Regular readers of this site will notice something new today – a top-level page that contains links to information about sand mining best practices.
The page features four categories of information about sand mining:
Best management practices from other states and countries
Academic articles and case studies
Texas laws and regulations
Observations
The material within each category ranges from easy-to-understand to for-experts-only. Descriptions beneath each link hint at the nature, content and authorship of the entry along with its degree of difficulty.
I hope to expand the page over time. If you know of additional valuable references, please send me links.
Knowledge: Your Best Defense
People who have closely followed the sand mining debate in the Lake Houston area know that the Texas Aggregate and Concrete Association and others have pushed back against this website.
Sand mine in Porter next to Caney Creek covers approximately 600 acres as of Hurricane Harvey. Kingwood’s East End Park, just downstream from here, had 30 acres covered with sand up to 10 feet high after Harvey.
I believe that such debate is healthy. I also believe that informed people can make better decisions about what’s in the public interest and their own self-interest.
Start with Louisiana
If you want to learn more, the Louisiana Best Management Practices represent a great place to start. Louisiana has geology, topology, weather, climate and vegetation much like ours. Beyond that, the document is clear, concise, well-illustrated and well researched…and balanced. It contains sections that explain why we need sand mining and how it’s done. It also contains good descriptions of the dangers. Then it describes best management practices and explains how they can help mitigate those dangers.
Similarities Around the World
As you explore best practices, notice their similarity throughout the world. Our problems are not unique.
Pay particular attention to recommendations pertaining to:
Setbacks from the river
Slopes of dikes
Location and protection of stockpiles
Vegetative ground cover
Buffer zones
Remediation
Erosion control
Huge Gaps Exist Between Desired, Required, and Actual Practices
Be mindful of the distinctions between desired, required and actual practices. Best practices lead to best outcomes. Required practices usually lead to minimally acceptable outcomes. Actual practices sometimes fall short of even those. That’s why I’ve also included the section on laws.
Statewide, sand mine operators received more than 600 fines for violations in the last five years.
After reviewing laws and best practices, browse through the aerial photos of sand mines on this site and ask yourself, “Are they complying with laws and observing the industry’s best management practices?”
If your answer is “No”, ask “Why?” And DEMAND answers.
Finding the Solution to Pollution
Sand comes at us from many sources, some natural and some man-made. We can’t stop nature, but we can stop harming ourselves.
Our lake and river are rapidly filling with sediment.
Drainage ditches are backing up into neighborhoods.
Water filtration costs are high.
Turbidity is high.
Oxygen in the water is low.
Recreation, boating and fishing are impaired.
Dredging will cost tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars.
Maintenance dredging will cost even more.
Demand Excellence, Not Just Compliance
We must hold the mines to the highest standards if they want a license to operate next to the source of drinking water for millions of people. Violations are simply not acceptable.
Also, any solution must acknowledge that this region is prone to repetitive flooding. We’ve had FIVE five-hundred year storms in the last 24 years (1994, 2001, 2015, 2016, 2017). During each, we also had huge releases from Lake Conroe that exacerbated flooding.
If mine design cannot withstand these types of events, we invite disaster. The most sediment transport happens during floods; it’s time we started planning for them.
How You Can Help
All of us are smarter than one of us. You may see things that I missed. Please review the aerial photos, best practices and laws. If you see opportunities for improvement, send them to me.
Example: Alaska, I noticed, discourages mining within 1000 feet of a public water source. Here, the sand mines operate right next to ours and even drive trucks through it.
Sand mines on the west fork of the San Jacinto adjacent to Kingwood. Note how close they are operating next to the source of our drinking water. Also note what appears to be a breach of the dike between the mine on the left and the river about two-third of the way up the left side of the photo. Photo taken after Harvey on 9/14/2017.
Sand mine on the West Fork of the San Jacinto adjacent to Kingwood. Industry best practices elsewhere discourage running vehicles through water sources. Here the operator built a road right through the river. Also notice the steepness of the dikes. Most best management practices recommend setting them back from the river, sloping them at 3:1 to 10:1 and planting them with vegetation such as grass to retard erosion.
Fresh sand deposits after Harvey coming out of the sand mines on the west fork of the San Jacinto adjacent to Kingwood. Note that the height of the dune is engulfing several medium sized trees on the right. Also note the road leading to the river on the left and machinery at work in an area unprotected by dikes.
Let’s compile of list of such observations, then start a dialog with the sand mining industry to encourage voluntary compliance with best practices and improve disaster planning.
