Draft Agenda Item 89 lists the project name as River Grove, but drawings within the variance request call it Kingwood Marina.
City Appeals FOIA Request to Attorney General
The Planning and Development Department appealed my Freedom of Information Act request for the developer’s drainage study to the Texas Attorney General. That means the public may not be able to review the drainage plans before the Planning Commission rules on plat approval. Worse, the public may never get to see the drainage study.
Marbet Alonzo of the City Planning and Development Department said, “The document you requested is a third-party document and cannot be released at this time. We have submitted a request to the Attorney General’s Office for a ruling. Once a determination is made and the document is eligible for release, we will provide it promptly.”
Approving plans before the public has had a chance to review all relevant documents highlights serious transparency and procedural issues.
Bob Rehak
You may submit public comments by sending an email to speakercomments.pc@houstontx.gov, at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting. Reference 2025-2266 River Grove GP in the title of your email.
Transparency and Procedural Issues
In my opinion, the only honorable thing to do in this case is to defer a decision until after the attorney general has ruled on release of the study, and the public has had time to review and prepare comments. If the attorney general allows the drainage plans to remain secret, then the City should deny permits.
Page 158 of the agenda shows that consideration may be deferred to a future date. However, the MLK holiday disrupted the Planning Commission’s normal publication schedule. So, I’m still looking at a DRAFT agenda. However, public comments must be submitted 24 hours before the meeting. Accordingly, I’m publishing this post today, so that people can email comments Tuesday before the deadline on Wednesday.
Rehak’s Concerns
To be fair, my concerns go beyond street layouts. I have been photographing this property for years. I started when Romerica first proposed building 50 story high-rises in the floodplain of the San Jacinto West Fork on another portion of their property south of the Barrington.
But I’ve also kept a close eye on the portion of the property north of Barrington. The photos below show some of the issues.
Roman Arrow land after two inches of rainfall in previous month.Looking E. Barrington on R. Roman Arrow property upper left. Photo taken on 5/3/24.One day later from opposite direction looking W. Roman Arrow property is right of upper center.USGS National Map shows that Roman Arrow land (center) averages 7 feet lower than Barrington (Bottom).Roman Arrow/Romerica Wetlands shown in green both north and south of Barrington (center)
Given that current floodplain maps show the entire Roman Arrow property in the 100-year floodplain, they will not be able to bring in fill to elevate the homes and hotel they plan to build there. They will have to excavate dirt from their property or elevate structures on stilts.
Romerica/Roman Arrow land in center; see above. Aqua=100-year floodplain. Brown=500 year. Cross-hatch=floodway of West Fork.
Note the date on the map above: 2007. When new flood maps are released, floodplains and floodways are expected to expand by 50-100%.
What Do They Plan to Build?
The developers have said they hope to build the development in two phases.
Phase One includes a 297,600-square-foot Fairmont Hotel with 400 rooms and 90 condominium residences.
Phase Two includes another 226,085-square-foot hotel with 37 8,611-square-foot villas, each on one third acre lots.
They plan to build the roads up to 60 feet – 13 feet above swamp level and 5 feet higher than the roads in Barrington.
Pedestrian pathways would be elevated to 71 feet – 11 feet above the roads.
The hotels would top out 65 feet above ground level. But the first residential floor of the condominiums would start at 65 feet and rise two stories.
They claim ground level will be 53 feet – 7 feet below the road level.
It’s all very confusing. That’s why we need to see the drainage plans. Where will the fill come from? Do they plan to build on stilts? Will structures and fill impede the flow of the floodway when new flood maps are released?
They can’t bring fill into the 100-year floodplain. And excavating it from land that’s already underwater won’t help mitigate increased flood potential.
Phase II HotelPhase II Condo
Third Time Around
This is the third concept that Romerica/Roman Arrow developers have pitched for this property.
The first was 25- to 50-story high-rises south of the Barrington with underground parking next to the floodway of the West Fork.
Then they pitched a series of homes on stilts under the name Orchard Seeded Ranches. That quietly fell off the radar.
Now this.
The land previously belonged to developer Ron Holley who fought the City for 20 years for the right to build on it.
Many have conjectured whether these developers are trying to raise money for the development via EB-5 visas. The developers are foreign nationals and are shielding their Texas operating companies through a series of approximately 30 shell companies at last count.
EB-5 visas give preferential consideration for green cards to foreigners and their families who invest $800,000 to a million dollars or more in American infrastructure projects that create jobs.
I have no evidence that that is their plan. Neither can I find any evidence that they have actually completed any developments in the U.S. under the names Romerica or Roman Arrow.
Neither Romerica nor Roman Arrow appears to have an active website – something that seems strange for a company claiming that this will be a half-billion project.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/19/2026
3065 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Roman-Arrow.jpg?fit=1100%2C716&ssl=17161100adminadmin2026-01-19 19:55:232026-01-19 21:28:49City to Consider Approval of Development in Swamp While Keeping Drainage Study Secret
1/17/2026 – Northpark Expansion Project contractors have now officially completed connecting drainage on both sides of Loop 494 and the UnionPacific Railroad.
