Porter just off 494 on Knox. He arrived at work on December 8th to find his plumbing business flooded and his other two businesses surrounded by water.
Ditch Backing Up
This time, the culprit wasn’t Harvey or the San Jacinto River; Eberle’s businesses lie more than 3.5 miles from the river. It was someone who built a needless road over a drainage ditch. Because the capacity of the culvert under the road did not match the capacity of culverts farther up the ditch, water backed up for blocks. It flooded surrounding properties including homes, businesses and a church.
The Ditch Constriction
According to Eberle’s son, TexDoT permitted the Road to Nowhere (see below), which Eberle dubbed “The Porter Dam.” Eberle’s son says TexDoT told him that the permit should never have been issued. Supposedly, TexDoT will rip the road out on Friday, December 21. This should make an early and welcome Christmas gift to the neighbors up-ditch who flooded.
On the Road to Nowhere, Eberle looked up the ditch toward his property during the flood. Below is what he saw – water everywhere.
Below the ditch…he saw a much different story.
Several days after the floodwater receded, you could see why, Note the size of the culverts above the road. In contrast, here’s what the culvert under the Road to Nowhere looks like.
Property Owner
According to the Montgomery County Appraisal District, the Road to Nowhere is on property owned by Randal A Tr Hendricks, 400 Randal Way in Spring. Hendricks Interests, LLC, also at that address, promotes itself as a developer of residential and commercial properties and has been doing business since 1978. Hendricks currently lists eleven pad sites for sale in the Kroger Center at North Park and 59, slightly south of the Road to Nowhere.
One can only speculate why someone would build a useless road that backed water up onto neighbor’s property.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/20/2018
478 Days since Hurricane Harvey