Posted on 6/15/18 by Bob Rehak
Day 290 since Hurricane Harvey
00adminadmin2018-06-15 12:56:152018-06-16 12:02:17More About Sand Mining than You Ever Wanted to Know
The fast-approaching Harris County Flood Bond referendum scheduled for August 25 is forcing people to focus on their top mitigation priorities. The Flood Control District is actively soliciting community input on projects that we think are needed in this watershed.
Harris County includes 22 different watersheds within 1,756 square miles. Each watershed has its own independent flooding problems and presents unique challenges. We need to communicate with the District to ensure that:
Solutions for our area benefit the largest number of people possible
The language in the bond proposal, if adopted, would let the county address our needs
That’s why the County established a flood bond website and hotline. That’s also why County Judge Ed Emmett is meeting with Kingwood residents on July 10 at 6 pm at the Kingwood Community Center.
You can also click on the interactive map of the county’s bond program website. Zoom in on our area and start clicking on icons to reveal the location and details of projects.
Do those sound like your top priorities?
Would the current language in the bond proposal even allow the County to address your top priorities?
Here are four ideas that have been proposed for this area that could have a huge impact on flooding.
Four Important Projects
More river dredging. We must restore the velocity and carrying capacity of the entire river, not just a small portion of the West Fork and not just to pre-Harvey conditions. The Army Corps of Engineers is restoring a 2-mile stretch to pre-Harvey conditions. But we need to dredge deeper and further. And we need to do it on a regular basis. In 2000, Brown & Root recommended dredging and periodic maintenance as the best option they examined to mitigate flooding. Neither was ever done. That’s a huge part of the reason why we face increased flood risk today. Personally, I’d like to see the East and West Forks restored at least to their condition in the Year 2000.
Better ditch maintenance. Before Harvey, many of our drainage ditches became silted and clogged with fallen trees. Some, like Ben’s Branch, near the public library, still have islands and standing water in them. Keeping these ditches clear and free flowing should be a high priority. We must ensure water has a way to get to the river without spilling out of the ditches.
Does Language in Bond Proposal Support These Ideas?
Because the text is written for lawyers, by lawyers, I asked an expert to see if this language would allow the projects above to even be considered. One of the answers surprised me.
Dredging? Yes. Language allows “channel improvements” in cooperation with “City of Houston.”
Floodgates? Yes. Language allows “construction of improvements” in connection with “flood damage reduction” to “hold or convey storm water” in cooperation with “City of Houston.”
Upstream Detention? Yes. Language allows “purchasing lands, easements and rights of way” and constructing “detention basins” in “any county adjacent to Harris County.”
Ditch Maintenance? No. Language pertaining to maintenance was specifically taken out of this iteration of the proposal. HOWEVER…my expert pointed out this surprising twist. Currently, half of the Flood Control District’s $120 million budget is allocated to capital projects and about $20 million to maintenance other than mowing. If the bond proposal is approved, the $60 million currently allocated for capital improvements could be re-allocated to maintenance. That would almost quadruple the budget available for ditch maintenance. That extra money could be used to hire contractors to accelerate ditch repairs.
Speak now or forever hold your peace. Join the conversation. Please communicate your thoughts to Harris County Flood Control ASAP. The County is actively soliciting ideas for the bond proposal right now.
Remember, according the Greater Houston Flood Mitigation Consortium, the Lake Houston area historically has received 0% of the region’s flood mitigation dollars, but sustained 14% of the region’s damage during Harvey. Let’s make sure we get our fair share of flood control dollars this time around and that they’re focused where they will do the most good.
Call 713-684-4107 or mail comments to 9900 Northwest Freeway, Houston, Texas 77092, ATTN: Bond Program Communications.
Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) has introduced a new, near-real-time, inundation mapping tool – just in time for a tropical disturbance predicted to affect the Houston area from this Saturday through Monday. The NOAA map below (created 6/13/18) shows expected rainfall totals associated with the disturbance which is currently centered just south of the Yucatan. Depending on how far north you live in the Houston area, the storm could dump from 3 to 7 inches of rain on you.
Jeff Lindner, Director of Hydrologic Operations for HCFCD cautions that rainfall totals will be adjusted in coming days and that locally heavy rainfall within the storm could create flash flooding with rains of 4 inches in one hour. All of which leads me to the second part of this post…
New Inundation Mapping Tool
The Harris County Flood Control District has added inundation mapping to the Harris County Flood Warning System, providing a new tool to help you make safety decisions during flooding events. Information is posted on the Harris County Flood Warning System website (www.harriscountyfws.org).