Contractors begin backfilling hole after last section of 5’x8′ culvert was connected to junction box west of railroad. Photo 1/16/26.
By today, the work area had been completely filled in and leveled. See below.
Highlighted area shows where final drainage connection above was made yesterday. Photo 1/17/26.
Now stormwater west of Loop 494 has a path to the Kingwood Diversion Ditch and the San Jacinto West Fork.
Path from ponds to Diversion Ditch via Ditch One behind the businesses on the north side of North Park.
Project Manager Ralph De Leon emailed the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority Board yesterday to inform them. He wrote, “Just wanted to share that we’ve reached a milestone. The contractor poured the collar on the west side of the rail tracks yesterday, functionally connecting the 8’ x 5′ boxes coming from the junction box at the Shell Station and going underneath Loop 494 to the junction box west of the rail tracks.”
De Leon did not indicate whether contractors sealed the last junction box with a Golden Spike.
Meaning of Milestone
With the east/west subsurface work completed, contractors can now begin building the bridge over the railroad tracks and Loop 494. De Leon concluded his email to the board with “We are officially there now.”
When complete Northpark Expansion will represent the first all-weather evacuation route from Kingwood for 78,000 people.
However, while reaching the milestone is a huge accomplishment, it will also mean some inconvenience next week.
Westbound Lane Closure Weekend of 1/23/26
On Friday, January 23, the eastbound entrance to Northpark from the northbound I-69 feeder road will be reduced to one lane eastbound. The constriction will start at 8 p.m. and remain until 5 a.m., Monday, January 26th.
During that time, the contractor will demolish and replace the remaining section of old roadway and install the last storm sewers at that location.
Looking E over entry from US59. The red crosshatched area will be demolished and repaved next weekend.
On Friday starting at 8PM, contractors will close one lane per the diagram above and begin demolition of the old concrete and an old 24″ storm sewer lateral pipe in the red L-shaped box.
On Saturday, they will replace the pipe, then begin grading and preparing for “Fast-Track” paving. Fast Track uses special techniques and materials that minimize traffic disruption. Contractors hope to begin pouring the concrete by 7-8PM.
On Sunday, they will stripe the newly constructed concrete and reopen lanes in their original configuration before the weekend.
The new lanes should reopen by 5AM Monday at the latest.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260116-Last-EW-Connection.jpg?fit=825%2C1100&ssl=11100825adminadmin2026-01-17 19:30:512026-01-18 07:50:53East-West Northpark Drainage Under 494, UPRR Now Connected
1/16/26 – The Kingwood Area Republican Women’s club (KARW) hosted a candidate forum for the Harris County Judge race on 1/15/26 at Raffa’s Waterfront Grill. Approximately 80 people packed the restaurant to listen to six candidates square off against each other on a variety of issues from flooding to public safety, taxes, government efficiency, homelessness, human trafficking and more.
Both the questions and candidates kept returning to flooding, one of the dominant concerns of Lake-Houston-Area residents.
Symbolic Location
The choice of the location was apropos. Raffa’s flooded badly during Harvey and a dozen seniors ages (75 to 95) at Kingwood Village Estates, just a few blocks from the restaurant, died as a result of that flood.
A Strong Field
Republicans have a field of strong candidates this year. The candidates were knowledgeable, articulate and well versed on issues and solutions. Given the current state of Harris County government, that was very encouraging.
Questions Drawn at Random; Notes on Editing
Candidates chose club members’ questions at random from a fish bowl. The Q&A continued for 90 minutes.
Below, I highlight only flood-related comments by each of the candidates. I drew them from comments they made at different points during the 90 minutes – sometimes from their opening or closing remarks. Please understand that each candidate may not have drawn a question about flooding.
At the end of this article, I will link to a full transcript of all questions and all answers during the entire forum.
Candidates’ Thoughts on Flooding
Aliza Dutt
Aliza Dutt, former Dow-Jones reporter, energy analyst and now Mayor, Piney Point Village
“I’ve allocated budgets in terms of making sure public safety is first and foremost for our constituents. There is nothing more important in our community than making sure our children are raised in safe neighborhoods, and our homes are protected in times of flooding.
“The San Jacinto Watershed Project, which was noted as one of the most dire projects that needed to be done so far, has only received around 13% of that $2.5 billion flood bond. And why is that? Because a Democratic Commissioners Court tricked the taxpayers.
“Their definition of risk isn’t about those who died in that senior center right down the street. Lives were lost. But instead, projects were allocated to people because of economic disparity versus those who died and those who need help the most.
“Kingwood is one flood away from extinction and we have to put a stop to flooding.
“Where were the politicians when [money from] that $2.5 billion flood bond never made it to your neighborhood?
“It is incumbent on conservative leadership to never compromise the value of human life.
“No more politicians who show up at your women’s groups and at the polls a few weeks before Election Day, making empty promises. Flood mitigation has not seen the light of day.”
