The things government does now to protect us from future flooding – and the speed with which it does them – will make the difference between long-term recovery and decay.
In many ways, we’ve made incredible progress since Harvey – the initial frenzy of volunteerism, the massive trash pickup, repairing homes, re-establishing businesses, rebuilding infrastructure, re-opening schools, organizing an emergency (albeit partial) dredging project, passing a $2.5 billion flood bond, and more. The amount of activity speaks volumes about the character of the community. But recovery is far from complete.
The old HEB store still has not been leased to a new tenant.
Confidence determines whether people will rebuild. Without confidence, people are reluctant to invest. You can see lack of confidence in empty shops up and down West Lake Houston Parkway and in “for sale” signs in front of homes. People are saying, “I’m not going to risk this again.”
So what will give people confidence and speed recovery?
Expand Dredging
The Army Corps has started dredging a small portion of the West Fork – about 1.2 miles between Kings Lake Estates and River Grove Park. This will take until April or May of next year to complete. However, the biggest blockage in the river is NOT part of this project. The “mouth bar” where the river meets the lake will remain. Unless a second project to address that can be funded, bid and mobilized before the first is done, taxpayers will be forced to pay another $18 million in mobilization/demobilization fees – all over again.
First dredge on the San Jacinto is now working an area west of the West Lake Houston Parkway Bridge. Photo courtesy of Keith Jordan.
Even if the mouth bar is addressed, the rest of the West Fork, the East Fork and parts of Lake Houston will need to be dredged in order to clear channels through the upper Lake Houston area.
To prevent the current blockages from recurring and flooding us again, we should also develop a maintenance dredging program in perpetuity.
FEMA defines floodways as the main channel of the river during a flood – where the water moves the fastest. With the exception of one sand mine between Lake Houston and I-45, part of every single sand mine lies in the floodway.
West Fork sand mines on 8/30/17, one day after the peak from from Harvey
We’ve seen several instances of ruptured mine dikes on the West Fork – some that have gone unprepared for years and increased the rate of sedimentation. This contributes to the sand and sediment clogging our rivers, the destruction of downstream properties, and dredging costs which are substantial.
Improve Ditch Maintenance
Harris County has agreed to take over ditch maintenance for the City of Houston. However, the City of Houston is still looking for deeds and easements that should have been transferred and recorded during annexation 22 years ago. This does NOT inspire confidence. Once the County receives permission to clean and clear the ditches, it can proceed. County flood control crews have been surveying in anticipation of receiving the documents. Money has also been freed up in the Flood Control budget with the passage of the flood bond.
We should also remember that more water came down the East Fork during the peak of Harvey than the West Fork. Additional upstream detention on both forks will help reduce the input during floods and raise confidence.
Add More Flood Gates to Lake Houston
In March, the Mayor promised 10 additional flood gates for Lake Houston so that we could shed water faster during a flood. This pr0ject has progressed somewhat since then, but slowly. The City has filed an application with FEMA which has received a high score from the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM). TDEM ranks applications for FEMA funding coming from Texas.
Nonetheless, some officials have said that additional gates could take 10 years to actually build. Given the fact that we’ve had five so-called “500-year storms” in the last 25 years (1994, 2001, 2015, 2016, 2017), 10 years is too long. Many older residents won’t live long enough to see those gates. We can and must do better. We won World War II in less than half that time.
Plead for Speed
Delays in these mitigation projects will undermine confidence and recovery. Conversely, fast-tracking these projects will restore confidence and speed recovery.
We also need to streamline government disaster recovery. Let’s face it. It has taken more than a year since Hurricane Harvey to get one dredge on the San Jacinto River. We can do better. We need to do better.
As always, these are my opinions on matters of public policy protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP statute of the Great State of Texas.
Posted by Bob Rehak on September 22, 2018
389 Days Since Hurricane Harvey
00adminadmin2018-09-22 01:42:222018-09-22 08:11:10Opportunities to Speed Recovery
The Army Corps of Engineers Emergency West Fork Dredging Project started yesterday, but not where planned. The Corps originally said it would start slightly east of West Lake Houston Parkway bridge and work its way back west to River Grove Park. Contract documents indicated the eastward limit of dredging would include the area south of Kings Harbor. However, today dredging started west of the bridge, between the Kingwood Country Club Forest Course and Kings Lake Estates. That puts the start of dredging approximately in the middle of the contracted area.
From US Army Corps’ contract plans for West Fork Dredging project. Note arrow pointing to power lines in C-102.
Photo courtesy of Keith Jordan, a Kings Lake Estates resident, shows first dredge set up behind row of trees on West Fork. Note high tension power lines seen in the right of photo as a reference to the map above.