The inundation mapping system even contains a historical feature. If you like, you can go back to floods in 2015, 2016, and 2017. The image below is from Harvey and gives you an idea of what the mapping feature would potentially show during an actual event.
The Harris County Flood Control District’s new near-real-time-inundation mapping tool can be accessed through their Flood Warning System at harriscountyfws.org. It also contains a historical feature that lets you review the extent of prior floods. Shown above: Hurricane Harvey. You can zoom in to see details within 500 feet.
15-Minute Updates
Lindner says, “Moving forward, this will be available every 15 minutes based off of the current gage data along our creeks and bayous.”
The new inundation mapping tool generates a map of flooded areas adjacent to Harris County bayous and creeks where the Flood Warning System has water level gages. The tool runs continuously to provide live inundation mapping during a flood, though the results may be delayed as much as15 minutes. That’s due to the time required to generate maps from gage data.
Please share this with your neighbors and friends so they can use this tool during heavy rains and flooding.
How Inundation Mapping Works
Inundation mapping provides information about areas of current bayou and channel flooding, based on information collected by Flood Warning System gage stations strategically placed along Harris County bayous and their tributaries.
During heavy rains, to monitor inundation levels near your home, school, work place, relatives, or commuting routes, just type in an address at or near your area of interest.
Inundation mapping can zoom from county-wide down to 500 feet. The map depicts the current extent of flooding, but does not include water depth. To experiment with it:
The “MAP VIEW OPTIONS” section at the top left allows you to add inundation mapping and other features to the county map. (When there has been no rainfall, the inundation mapping feature will not be available.)
Go to the “ADDRESS SEARCH” box in the lower left column and type your address.
The map will zoom to the gage station nearest to your location of interest. The icon shows the amount of rainfall (in inches) received at that location in the past 24 hours.
Click on the gage station icon for more detailed information.
Other “MAP VIEW OPTIONS” allow you to add watershed boundaries, drainage channels and channel status icons to the county map. You can also change the setting in the “RAINFALL DATA” section to see rainfall during various time periods.
An instructional video that shows how to use the entire Flood Warning System, including the new inundation mapping tool, is available on our YouTube page at:https://youtu.be/eb4AFIspQSQ
Experiment
A personal review.
I typed in my address as instructed above and zoomed into my neighborhood as closely as I could. Then I used the historical feature to type in different dates and times during “Harvey Week” starting with 8/25/17 and going to 9/1/17.
The results were not perfectly accurate down to the household level, but they certainly were to the block level. With this tool, a weather forecast and upstream gage data, people could have seen the flood coming at them and made better decisions that would have protected their property and safety.
Limitations of Inundation Mapping System
This is NOT a notification system for flood watches, warnings or evacuations. It’s a tool to help make critical decisions that may ultimately reduce risk.
The mapping tool will only generate a new map if the gage data for water levels changes by one-half foot. Also, damage to gages during a flood may affect the accuracy of the flooding estimate and inundation mapping in the vicinity of the damaged gages.
The new mapping tool does not show all flooding that may occur. This map will not depict flooding from:
Channels and tributaries without gages
Ponding, which may occur during or after intense rainfall when water gathers in low-lying areas, such as in streets when the capacity of the storm sewer is exceeded.
Sheet flow, which occurs when intense local rainfall flows overland to reach a channel. Frequently, this exists when water “ponds” in streets deep enough to flood residences that are not even near a creek of bayou. The water will seek a path to the channel by flowing overland, flooding residences and other structures that are in that path.
Posted 6/13/18 by Bob Rehak
288 Days since Hurricane Harvey
00adminadmin2018-06-13 15:29:572018-06-13 15:29:57Just In Time for Tropical Wave: Harris County Flood Control Announces Near-Real-Time Inundation Mapping
More About Sand Mining than You Ever Wanted to Know
Regular readers of this site will notice something new today – a top-level page that contains links to information about sand mining best practices.
The page features four categories of information about sand mining:
The material within each category ranges from easy-to-understand to for-experts-only. Descriptions beneath each link hint at the nature, content and authorship of the entry along with its degree of difficulty.
I hope to expand the page over time. If you know of additional valuable references, please send me links.
Knowledge: Your Best Defense
People who have closely followed the sand mining debate in the Lake Houston area know that the Texas Aggregate and Concrete Association and others have pushed back against this website.
Sand mine in Porter next to Caney Creek covers approximately 600 acres as of Hurricane Harvey. Kingwood’s East End Park, just downstream from here, had 30 acres covered with sand up to 10 feet high after Harvey.