[Editor’s note: Gonzales drew no questions on flood mitigation. His comments focused on law enforcement, bail bond reform, homelessness and government corruption.He did not use opening or closing remarks to address flooding.]
[Editor’s note: Warren Howell also drew no questions on flooding. He spoke primarily on government budgets, salaries, deficits and efficiency. He mentioned flood control only in his concluding remarks.]
“The key to everything you want, your flood control? Everything. Everything. Public safety. It is dependent on creating a new government that operates in the correct manner and costs you the right amount of money.
“We need to double our flood control. And I know how to do it. We have to double it not just for four years, but for generations to come.”
Marty Lancton
Marty Lancton, first responder, President of the Houston Professional Firefighters Association
“We are going to take a top down approach. And the Harris County Flood Control District is at the top of my priority list to [force a] focus on the areas that need flood help the most.
“I’ve spent years trying to help out the Kingwood area and get flood-mitigation dollars. And when you have people like Commissioner Rodney Ellis, who uses the word equity, to take dollars away from Kingwood and not put [mitigation] projects in the ground…that’s a problem.
“And when GLO Commissioner Buckingham came in, she appointed me to her transition team. And the number one priority, I said, is we have got to get resources to Kingwood and to Harris County within 90 days. Doctor Dawn Buckingham and the GLO brought $800 million to Harris County so that we could address these problems.
“And yet now we sit here today. Because of the Harris County Flood Control District, because of Commissioner Rodney Ellis and the leadership in the county courts, those funds are now at risk of not being utilized because they cannot get their proverbial (stuff) together. That is unacceptable. It does not help the Kingwood residents. And it does not help the citizens of Harris County. That will change on day one under my administration.”
[Responding to the question, “What is your stance on floodplain developments and what do you see as the developer’s responsibility in local flood prevention?]
“Well, first part of that is you don’t build in a floodplain. You don’t build in an area that is going to flood. That’s exactly why we got into this mess in the first place.
“You have to have people working together…And I’ll tell you, as a very practical matter, being in the state legislature every two years advocating not only for Harris County and for firefighters, I have heard this so many times. Nobody wants to work with the leadership at Harris County, probably rightfully so, because they think that the money is going to go to where it shouldn’t go.
“This job as county judge takes relationships that have been formed for a very long time. You have to be able to get people into the room that have not sat in a room.
“Harris County and the City of Houston are on two different pages because the Harris County judge gets in fights with the City of Houston mayor on national television during a disaster.
“Everybody sits there and talks about the challenges that we know we’ve had, yet nobody is in a room actually being honest and addressing this. That will change under my administration.”
[Responding to the question, “Kingwood does not have a designated emergency center for mass evacuations and central supply drop. Would you pledge to ensure a site is selected that would have backup generator power for the citizens out here?]
“Absolutely, yes, 100% without question.
“I’ll tell you as somebody that understands the lack of resources that have been given to Kingwood over the years. Everybody says they’re going to come in. We have elected officials that have fought and gotten money. And then what happens? Harris County doesn’t do what it needed to do to get projects going.
“This is where relationships matter. This is where trust matters. I am proud to be endorsed by our governor, Greg Abbott. I’m proud to be endorsed by our Texas Land Commissioner, Doctor Dawn Buckingham, by Speaker of the House Dustin Burrows, and by so many Republican elected officials, including your state representative.
“Fixing these problems starts with having relationships and understanding how we get the resources to the people that need them the most. Nobody will be able to convince me that anybody got it worse than Kingwood. Not when you lost 15 lives.
“The only thing that I focus on when I lead is being effective. Words are cheap. Actions are what matters. That is what we are going to do, and we are going to make sure Kingwood gets the resources it needs. And we’re going to work with regional, state and federal partners to make sure this happens.
“When you have the Harris County flood Control district that doesn’t do what it’s supposed to do and doesn’t get the money to Kingwood, that will change under my administration.
“But more importantly, we’re not going to continue to have more studies to have more studies. We know that the Kingwood area residents need the flood control. They need shovels in the ground.
“And that’s why you need someone who has relationships with the Texas Land Commissioner, the Governor, and Mayor of the largest city in the county. We will help ensure that that money gets where it needs to go. And that is Kingwood.”
Orlando Sanchez
Orlando Sanchez, former Houston City Council Member and Harris County Treasurer
“We’ve got to end that socialist approach to flood control and do what engineers and hydrologists believe is the most important. Those solutions will focus on this area, the San Jacinto River, dredging our lake and making sure that Kingwood is well protected.
“We ought to have a Public Integrity Unit and a Citizen Commission Review to review the expenditures of our public money by corrupt commissioners.”
[Responding to “If you’re elected, what would you do to speed up flood mitigation, so that people don’t have to live with high flood risk any longer than necessary?]
“We’ve got to make sure that we get:
The Kingwood Diversion Channel and Taylor Gully addressed.
Maintenance on the channels, especially Bens Branch.
Participate in the dredging and maintenance district that overlooks all of the drainage and the dredging of the lake here in the Kingwood area.