Jordan said, “Literally watching constant dredging occurring about 200 yards in front of my boat house in the river. Motors seem to be running 24/7 with lights on boats at night.” He later sent me this image.
Photo Courtesy of Keith Jordan.
Approximate starting point of dredging. Satellite image courtesy of Google Earth.
When asked about noise from the operation, Jordan replied, “Just hear a steady hum from inside the house. Nothing bad.”
I asked about the change in plans because Kings Harbor was one of the worst flooded areas in Kingwood. One hundred percent of the businesses were destroyed along with three apartment complexes. This is also the area were Ben’s Branch empties into the river.
The Corps has not yet explained the reason for the change in plans. They did, however, send these additional shots of the dredge in operation.
First dredge in operation on location in the middle of the contracted area.
First dredge at work near Kings Lake Estates. There appears to be a mechanical dredge working in front of the hydraulic dredge.
The dredge weighs approximately 27 tons and will be in the river 24 hours per day until early May of 2019 according to the Corps.
Over 4.5 miles of high density polyethylene pipeline measuring 24 inches in diameter is in position and will help move over 1.8 million cubic years of sediment and debris.
Corps officials are asking recreational boaters to stay clear of the dredge and be aware of debris removal pipelines and booster pumps within the river.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/20/18
388 Days since Hurricane Harvey
00adminadmin2018-09-20 23:35:382018-09-21 11:12:49Dredging Starts, But Not Where Planned
Ever since Hurricane Harvey departed the Houston region more than a year ago, anxious residents have waited for this day. Today dredges begin removing massive amounts of sediment blocking the West Fork of the San Jacinto River. The Army Corps conducted a survey that confirmed the sediment contributed to flooding. But it has taken virtually six months to bid the project, award the job, and mobilize.
The first dredge has left it’s dock at the command site for the Emergency West Fork Dredging Project. Photo courtesy of Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce.
This morning, the first dredge left its dock.
As late as yesterday afternoon, workers were busy preparing it.
Final prep on first dredge happened on Tuesday, September 18.
Cranes loaded final supplies onto dredges at the US Army Corps of Engineers Command Site on September 18, 2018 for the Emergency West Fork Dredging Project.
Overcoming Delays
In the last few weeks, the Corps experienced several delays. First a key part for the first dredge had to be remanufactured and shipped to the job site. Then heavy storms swarmed the Houston area last week. Because the cranes above act like lightening rods, every time thunder was heard, work had to stop until the threat passed.
Finally, as other equipment such as dredge pipe and booster pumps were moved down the river into position, it became apparent that additional sedimentation had clogged the river since the Corps did its initial survey. That meant that sediment had to be removed before the dredges could get into position to start dredging.
Here are two pictures that show the depth of the pontoons on the barge and one of the areas it must move through.
Note the depth of the pontoons on the barge; image taken several weeks ago when dredge was being assembled..
It must move through water as little as 18 inches deep to get to its starting position.
A giant sandbar almost completely blocks the west fork of the San Jacinto River just downstream from River Grove Park.
Clearing the Way
The Corps stated Monday that mechanical dredges were scooping out a channel for the hydraulic dredges and on Tuesday, this scoop was seen between River Grove and the blockage above.
Clearing the way for the hydraulic dredges
Starting at West Lake Houston Parkway and Moving Back Upstream to River Grove
According to the Corps, dredging will start in the Kings Harbor area, slightly east of the West Lake Houston Parkway Bridge. Work will then progress upriver toward River Grove Park in Kingwood, the end of this particular project.
Plans for Subsequent Phases Still Uncertain
No one has yet announced plans to dredge the mouth bar, the East Fork or to perform maintenance dredging after all of the major blockages have been removed.
For those who wonder how this dredging will work, the dredges stir up sediment then suction it into pipelines that are miles long. Booster pumps stationed at regular intervals keep the slurry moving through the pipes back upstream to old sand pits where it will be stored.
How Dredging Works
This picture shows the business end of the second dredge.
This object will be lowered into the water and rotate to stir up sediment which will then be suctioned into pipelines that carry the slurry back to placement areas.
Dredge pipeline is already in place.
Periodic booster pumps will keep slurry moving upriver to disposal areas.
Safety Warning
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requests recreational boaters to stay a safe distance from dredging operations. This equipment weighs hundreds of tons and cannot maneuver as quickly as recreational boaters. Don’t expect them to get out of your way. The safest thing to do is to stay out of this reach of the river until dredging has completed.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/19/18
386 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/20180918_175217-e1537374027803.jpg?fit=1500%2C844&ssl=18441500adminadmin2018-09-19 10:56:282018-09-19 15:39:15First Dredge Moves Down River
Opportunities to Speed Recovery
The things government does now to protect us from future flooding – and the speed with which it does them – will make the difference between long-term recovery and decay.
