NY Times Covers Harris County Flood-Bond Spending, but Omits Spending Data

The New York Times ran a story on flood-bond spending, but forgot to look at where the budget to date has gone.

The story by Christopher Flavelle was titled, “A Climate Plan in Texas Focuses on Minorities. Not Everyone Likes It.” It outlined arguments on each side of the equity debate in flood-bond spending. From a balance point of view, it did a great job. However, it came up short in two areas.

Problems with Article

First, the headline misleads. This isn’t about climate. The story is about how to distribute flood-bond dollars equitably.

Second, it makes no mention of where flood-bond dollars to date have actually gone. Nor does it mention historical spending except in a generalized way. It implies poor people got none; rich people got it all. By avoiding research into actual current and historical spending, it perpetuated myths that do little to protect people from flooding.

Had the author checked, he would have found that those “underfunded,” disadvantaged neighborhoods have actually received 79% of the flood-bond projects to date.

Had he bothered to check historical or federal spending, he might have found an even more exaggerated pattern.

Trap Laid by Ellis

Mr. Clavelle fell into the trap that Commissioner Ellis laid. In effect, the argument goes like this. “Because homes in poor neighborhoods cost less than those in rich neighborhoods, it brings down the benefit/cost ratio for poor neighborhoods. FEMA considers that ratio in grant requests. That disadvantages grants for poor neighborhoods and perpetuates a downward cycle.”

That’s literally true – if you look only at FEMA grants. But it’s the exact opposite for HUD grants which heavily favor disadvantaged neighborhoods. Mr. Clavelle fails to mention that. As do Mr. Ellis and his surrogates whenever they talk on this subject.

Approximately 70% of those HUD grants MUST go to disadvantaged neighborhoods. The actual percentage varies by storm and type of grant. After Harvey, Harris County received a billion dollars. And the City of Houston received $1.1 billion. Together, that’s almost as much money as in the $2.5-billion flood bond. And there are still billions of additional dollars available from HUD through the General Land Office.

Preserve Your Community

If more of this money continues to go south, the Lake Houston Area is sunk in the next big storm.

But the County is considering a Community Resilience Task Force that would institutionalize this spending bias for the next 30 years.

The County Judge’s office is inviting the public to share their thoughts and ideas on the proposed draft bylaws of the Community Resilience Task Force. You can register your opinion from now until July 30th, 2020, via one of the following methods:

  • Email CRTF@cjo.hctx.net and submit comments digitally, beginning July 21
  • Join a virtual focus group via Zoom. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
  • Offer input during the July 28th Commissioner’s Court

Please express your opinions to the county judge. Nothing is more important to the future of the Lake Houston Area than achieving more balance in flood-bond spending.

Some Key Facts to Consider

Some key points I intend to make:

  • 79% of flood bond projects to date have gone to neighborhoods that rate high on the social vulnerability index leaving only 21% to everyone else. We need to tweak the formula to achieve greater balance.
  • The argument that FEMA’s emphasis on Benefit/Cost Ratios disadvantages minority neighborhoods ignores the fact that billions of dollars in HUD grants advantage minority neighborhoods. Focusing only on one without acknowledging the other is intellectually dishonest.
  • HCFCD and USACE have historically underfunded flood mitigation projects in the Lake Houston Area. In the history of HCFCD, the District has not developed ONE USACE-funded project in this area.

For More Information

For more information on the “equity bias,” see this series on “Where Flood Mitigation Dollars Have Really Gone.” It was developed a year ago so the focus is on historical spending.

Or this series on “Equity”:

Posted by Bob Rehak on 7/25/2020

1061 Days after Hurricane Harvey

Harris County Changing How It Will Choose Which Flood Projects to Support; Welcome to the “Equity Bias”

Imagine you pull up to a stoplight and two needy people approach you for a handout. You want to help, but have only $1 in your pocket.

Do you give the dollar to the person who has not eaten for the longest time? Or to the person from the zip code with the highest percentage of minorities and lowest average household income?

As you may have guessed, the people at the stoplight are a metaphor for flood victims.

More Needs than Dollars

Harris County doesn’t have enough dollars to build every flood mitigation project that everyone needs. Flood mitigation requires tough choices.

So the County is setting up a supposedly unbiased task force to decide whom to help. But its composition will be biased toward people who believe flood bond money should favor low income, minority neighborhoods, i.e., the constituents of the three politicians pushing the task force (Judge Lina Hidalgo, Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, and Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia).

Stacking the Jury

Look at the proposed overview and bylaws for the Community Resilience Task Force. You will see that they embed the concepts of equity, social justice, and social vulnerability into every recommendation the task force will make. For flood mitigation. Housing. Health. Construction. Urban planning. And more. For the next 30 years!