Work to maintain relationships with Montgomery County and San Jacinto County to make sure that our partners and road builders aren’t creating more damage for the Kingwood area.
Resurrect the San Jacinto River Watershed Master plan that has been shelved.
Reinforce flood-control-district projects within the county.
“And as I said earlier, we’ve got to stop all these socialist programs and addressing flood control based on race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status and making sure that projects are addressed based on what hydrologists and engineers feel is the most important project. And this area has for too long been ignored by the Flood Control District. So, those are the changes that need to be made.”
[Editor’s note: Zoes drew no questions on flood mitigation either. His comments focused primarily on streamlining government, but within that topic he mentioned flood control.]
“It seems like the county and the city will spend millions and millions of dollars on engineering diagrams that take years to complete, and by the time they complete it, things have changed. So you have to go back and do it again.
“Politicians take years to do things. And we as voters continue to sit there and support them with this and keep putting them back in office. It’s time to fire these people and put someone in that runs a business.
“We keep hearing about flooding for the past 10, 15, 20 years. It’s not fixed. We’re still waiting. County, City, everyone still broke…out of the budget. Wait till next November.”
Rehak’s Impressions
KARW by-laws prohibit the club itself from endorsing any candidates before a primary.
Having closely reviewed the transcript of yesterday’s forum – and looking at candidates’ responses through the lens of flood-risk reduction – I feel Dutt, Lancton and Sanchez all exhibited sensitivity to Lake Houston Area flooding concerns. And two presented credible plans to reduce flood risk.
Between Dutt, Lancton and Sanchez:
Dutt recognized the importance of flood mitigation to the Kingwood Area. However, she did not present many specifics for mitigation.
Lancton recognized the importance of mitigation, understood specifics of the area’s flooding problem, and had a plan to mitigate them. That plan will take money. And he has endorsers who can help bring money to bear on our area, including Governor Abbott and GLO Commissioner Dawn Buckingham.
Sanchez recognized the importance of flood mitigation. He also showed a thorough understanding of local priorities and flooding hot spots. Plus, he has the most experience as an elected official. And he specifically addressed a top priority – returning responsibility for flood mitigation decisions to hydrologists and engineers. My one concern about Sanchez is that he often used divisive language. While that may energize parts of the political base, it can also alienate people he may have to work with in the future.
I had an AI service prepare the transcript; it claimed 99% accuracy. But crowd noise obscured some words. So, please forgive any errors.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/16/26
3052 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260115-DSC_4338.jpg?fit=1100%2C733&ssl=17331100adminadmin2026-01-16 18:49:222026-01-16 20:51:33Republican Candidates in Harris County Judge Race Square Off in Kingwood
1/14/2026 – After the holidays, Northpark contractors placed rebar in many gaps along Northpark where concrete had not yet been poured. And today the concrete trucks were out in force, filling those gaps.
Contractors were also hard at work on drainage connections under Loop 494. Once those connections are completed, the last remaining segments of concrete can be poured and 494 will be complete.
That will leave the bridge over 494 and the Union Pacific railroad tracks to build. But before that can happen, UPRR needs to move the signals to the new crossings. See more below.
Concrete Pours
I took all pictures below on 1/14/26 at around 11 AM. Most of the new concrete being poured this morning was between Sherwin Williams and Dairy Queen.
Looking west toward Loop 494 at a parade of concrete trucks lined up. By 11AM, several hundred feet had already been poured and leveled.Close up from previous shot. Workers tightly coordinate to get the concrete down, spread, leveled and smoothed before it starts to harden.Farther east, Phase I is virtually complete with the exception of several driveways and sidewalks on the north side (Left).Higher angle from closer to Russell-Palmer Road, still looking east toward east end of project.Reverse angle looking west shows where sidewalks currently end on north side of street (right).
Drainage Connections at Loop 494
At Loop 494, contractors were working on both the northwest and southeast corners to complete drainage and sanitary connections.
Looking E at 494 intersection. Note excavation work on the opposite corners.
The current construction schedule posted on the TIRZ website, shows that contractors will demolish the existing east bound lanes (center-right above) on Friday and Saturday nights, 1/23 and 1/24.
The junction box connecting the bore under the tracks still needs to be connected to drainage under Loop 494 coming from the entry ponds at US59.
Re-Alignment of Railroad Crossing Signals
Before contractors build new surface lanes across the tracks and build the bridge, UPRR must move and rewire its traffic signals which currently close across the old lanes (right above).
The signals and crossing gates must be set to guard the new crossings (bottom and top right) rather than the old lanes in the middle.
Ralph DeLeon, TIRZ project manager says that he hopes UPRR will be able to get to the cross-signal issue in early February.
Until the TIRZ resolves that issue and pushes the new surface lanes across the track, it cannot build the bridge. There would be no way for traffic to get across the tracks.
Remaining Gaps
In the meantime, Northpark contractors will have to focus on filling in the remaining gaps.
Looking W from over 59. Note fresh concrete in sidewalk on right. It must still be connected to sidewalks farther east.