In many ways, we’ve made incredible progress since Harvey – the initial frenzy of volunteerism, the massive trash pickup, repairing homes, re-establishing businesses, rebuilding infrastructure, re-opening schools, organizing an emergency (albeit partial) dredging project, passing a $2.5 billion flood bond, and more. The amount of activity speaks volumes about the character of the community. But recovery is far from complete.
The old HEB store still has not been leased to a new tenant.
Confidence determines whether people will rebuild. Without confidence, people are reluctant to invest. You can see lack of confidence in empty shops up and down West Lake Houston Parkway and in “for sale” signs in front of homes. People are saying, “I’m not going to risk this again.”
So what will give people confidence and speed recovery?
Expand Dredging
The Army Corps has started dredging a small portion of the West Fork – about 1.2 miles between Kings Lake Estates and River Grove Park. This will take until April or May of next year to complete. However, the biggest blockage in the river is NOT part of this project. The “mouth bar” where the river meets the lake will remain. Unless a second project to address that can be funded, bid and mobilized before the first is done, taxpayers will be forced to pay another $18 million in mobilization/demobilization fees – all over again.
First dredge on the San Jacinto is now working an area west of the West Lake Houston Parkway Bridge. Photo courtesy of Keith Jordan.
Even if the mouth bar is addressed, the rest of the West Fork, the East Fork and parts of Lake Houston will need to be dredged in order to clear channels through the upper Lake Houston area.
Reduce Sedimentation
Sedimentation comes from several sources: a) natural stream erosion, B) urbanization, and C) sand mining. With the exception of creating more upstream detention, we can’t do much to control A or B. We can, however, do something about the 20 square miles of sand mines in the floodways upstream from us.
FEMA defines floodways as the main channel of the river during a flood – where the water moves the fastest. With the exception of one sand mine between Lake Houston and I-45, part of every single sand mine lies in the floodway.
West Fork sand mines on 8/30/17, one day after the peak from from Harvey
Moving mines out of the floodway will require legislation that puts more distance between mines and rivers. As far as I can tell, Texas is the only state that does not require a minimum setback. We need greater setbacks because rivers migrate over time and capture pits during floods. This process is well understood and predictable.
We’ve seen several instances of ruptured mine dikes on the West Fork – some that have gone unprepared for years and increased the rate of sedimentation. This contributes to the sand and sediment clogging our rivers, the destruction of downstream properties, and dredging costs which are substantial.
Improve Ditch Maintenance
Harris County has agreed to take over ditch maintenance for the City of Houston. However, the City of Houston is still looking for deeds and easements that should have been transferred and recorded during annexation 22 years ago. This does NOT inspire confidence. Once the County receives permission to clean and clear the ditches, it can proceed. County flood control crews have been surveying in anticipation of receiving the documents. Money has also been freed up in the Flood Control budget with the passage of the flood bond.
Create More Upstream Detention
Holding water upstream during a flood lowers water levels downstream. The County has identified potential land to build another reservoir on far western Cypress Creek. That should help. But it’s a long term project and one of hundreds in the flood bond package.
We should also remember that more water came down the East Fork during the peak of Harvey than the West Fork. Additional upstream detention on both forks will help reduce the input during floods and raise confidence.
Add More Flood Gates to Lake Houston
In March, the Mayor promised 10 additional flood gates for Lake Houston so that we could shed water faster during a flood. This pr0ject has progressed somewhat since then, but slowly. The City has filed an application with FEMA which has received a high score from the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM). TDEM ranks applications for FEMA funding coming from Texas.
Nonetheless, some officials have said that additional gates could take 10 years to actually build. Given the fact that we’ve had five so-called “500-year storms” in the last 25 years (1994, 2001, 2015, 2016, 2017), 10 years is too long. Many older residents won’t live long enough to see those gates. We can and must do better. We won World War II in less than half that time.
Plead for Speed
Delays in these mitigation projects will undermine confidence and recovery. Conversely, fast-tracking these projects will restore confidence and speed recovery.
We also need to streamline government disaster recovery. Let’s face it. It has taken more than a year since Hurricane Harvey to get one dredge on the San Jacinto River. We can do better. We need to do better.
As always, these are my opinions on matters of public policy protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP statute of the Great State of Texas.
Posted by Bob Rehak on September 22, 2018
389 Days Since Hurricane Harvey
Dredging Starts, But Not Where Planned
The Army Corps of Engineers Emergency West Fork Dredging Project started yesterday, but not where planned. The Corps originally said it would start slightly east of West Lake Houston Parkway bridge and work its way back west to River Grove Park. Contract documents indicated the eastward limit of dredging would include the area south of Kings Harbor. However, today dredging started west of the bridge, between the Kingwood Country Club Forest Course and Kings Lake Estates. That puts the start of dredging approximately in the middle of the contracted area.