Proposed bylaws for the task force explicitly state that the members MUST demonstrate:

  • An interest in “equitable” flood mitigation.
  • Interest in socioeconomic and demographic factors that affect resilience.

So they are baking “equitable” into the job descriptions.

Difference Between Equitable and Equal

“Equitable” treatment sounds like “equal” treatment. But it’s not.

Treating people equally means treating them identically. Treating people equitably means treating them differently, but fairly.

For instance, handicapped people get to park closer to the door. That’s fair…based on need.

But what happens when you start making flood mitigation decisions on the basis of race, income, and social vulnerability? Is that fair to more affluent communities destroyed by flooding?

Flood Spending Based on Race and Income?

Ms. Hidalgo, Mr. Ellis, and Mr. Garcia define “equitable” so preference goes to the “socially vulnerable.” Their argument goes like so.

Because poor people have a harder time recovering from floods, they should get more protection from flooding. They can’t afford to flood (…as if anyone can).

Hidalgo, Ellis and Garcia all advocate the use of a CDC social-vulnerability index and LMI (low-to-moderate-income) data to prioritize flood projects.

They argue in meeting after meeting that FEMA bases grant decisions on a benefit/cost ratio (BCR) that favors neighborhoods with more expensive homes. That’s true, but…

Socially Vulnerable Neighborhoods Already Receive Preferential Treatment

They never mention that Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grants for mitigation (CDBG-MIT) and disaster recovery (CDBG-DR) already favor poorer (LMI) neighborhoods.

Nor do they mention that the County has already received a BILLION dollars in CDBG-DR funds. Or that the Texas General Land Office is sitting on top of approximately $4.2 billion in CDBG-MIT funds that it’s trying to distribute. The vast majority of those funds must go toward LMI/socially vulnerable neighborhoods. (The exact percentages vary by storm and type of grant. But they often range up to 70%.)

Problems With Basing Flood-Mitigation Decisions on LMI Data

There are two more problems with basing flood-mitigation decisions on racial and LMI data.

  • First, it ignores need. Shouldn’t projects that help the largest numbers of people or the worst flooding be mitigated first?
  • Second, LMI data only comes by zip code. Zip codes can mask huge disparities in wealth. So even if you feel poor people deserve more flood protection than the middle class, it’s hard to ensure that result with zip code data. Elm Grove, for instance, is an LMI neighborhood embedded within an affluent zip code.

Mr. Ellis argued that his Precinct One constituents, who are 76% African-American and Hispanic, would not get their projects because money they deserved more was being spent in affluent Kingwood.

He did not mention Army Corps of Engineers grants to HCFCD for work on four bayous in his precinct. Nor did he mention that in the entire history of Harris County Flood Control (which dates back to 1937), not one federal dollar has ever been funneled through HCFCD by the Corps for work in the Lake Houston Area.

4 Out of 5 Flood Bond Projects in SVI Neighborhoods

How much have Ellis, Hidalgo and Garcia skewed flood bond spending to date?

During the Commissioners Court meeting on June 30, 2020, Harris County Flood Control was asked to prepare a report to document the status of flood bond risk reduction projects in socially vulnerable neighborhoods. See Item 2E on Tuesday’s Commissioners Court Agenda. It shows a startling fact.

Out of the 145 active bond projects, 79% are located in high or moderately high SVI areas.

Letter from HCFCD to Commissioners Court

The distribution looks like this.

79% of Flood Bond Projects are located in the most socially vulnerable neighborhoods; only 21% in the least socially vulnerable neighborhoods. Source: Memo to Commissioners Court from HCFCD.

If you live in a “socially vulnerable” neighborhood, you’re 4X more likely to have a flood bond project near you.

And those are just the projects based on Flood Bond money. The Flood Control District is also pursuing additional CDBG grants and Army Corps funding to help fund even more projects in socially vulnerable areas. Those projects are not reflected in these percentages.

Rushing Through Public Comment Period

One measure of how much Ellis, Hidalgo and Garcia want to institutionalize their own definitions of equity is that they’re giving only six more days for public comment with little public warning.

You can bet that the commissioners court meeting on the 28th will be packed with surrogate speakers for Ellis, Hidalgo and Garcia who favor the “equity bias.” They’ve shown up in Commissioners Court for months.

Why wouldn’t they? It’s worked. They now have 4 out of every 5 flood bond projects going into their neighborhoods and they could get even more if this task force goes through in its current form.

Meanwhile, the San Jacinto watershed, says the Greater Houston Flood Mitigation Consortium, received 0% of the mitigation budget prior to Harvey, yet had 14% of the region’s damages during Harvey. 

How Do We Decide What’s Fair?

So, should projects go to neighborhoods that:

  • Had the fewest flood mitigation projects?
  • Flooded the worst?
  • Help the greatest number of people for the dollars invested?
  • Are the poorest?

Or should the money be split equally or on some other basis?