Once the drainage on both sides of Loop 494 is connected, contractors must clean out the ditch that runs from Public Storage behind the businesses north of Northpark down to Bens Branch. Then the drainage will be fully operational from east to west.
But contractors must also to finish excavating the lakes on either side of the entry above.
Father west, between Whataburger and Loop 494 at top of frame, contractors must sink piers for bridge in center.
Note at the bottom of the picture above, the full 12 lanes that Northpark will become in this area compared to the current four.
Loop 494 can finally be completed once drainage under it is connected.Underlayment, rebar and concrete remain for the surface lanes on the north side of Northpark by Self U and Public Storage.The entrance to Kings Mill is currently scheduled for completion before the end of January.
For More Information
When complete, this will be the first all-weather evacuation route from Kingwood for 78,000 people.
For a history of the project to date, search on “Northpark” in the upper right corner of ReduceFlooding.com. Since 2018, I have posted more than 200 stories about this project.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/14/2026
3060 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260114-DJI_20260114105320_0892_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2026-01-14 15:52:152026-01-14 20:38:43Northpark Contractors Pouring Concrete Again
1/13/25 – The City of Houston is fining a property owner caught bringing massive amounts of fill into the floodway and floodplain of the San Jacinto West Fork. The fines will signal others that the City is serious about enforcing its floodplain regulations.
Raid in Response to Dumping Caught on Camera
On 12/11/25, Houston Public Works raided a property at 21915 Savell Road, Kingwood, Texas 77339. The main entrance to the property lies at the corner of Savelle and Sorters-McClellan Roads.
The owner of the largely vacant property was bringing in dozens of giant dump trucks filled with dirt. The trucks dumped the dirt in the floodplain and floodway of the San Jacinto West Fork.
City inspectors, District E City Councilman Fred Flickinger’s Chief of Staff Dustin Hodges and HPD caught a dump truck pulling away with its bed still up as they entered the site. The raid was caught on camera.
Photo captured minutes before raid.
City ordinances adopted after Harvey prohibit bringing fill into the floodways or 100-year floodplains. Property owners can move dirt within them. For instance, they can excavate detention basins and use the dirt to elevate homes elsewhere on the site above the floodplain. But they cannot add fill and constrict the conveyance of streams, rivers, or bayous. That pushes water onto adjoining property owners and increases their flood risk.
Multiple Violations Found
According to the City, inspectors found multiple egregious violations at the site. Despite that, the property owner appeared defiant rather than contrite in a followup meeting.
On December 19, the inspector met with the property owner. The meeting reportedly began innocently enough. The owner identified himself and the inspector confirmed his ownership of the property through Harris County Appraisal District records.
They then discussed multiple violations observed on the property within the Special Hazard Flood Area (SHFA) and the Floodway. The violations included:
CC460 – No Development Permit: Two un-permitted structures were observed within the SHFA.
BD44 – Performing Grading Without First Obtaining a Permit: Inspectors observed introduction of excessive fill material (dirt) within the SHFA and the Floodway without an approved permit.
BD55 – Failure to Employ Silt Fencing: They also found no erosion-control measures in place. Worse, they observed fill material runoff entering the West Fork of the San Jacinto River and a nearby tributary.
The inspector next explained the applicable Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)/Chapter 19 Floodplain Ordinance, including City of Houston amendments.
Then, he reportedly told the property owner that an “as-is topographic survey” would be required to proceed. The survey would need to include spot elevations of current site conditions, delineation of the SHFA and Floodway, and the legal property boundaries.
He said this information was necessary because a neighboring property is also believed to be in violation.
Owner Pushes Back
According to the inspector, the owner then asked who would be responsible for paying for the survey. The inspector advised him that the cost would be the responsibility of the property owner in violation.
The owner then responded that he was not in violation and that if a survey were needed, the City of Houston would have to pay for it.
City Inspector
The inspector then explained that “Without the required survey information, I could not assist him in bringing the property into compliance.” Further, the inspector advised the owner that, based on his position, there was nothing further to discuss and that citations would be issued that day and weekly thereafter until compliance was achieved.
Owner Refuses to Sign Citation
Next, the inspector asked the owner if he would sign the citation, but the owner declined. The inspector then informed him of the violations being cited and his arraignment date, time, and location. Finally, the inspector advised him that the citation—and any subsequent citations—would be mailed to the address listed on his state-issued identification.
Since that meeting, the inspector has issued citations on a weekly basis. Arraignment dates for these citations are scheduled as follows: January 27, 2026; February 3, 2026; and February 10, 2026.
“Beginning January 27, 2026,” said the inspector, “the owner’s required appearance for arraignments will be scheduled every Tuesday thereafter until compliance is achieved or until otherwise directed by leadership.”
What City Regulations Say
City of Houston regulations prohibit bringing fill dirt into floodways and floodplains. Chapter 19 Div. 2 Sec. 19.34 states:
No fill may be added to a 100-year floodplain.
Any loss of floodplain-storage volume must be mitigated onsite.
“No floodplain development permit shall be issued for a development to be located in any floodway…”
“The development will not impede the flow of floodwaters.”