From US Army Corps’ contract plans for West Fork Dredging project. Note arrow pointing to power lines in C-102.
Photo courtesy of Keith Jordan, a Kings Lake Estates resident, shows first dredge set up behind row of trees on West Fork. Note high tension power lines seen in the right of photo as a reference to the map above.
Jordan said, “Literally watching constant dredging occurring about 200 yards in front of my boat house in the river. Motors seem to be running 24/7 with lights on boats at night.” He later sent me this image.
Photo Courtesy of Keith Jordan.
Approximate starting point of dredging. Satellite image courtesy of Google Earth.
When asked about noise from the operation, Jordan replied, “Just hear a steady hum from inside the house. Nothing bad.”
I asked about the change in plans because Kings Harbor was one of the worst flooded areas in Kingwood. One hundred percent of the businesses were destroyed along with three apartment complexes. This is also the area were Ben’s Branch empties into the river.
The Corps has not yet explained the reason for the change in plans. They did, however, send these additional shots of the dredge in operation.
First dredge in operation on location in the middle of the contracted area.
First dredge at work near Kings Lake Estates. There appears to be a mechanical dredge working in front of the hydraulic dredge.
Over 4.5 miles of high density polyethylene pipeline measuring 24 inches in diameter is in position and will help move over 1.8 million cubic years of sediment and debris.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/20/18
388 Days since Hurricane Harvey
First Dredge Moves Down River
Ever since Hurricane Harvey departed the Houston region more than a year ago, anxious residents have waited for this day. Today dredges begin removing massive amounts of sediment blocking the West Fork of the San Jacinto River. The Army Corps conducted a survey that confirmed the sediment contributed to flooding. But it has taken virtually six months to bid the project, award the job, and mobilize.
The first dredge has left it’s dock at the command site for the Emergency West Fork Dredging Project. Photo courtesy of Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce.
This morning, the first dredge left its dock.
As late as yesterday afternoon, workers were busy preparing it.
Final prep on first dredge happened on Tuesday, September 18.
Cranes loaded final supplies onto dredges at the US Army Corps of Engineers Command Site on September 18, 2018 for the Emergency West Fork Dredging Project.
Overcoming Delays
In the last few weeks, the Corps experienced several delays. First a key part for the first dredge had to be remanufactured and shipped to the job site. Then heavy storms swarmed the Houston area last week. Because the cranes above act like lightening rods, every time thunder was heard, work had to stop until the threat passed.
Finally, as other equipment such as dredge pipe and booster pumps were moved down the river into position, it became apparent that additional sedimentation had clogged the river since the Corps did its initial survey. That meant that sediment had to be removed before the dredges could get into position to start dredging.
Here are two pictures that show the depth of the pontoons on the barge and one of the areas it must move through.
Note the depth of the pontoons on the barge; image taken several weeks ago when dredge was being assembled..
It must move through water as little as 18 inches deep to get to its starting position.
A giant sandbar almost completely blocks the west fork of the San Jacinto River just downstream from River Grove Park.
Clearing the Way
The Corps stated Monday that mechanical dredges were scooping out a channel for the hydraulic dredges and on Tuesday, this scoop was seen between River Grove and the blockage above.
Clearing the way for the hydraulic dredges
Starting at West Lake Houston Parkway and Moving Back Upstream to River Grove
According to the Corps, dredging will start in the Kings Harbor area, slightly east of the West Lake Houston Parkway Bridge. Work will then progress upriver toward River Grove Park in Kingwood, the end of this particular project.
Plans for Subsequent Phases Still Uncertain
No one has yet announced plans to dredge the mouth bar, the East Fork or to perform maintenance dredging after all of the major blockages have been removed.
For those who wonder how this dredging will work, the dredges stir up sediment then suction it into pipelines that are miles long. Booster pumps stationed at regular intervals keep the slurry moving through the pipes back upstream to old sand pits where it will be stored.
How Dredging Works
This picture shows the business end of the second dredge.
This object will be lowered into the water and rotate to stir up sediment which will then be suctioned into pipelines that carry the slurry back to placement areas.
Dredge pipeline is already in place.
Periodic booster pumps will keep slurry moving upriver to disposal areas.
Safety Warning
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requests recreational boaters to stay a safe distance from dredging operations. This equipment weighs hundreds of tons and cannot maneuver as quickly as recreational boaters. Don’t expect them to get out of your way. The safest thing to do is to stay out of this reach of the river until dredging has completed.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/19/18
386 Days since Hurricane Harvey