Personally, I think decisions like these should be left in the hands of engineers, not partisan politicians.

Register Your Opinion

The County Judge’s office is inviting the public to share their thoughts and ideas on the proposed draft bylaws of the Task Force. You can register your opinion from now until July 30th, 2020, via one of the following methods:

  • Email CRTF@cjo.hctx.net and submit comments digitally, beginning July 21
  • Join a virtual focus group via Zoom. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
  • Offer input during the July 28th Commissioner’s Court

Posted by Bob Rehak on July 24, 2020

1060 Days since Hurricane Harvey

For more information on the “equity bias,” see this series on “Where Flood Mitigation Dollars Have Really Gone”

Or this series on “The Equity Flap”

TS Hannah Continues to Veer toward Valley; Threat to Houston Reduced

Overnight, TD 8 turned into Tropical Storm Hannah. Hannah’s track continues to take it toward Corpus and the Rio Grande Valley. The shift in direction compared to earlier projections means wind and rainfall threats to Houston are reduced. However, tropical storm warnings remain up for most of the Texas coastline, including San Luis Pass to the Rio Grande Valley.

Rainfall Amounts

Hanna should produce heavy rains, but the heaviest will fall in South Texas.

While portions of south Texas could see 10 to 15 inches of rain this weekend, rainfall amounts in the Houston area should average 3-5 inches along the coast and 1-3 inches inland.

Jeff Lindner, Harris County Meteorologist
Infrared imagery shows building of Hannah.
Rainfall accumulation for storm duration
Total accumulation in north Harris County is likely to be only 1-2 inches from Hannah.

Of course, that should hold down the risk of flash flooding in the Lake Houston Area, but Lindner says the Weather Service will likely issue flash flood warnings for portions of SE Texas later today. NOAA currently gives the north Houston area only a marginal chance of flash flooding.

Houston has only a 5-10% chance of flash flooding from Hannah.

Hannah Could Strengthen to 65 MPH

National Hurricane Center expects Hanna to strengthen and bring tropical-storm-force winds to portions of the Texas coast. NHC brings Hanna to a 65mph tropical storm at landfall. How long it takes any inner core to form today will determine if Hanna could potentially become a weak hurricane as suggested by some of the hurricane models.

Most tropical storm force winds should miss Houston.

Winds in the Lake Houston Area will not be that strong, of course, but could still reach 20 mph, according to forecasters.

Not the Weekend for Offshore Boating

Lindner says, “Wave heights near the center of Hanna will build today. As the system intensifies, waves could reach 10-15 ft tonight. Some of this wave action will move toward the upper TX coast with seas building today into the 4-6 foot range and 6-9 foot range tonight into Saturday. Large swells generated by the system will result in wave run-up and elevated tides of 1-3 feet starting later today and lasting into much of Saturday along the upper and mid TX coast. Minor coastal flooding will be possible at times of high tides in the typical sensitive areas along the coast.”

Forecast track shows Hannah coming onshore Saturday at 1PM in south Texas.

In summary, the brunt of the storm should miss us. But we will still get sideswiped.

The organization of Hanna will need to be monitored closely today and tonight. For up-to-the-minute status reports and forecasts, visit the National Hurricane Center’s website.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 7/24/2020 at 9:15 am

1060 Days since Hurricane Harvey

Latest Guidance from NHC Shows Tropical Storm Veering Southwest

Tropical Depression 8 is very close to becoming a tropical storm, likely later this evening or early Friday. TD 8 is continuing to move toward the WNW at 8mph. However, the track of the storm has shifted slightly south. That should reduce both rainfall and winds in the Houston area, compared to yesterday’s forecast.

Regardless, tropical storm warnings are issued for the TX coast from Port Mansfield to San Luis Pass. And a tropical Storm Watch remains in effect from San Luis Pass to High Island.

Landfall Now Predicted Between Corpus and Rockport

NHC now predicts landfall between Corpus and Rockport around mid-day on Saturday as an intensifying tropical storm, packing winds up to 60 mph. Some models predict it could become a hurricane.

3-5 Inches Still Possible South of I-10

Jeff Lindner, Harris County meteorologist now predicts, “3-5 inches of widespread rainfall south of I-10 with isolated higher totals. “Much of this will likely come from various feeder bands. Maximum totals of 10 inches or greater will be possible from Matagorda Bay southward.”

Winds in 20-30 mph Range

Winds across the Houston region could increase to 20-30 mph by early Friday. Higher winds will occur farther southwest. Says Lindner, “Sustained tropical storm force winds will be most likely near/around Matagorda Bay on Saturday with 40-50mph. Winds of 50-60mph will be likely in the portion of the mid coast from Corpus Christi to Seadrift.”

Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/23/2020 at 5 p.m.