“The development will not result in an adverse effect on the conveyance capacity during the occurrence of the base flood.”
Removal of Fill Demanded
According to City Council Member Flickinger’s Chief of Staff Dustin Hodges, nothing new has happened on the case since the 12/19/26 meeting.
“The City is still pushing for removal of all the fill brought into the floodplain and floodway.”
Dusin Hodges, District E Chief of Staff
Hodges also says the fine for non-compliance ranges from a minimum $250 per day up to $2,000 per day.
This may make the perfect test case. The fill, in my opinion, is egregious; this is no small amount. The area where the fill was dumped had the highest flooding in Harris County during Harvey – 27 feet above normal, which caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage and more than a dozen deaths.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/12/26
3059 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/20251209-DJI_20251209104552_0637_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2026-01-13 16:13:262026-01-14 08:49:47City Fines Property Owner Filling West Fork Floodplain, Floodway
1/11/2026 – At the end of 2025, the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) issued an update on the status of four flood-mitigation projects. During Hurricane Harvey and again in May 2024, SJRA came under withering criticism for releases from Lake Conroe exceeding 70,000 cubic feet per second that flooded downstream residents.
The four projects represent different ways to offset similar releases in the future and their adverse effects. They include:
The City of Houston is currently performing a project to add new spillway gates to increase the controlled release capacity of the Lake Houston dam. The goal of this Joint Reservoir Operations Study is to determine the most efficient and safe operation of Lake Conroe in series with Lake Houston once the new gates are installed.
The study will evaluate the feasibility of prereleases including impacts on water supply. The study will also develop a forecasting tool for Lake Houston and support development of the gate operations policy for the proposed Lake Houston dam gates.
Black & Veatch is handling the million-dollar study for SJRA, City of Houston, City of Humble and the Texas Water Development Board. The engineering company received a notice to proceed in August 2025 and expects to complete the project by December 2027.
Black & Veatch is also handling the engineering for the City of Houston on the project to add more flood gates to the Lake Houston Dam. The company has completed preliminary engineering. Mayor Whitmire expects them to finish detailed engineering by the end of this year.
For more on the Joint Reservoir Operations Study, see:
This project explored multiple alternative sites for dams along Spring Creek with the potential to reduce flooding. The two most cost effective alternatives were on Birch and Walnut Creeks. SJRA released its draft report to the Texas Water Development Board in June 2025. Its final report is due next month.
For more on the Spring Creek Dams Site Study, see:
Upper San Jacinto River Basin Regional Sedimentation Study
According to the Army Corps, conveyance of the San Jacinto West Fork between Humble and Kingwood was reduced 90% due to sedimentation. That exacerbated flooding. Since then, SJRA has evaluated sedimentation throughout the river basin to learn:
Where the most sediment comes from
How to prioritize watersheds for improvements
Conceptual solutions
The goal: reduce loss of floodway conveyance in the basin.
SJRA started the project in May 2022. It hopes to deliver a draft report to the TWDB by October 2026 and the final report by June 2027.
The sand trap project is one potential way to remove material from the river in order to improve conveyance and reduce the risk of flooding.
SJRA is working with HCFCD and City of Houston to plan, design, and construct one or more “sand traps” along the West Fork.
A major component of the project is coordinating with Aggregate Production Operations (APOs) along the river. A public/private partnership would provide for operation and maintenance of the proposed sand trap(s). A conceptual design effort to select the most feasible site(s) for installation of sand trap(s) has been completed, and preliminary design is scheduled for completion in early 2026.
It’s important to recognize that more than eight years after Harvey, not one of these studies is complete yet. And the studies are just the first step in a multi-step process that includes final engineering, funding, land acquisition, and construction for most of these.
At this rate, it could take decades before we see actual flood-mitigation benefits. We really need to find ways to speed up this process.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/11/26
3057 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/LC-Dam-e1719277556742.jpg?fit=1200%2C549&ssl=15491200adminadmin2026-01-11 19:19:532026-01-11 19:23:35SJRA Update on Status of Four Flood-Mitigation Projects
1/10/26 – The impenetrable tangle of Frankenvines in front of Kingwood High School met its match today. Mayor John Whitmire joined Houston City Council Members Fred Flickinger and Twila Carter,City Parks Department workers, and an army of more than a hundred volunteers to tackle the thorny problem.
Young and old, men and women, they all teamed up for Median Madness Round 5. To help beautify the heart of Kingwood, improve traffic visibility … and have fun!
People Working Together to Improve Their Community
Today’s event focused on Kingwood Drive between Bens Branch and Valley Manor.
After a briefing in the KHS parking lot…
Council Member Flickinger with the poster delivered the “Safety Moment”
…the team members donned their work gloves, grabbed their lopping shears and got down to work. Within minutes, the group spread out and went into attack mode.
The activity stretched for blocks.
Brush piles reached shoulder height in practically no time.
Chris Bloch of Trees for Kingwood helped organize the event.
The pictures below show the energy and enthusiasm evident everywhere during the day.