I believe that such debate is healthy. I also believe that informed people can make better decisions about what’s in the public interest and their own self-interest.
Start with Louisiana
If you want to learn more, the Louisiana Best Management Practices represent a great place to start. Louisiana has geology, topology, weather, climate and vegetation much like ours. Beyond that, the document is clear, concise, well-illustrated and well researched…and balanced. It contains sections that explain why we need sand mining and how it’s done. It also contains good descriptions of the dangers. Then it describes best management practices and explains how they can help mitigate those dangers.
Similarities Around the World
As you explore best practices, notice their similarity throughout the world. Our problems are not unique.
Pay particular attention to recommendations pertaining to:
Huge Gaps Exist Between Desired, Required, and Actual Practices
Be mindful of the distinctions between desired, required and actual practices. Best practices lead to best outcomes. Required practices usually lead to minimally acceptable outcomes. Actual practices sometimes fall short of even those. That’s why I’ve also included the section on laws.
After reviewing laws and best practices, browse through the aerial photos of sand mines on this site and ask yourself, “Are they complying with laws and observing the industry’s best management practices?”
If your answer is “No”, ask “Why?” And DEMAND answers.
Finding the Solution to Pollution
Sand comes at us from many sources, some natural and some man-made. We can’t stop nature, but we can stop harming ourselves.
Demand Excellence, Not Just Compliance
We must hold the mines to the highest standards if they want a license to operate next to the source of drinking water for millions of people. Violations are simply not acceptable.
Also, any solution must acknowledge that this region is prone to repetitive flooding. We’ve had FIVE five-hundred year storms in the last 24 years (1994, 2001, 2015, 2016, 2017). During each, we also had huge releases from Lake Conroe that exacerbated flooding.
If mine design cannot withstand these types of events, we invite disaster. The most sediment transport happens during floods; it’s time we started planning for them.
How You Can Help
All of us are smarter than one of us. You may see things that I missed. Please review the aerial photos, best practices and laws. If you see opportunities for improvement, send them to me.
Sand mines on the west fork of the San Jacinto adjacent to Kingwood. Note how close they are operating next to the source of our drinking water. Also note what appears to be a breach of the dike between the mine on the left and the river about two-third of the way up the left side of the photo. Photo taken after Harvey on 9/14/2017.
Sand mine on the West Fork of the San Jacinto adjacent to Kingwood. Industry best practices elsewhere discourage running vehicles through water sources. Here the operator built a road right through the river. Also notice the steepness of the dikes. Most best management practices recommend setting them back from the river, sloping them at 3:1 to 10:1 and planting them with vegetation such as grass to retard erosion.
Fresh sand deposits after Harvey coming out of the sand mines on the west fork of the San Jacinto adjacent to Kingwood. Note that the height of the dune is engulfing several medium sized trees on the right. Also note the road leading to the river on the left and machinery at work in an area unprotected by dikes.
Let’s compile of list of such observations, then start a dialog with the sand mining industry to encourage voluntary compliance with best practices and improve disaster planning.
Posted on 6/15/18 by Bob Rehak
Day 290 since Hurricane Harvey
Update on County Flood Bond Status and Some Proposed Projects
The fast-approaching Harris County Flood Bond referendum scheduled for August 25 is forcing people to focus on their top mitigation priorities. The Flood Control District is actively soliciting community input on projects that we think are needed in this watershed.
Harris County includes 22 different watersheds within 1,756 square miles. Each watershed has its own independent flooding problems and presents unique challenges. We need to communicate with the District to ensure that:
That’s why the County established a flood bond website and hotline. That’s also why County Judge Ed Emmett is meeting with Kingwood residents on July 10 at 6 pm at the Kingwood Community Center.
Harris County Flood Control Bond Page at https://www.hcfcd.org/bond-program/.
Here is the current list of projects included in the Bond Proposal. Scroll down to page 7 to see those associated with the San Jacinto Watershed as of 6/1/18.
You can also click on the interactive map of the county’s bond program website. Zoom in on our area and start clicking on icons to reveal the location and details of projects.
Here are four ideas that have been proposed for this area that could have a huge impact on flooding.
Four Important Projects
Does Language in Bond Proposal Support These Ideas?
Here is the the most recent iteration of the language in the County Flood Bond Proposal. Matt Zeve, Director of Operations for the Flood Control District said he expects several more minor changes before the text gets locked down.
Because the text is written for lawyers, by lawyers, I asked an expert to see if this language would allow the projects above to even be considered. One of the answers surprised me.
What are Your Top Priorities?