Mayor Whitmire (center)He traded his business suit and gavel for blue jeans and lopping shears, joking that this kept him “grounded.”City Parks Department workers cut vines with chain saws on poles as volunteers pulled them down and piled them.The Mayor and Council Member Carter (left) work with Bloch to pull down a major vine.Fred Flickingers granddaughter joined Council Member Carter (center) and Danell Fields (right) to battle two mighty vines.Council Member Carter with Council Member Flickinger’s granddaughter, Abigail Durham.
Thank You!
Thanks go to Mayor Whitmire, Council Member Flickinger, Council Member Carter, the Kingwood Young Men’s Service League, Trees for Kingwood, the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, Greenbelt Guardians and a host of individual volunteers. You all came together on a blustery Saturday morning to make a huge difference for your community.
You exemplify the best of Kingwood, Houston, and Texas. Thank you!
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/10/26
3056 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260110-DSC_4192.jpg?fit=1100%2C733&ssl=17331100adminadmin2026-01-10 14:03:122026-01-11 07:57:34Frankenvines Meet Their Match: Median Madness Round 5 Report
1/9/2026 – On 1/8/2026, Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey put Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) on notice that he is concerned about HCFCD’s ability to meet state and federal grant deadlines for an estimated quarter billion dollars of flood control projects. Missing the deadlines could possibly result in the loss of funding.
Ramsey cautioned the court, “If we don’t meet the deadline, $250 million is at risk.”
Ramsey said he plans to discuss the progress of the projects in every Commissioners Court meeting between now and the February 28, 2027, deadline.
The projects are being funded by Community Development Block Grants for Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR). The grants originate from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), but are administered by the Texas General Land Office. Project deadlines have already been extended twice and HCFCD has been warned in writing not to ask for more extensions.
The eleven CDBG-DR projects include:
Status from HCFCD as of 1/9/26. Estimated grant values from GLO as of 10/25.SWDB means stormwater detention basin. CCI means channel conveyance improvements, i.e., widening, deepening and/or lining with concrete.
Ramsey’s estimate of $250 million at risk differs from the total grant value of $322 million. He must conservatively assume that at least some of the projects can be completed and are therefore not at risk. However, he didn’t say which he thought were safe.
Typical Timetables
It typically takes 3-4 months to advertise a project for bids, approve the winning bidder, and sign the contract. Once the contractor mobilizes for the job, it can easily take another year or more to complete it. For example, the Mercer Basin on Cypress Creek was started in 2022 on an expedited basis. It was expected to take a year. But it was not yet complete at the end of 2025. So you can see Ramsey’s concern.
In contrast, most of these projects will have less than a year for construction unless HUD grants another extension. In the past, Commissioners have expressed reservations about starting projects they may not have money to complete.
Flood Control’s Reaction to Concerns
Regardless, Flood Control District Executive Director Tina Petersen expressed confidence that she could make the February 2027 deadline.
She thanked Commissioner Adrian Garcia for the recognition that HCFCD is getting seven projects amended into the GLO’s Action Plan. But those are CDBG-Mitigation projects, not CDBG-Disaster Relief projects, which have a much tighter deadline.
Without distinguishing the difference, she then segued to Disaster Relief. She thanked Garcia again for recognizing that the Brookglen bid had just been approved. Brookglen IS a DR project.
She then addressed Ramsey’s concern. “We do have a plan for moving forward with the remainder of the projects,” said Petersen without offering specifics. “Right now, we have four projects out for bid that were originally supposed to be going out this month, but we were successful in expediting the schedule and pushing fast and pushing hard with the cooperation of our purchasing director to get those out in December.”
Petersen continued, “So, we are moving ahead of schedule right now. We have an additional, I believe, five projects left to get out in Quarter One. And right now, we are on track to do so.”
Dr. Tina Petersen, Executive Director of HCFCD, addressing Commissioners Court on deadline issue.
Petersen Points to Process Improvements
Petersen then shifted the discussion to process improvements. “We are working closely to identify places where we’re having challenges and then working collaboratively to make sure that we chase those issues down.”
She specifically mentioned how she was working with the county’s purchasing department to speed up the bidding and approval process and pointed to Item 132 on the agenda. It gives authority to the purchasing agent to award construction contracts to the lowest responsible bidder for 29 CDBG-DR and -MIT projects.
“Every day, every week that we can save in this process makes a difference,” said Petersen. “We think that … will save us between 2 and 6 weeks, and that will matter to us.”
“Every Single Day Could Make a Difference”
Garcia put a finer point on it. He said, “Every single day could make a difference.”
Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones thanked Petersen for her efforts, but also said, “Every time I see you, Doctor Petersen, I feel like there’s a clock ticking in my head.”
This is the best drama in town.
During the meeting yesterday, it became clear that Ramsey was frustrated with the operation and efficiency of many county departments. He wants no more excuses or finger pointing. And he’s doing whatever he can to keep the county from losing that CDBG-DR money.
In a separate phone call Ramsey said, “Don’t tell me what you’re going to do. Tell me what you’ve done. Bid the jobs!”
HCFCD started working on these projects in 2022. But only one is now under construction. With only 13 months left to move millions of cubic yards of dirt, Petersen claims HCFCD is “ahead of schedule,” Incredibly, 9 of 11 projects have still not been awarded to contractors.
To see video of this discussion in Commissioners Court, go to https://harriscountytx.new.swagit.com/videos/371451. Then click on Emergency Supplemental Items, Part 2 of 2 and scroll to 1:44:30 for the start of the discussion.
Part of a Broader Slowdown
The Flood Control District listed only thirteen items on its part of the agenda for the January 8 meeting.
Three had to do with interlocal agreements
Three dealt with CenterPoint agreements
Two dealt with contract modifications
Three dealt with buyouts of individual properties
One had to do with safety
One delegated authority to Harris County Purchasing to award construction contracts to the lowest responsible bidder for 29 CDBG-DR and CDBG-MIT projects (Item 132 mentioned above).
After passage of the flood bond in 2018, HCFCD routinely had 80+ items on the agenda. But then in 2021, the Democratic majority on Commissioners Court made a management change. And the rate of project execution has slowed ever since.
Now is the time for Dr. Petersen to show that she’s worth her $434,000 annual salary. Can she save a quarter billion dollars? Only time will tell. Now comes the real heavy lifting.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/9/26
3055 Days since Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/HC-DR-Project-Timetable-as-of-1.8.26-e1768001641101.png?fit=1100%2C596&ssl=15961100adminadmin2026-01-09 17:39:562026-01-09 19:54:54Ramsey Sounds Alarm Over Deadline That Could Cost County $250 Million
1/8/2026 – City of Houston Council Member Fred Flickinger has announced that the fifth round of Median Madness will happen this Saturday, January 10, 2026. The event begins at 8:30 AM and will go to noon. The rally point will be at the Kingwood High School parking lot at 2701 Kingwood Drive.
Co-sponsors for this event include:
The Young Men’s Service League: Kingwood
Trees for Kingwood
Houston Parks and Recreation Department
Past Median Madness events have been great fun. They represent a chance to rub shoulders with neighbors, beautify the community, work out your frustrations on vines, and improve traffic safety.
Mayor Coming
And as a bonus, you’ll get a chance to meet Mayor John Whitmire in person. He plans to be there.
Weather Prediction/What to Bring
Weather for Saturday morning should be 51 degrees at 9 AM, headed for a high of 57, with light winds. There is a 10% chance of light showers, with humidity around 70%. Expect light winds up to 14 mph.
Council Member Flickinger reminds people to wear closed-toed shoes, and to bring water and gloves. All ages are welcome, but anyone under 16 should be accompanied by an adult.
For More Information
Visit www.houstontx.gov/council/e/ or call 832-393-3008. Hope to see you there!
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/8/2026
3054 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Median-Madness-Flyer-Round-5-copy.jpg?fit=1545%2C976&ssl=19761545adminadmin2026-01-08 20:56:512026-01-09 06:31:14Median Madness Round 5 Set for This Saturday
1/7/26 – The final Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) spending numbers are in for 2025. And they show a disturbing story of deception that calls for political change. The latest numbers show that HCFCD is fixing the worst flooding last, not first, as promised. See the two graphs below.
Compare Spending to Flood Height
The first shows flood height. The San Jacinto watershed had the worst flooding in Harris County.
Yet when you look at where the money goes, the San Jacinto ranks nearly last.
HCFCD cumulative spending for each watershed since flood bond as percent of projected expenditures in 2018.
The San Jacinto Watershed has only received 13% of the money allocated to it in the flood bond. Yet almost half of the flood-related deaths in Harris County during Harvey occurred in the San Jacinto Watershed – 15 out of 36. Most of those were elderly.
Why the huge disparity between these two graphs? Unfortunately and unbelievably…
The Democratic majority on commissioners court removed flood-risk reduction as a factor in prioritizing mitigation projects in 2022.
To Change Priorities, Change Leaders
But you can change that at the ballot box this year.
In that regard, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting one of the front runners for county judge this year, Marty Lancton. As a leader of first responders, he has experienced the terrible human toll of flooding as few others have. And he has made flood mitigation one of his top priorities. Most importantly…
Lancton believes in restoring flood-risk reduction as a factor in prioritizing projects.
It’s time we put the worst flooding first, not last. We must improve fairness to restore faith in government.
The Raw Data
Live in another watershed and wonder whether you got shortchanged, too? Here’s where HCFCD spent your money to date.
Projected vs. actual spending by HCFCD since start of flood bond for each watershed.Total includes bond plus partner dollars.
Eight watersheds exceed the average percent spent, while fifteen fall below it. This isn’t accidental. It’s deliberate. And this is the year to fix that.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/7/26
3053 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Worst-Last-e1767828948303.png?fit=1100%2C661&ssl=16611100adminadmin2026-01-07 19:18:232026-01-07 19:30:10We Must Make Addressing “Worst Flooding First” a Campaign Issue