What do you think would help the most? According to Community Impact, County Judge Ed Emmett said the county hopes to have a final list of projects to share with the public by Aug. 1. Early voting will begin on Aug. 8. Thus, you have only six weeks to influence the project list if you want to.
Give the County Your Thoughts
Speak now or forever hold your peace. Join the conversation. Please communicate your thoughts to Harris County Flood Control ASAP. The County is actively soliciting ideas for the bond proposal right now.
Remember, according the Greater Houston Flood Mitigation Consortium, the Lake Houston area historically has received 0% of the region’s flood mitigation dollars, but sustained 14% of the region’s damage during Harvey. Let’s make sure we get our fair share of flood control dollars this time around and that they’re focused where they will do the most good.
Also, please mark your calendar. Come to the meeting with Judge Ed Emmett at the Kingwood Community Center on July 10 from 6 to 8 pm. Learn more about the bond proposal and give the Judge your feedback directly. Bring everyone in your neighborhood!
Posted by Bob Rehak 6/14/2018
289 days since Hurricane Harvey
Just In Time for Tropical Wave: Harris County Flood Control Announces Near-Real-Time Inundation Mapping
Approaching Storm
Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) has introduced a new, near-real-time, inundation mapping tool – just in time for a tropical disturbance predicted to affect the Houston area from this Saturday through Monday. The NOAA map below (created 6/13/18) shows expected rainfall totals associated with the disturbance which is currently centered just south of the Yucatan. Depending on how far north you live in the Houston area, the storm could dump from 3 to 7 inches of rain on you.
Jeff Lindner, Director of Hydrologic Operations for HCFCD cautions that rainfall totals will be adjusted in coming days and that locally heavy rainfall within the storm could create flash flooding with rains of 4 inches in one hour. All of which leads me to the second part of this post…
New Inundation Mapping Tool
The Harris County Flood Control District has added inundation mapping to the Harris County Flood Warning System, providing a new tool to help you make safety decisions during flooding events. Information is posted on the Harris County Flood Warning System website (www.harriscountyfws.org).
The inundation mapping system even contains a historical feature. If you like, you can go back to floods in 2015, 2016, and 2017. The image below is from Harvey and gives you an idea of what the mapping feature would potentially show during an actual event.
The Harris County Flood Control District’s new near-real-time-inundation mapping tool can be accessed through their Flood Warning System at harriscountyfws.org. It also contains a historical feature that lets you review the extent of prior floods. Shown above: Hurricane Harvey. You can zoom in to see details within 500 feet.
15-Minute Updates
Lindner says, “Moving forward, this will be available every 15 minutes based off of the current gage data along our creeks and bayous.”
The new inundation mapping tool generates a map of flooded areas adjacent to Harris County bayous and creeks where the Flood Warning System has water level gages. The tool runs continuously to provide live inundation mapping during a flood, though the results may be delayed as much as 15 minutes. That’s due to the time required to generate maps from gage data.
Please share this with your neighbors and friends so they can use this tool during heavy rains and flooding.
How Inundation Mapping Works
Inundation mapping provides information about areas of current bayou and channel flooding, based on information collected by Flood Warning System gage stations strategically placed along Harris County bayous and their tributaries.
During heavy rains, to monitor inundation levels near your home, school, work place, relatives, or commuting routes, just type in an address at or near your area of interest.
Inundation mapping can zoom from county-wide down to 500 feet. The map depicts the current extent of flooding, but does not include water depth. To experiment with it:
An instructional video that shows how to use the entire Flood Warning System, including the new inundation mapping tool, is available on our YouTube page at:https://youtu.be/eb4AFIspQSQ
Experiment
A personal review.
I typed in my address as instructed above and zoomed into my neighborhood as closely as I could. Then I used the historical feature to type in different dates and times during “Harvey Week” starting with 8/25/17 and going to 9/1/17.
The results were not perfectly accurate down to the household level, but they certainly were to the block level. With this tool, a weather forecast and upstream gage data, people could have seen the flood coming at them and made better decisions that would have protected their property and safety.
Limitations of Inundation Mapping System
This is NOT a notification system for flood watches, warnings or evacuations. It’s a tool to help make critical decisions that may ultimately reduce risk.
The mapping tool will only generate a new map if the gage data for water levels changes by one-half foot. Also, damage to gages during a flood may affect the accuracy of the flooding estimate and inundation mapping in the vicinity of the damaged gages.
The new mapping tool does not show all flooding that may occur. This map will not depict flooding from:
Posted 6/13/18 by Bob Rehak
288 Days since Hurricane Harvey