1059 Days since Hurricane Harvey

Tropical Storm Predicted to Make Landfall on Saturday; Rainfall Estimates Increased

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has begun advisories on Tropical Depression 8 in the central Gulf of Mexico. Tropical Storm Watches have been issued for the Texas coast from Port Mansfield to High Island including Matagorda and Galveston Bays.

Recent model guidance brings the system to the Texas coast with 48-60 hours over the Gulf waters. Some show the system over Gulf water for 72 hours as the system slows near the coast. NHC forecasts a 45mph tropical storm slamming the middle Texas coast on Saturday. 

Houston should be on the dirty side of the storm.

If this does reach tropical-storm strength, it would be named Hannah. Ironically, another H storm hit Houston called Harvey in 2017. But Harvey happened a full month LATER in the season.

Next USAF reconnaissance flight will depart at 4:45 a.m. CDT tomorrow morning and will determine if a tropical depression or tropical storm has formed.

Source: NHC

Rainfall

Jeff Lindner, Harris County meteorologist, says predicted rainfall rates have increased. Widespread rainfall amounts of 3-5 inches will be possible along and generally south of HWY 105 with higher isolated totals. North of HWY 105 rainfall amounts of 1-3 inches will be possible. There is likely to be swaths of higher rainfall amounts where training bands develop, but where this may occur is difficult to pinpoint at this time range.  

Channel 13 tonight predicts that some areas west of Houston could record a three day total of 14-15 inches of rain because of the slow speed of the storm.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 7/22/2020 at 10:30 p.m.

1058 Days since Hurricane Harvey

 

Deadlines Converging on Woodridge Deal; Option If Purchase Falls Through

Several deadlines are converging to force a decision on whether to purchase Woodridge Village from Perry Homes and turn it into a giant regional detention pond. Every day that passes makes that deal appear more remote for reasons I will discuss below. Luckily, Elm Grove residents have an option, which I will discuss at the end of this post. But first…

Deadline #1: Detention Ponds Nearing Completion

Contractors for Perry Homes have nearly finished all detention ponds on the site. Last week, they were cementing drainage pipes and pilot channels in place.

Looking north across the western boundary of Woodridge Village and the massive N2 detention pond on 7/12/2020. N2 has 57% of the detention capacity for the entire site.

Contractors also appeared to be building drainage swales designed to intercept runoff and channel it toward the detention ponds.

Drainage swales, looking east along northern boundary of Woodridge Village on 7/12/2020

These swales were Item #6 on J. Carey Gray’s 10/17/19 letter to the City of Houston Attorney, Ronald Lewis.

Gray is the lawyer for Figure Four Partners, Perry’s development subsidiary. In the letter, Gray promised the last item would be completed in 280 days. 280 days from the date of the letter (October 17th, 2019) is July 24 – this coming Friday.

Perry has said that it would not start building homes and roads until they finished work on detention ponds. With that work done, how much longer will they delay?

Deadline #2: 75 Days from County’s Redefining of Deal

Last week, Houston Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin addressed the Kingwood Executive Group. He said that after the May 19th Commissioners Court meeting in which Commissioners redefined the terms of the purchase, Perry sent a letter saying “you have 75 days or we will sell the property.”

75 days from May 19th is August 2nd.

The City applied for a grant from the TWDB to help pay for its half of the purchase/construction costs. However, the TDWB doesn’t expect to finalize decisions on those until this winter.

Deadline #3: Upcoming Commissioners Court Meeting

The next Harris County Commissioners Court Meeting is July 28th. They don’t meet again until August 11. Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle is placing an item on the agenda for next Tuesday to discuss the status of the purchase.

Deadline #4: Perry Says It Has Offer Waiting in Wings

At the same meeting of Kingwood executives, Mr. Martin reported that Perry said it had an offer to buy the property. But he also questioned how firm the offer could be, given all the pending litigation.

Deadline #5: Peak of Storm Season Approaching

Nature always gets the last say. Nature could make everyone involved in this deal look bad if Elm Grove and North Kingwood Forest flood again.

We’re now approaching the peak of hurricane season. Beginning in August, storms start to build rapidly. They peak on September 10. See below.

Number of Storms by Date for the last hundred years. Source: NOAA

We have two storms approaching now. One south of Louisiana. The other still in the mid-Atlantic.

Based on satellite and surface observations, a broad surface low pressure center has formed with the tropical wave moving into the central Gulf of Mexico. NHC has increased the chance of formation to 80% and advised that watches and/or warnings could be issued for portions of the TX and LA coast tonight or on Thursday.

Overall, says the National Hurricane Center (NHC), the organization of the system off the Texas coast is increasing and it is likely that a tropical depression or storm will form in the next day or two as the system moves generally toward the WNW around 10mph.

Jeff Lindner, Harris County meteorologist predicts it “could drop 1-3 inches with isolated totals of 4-6 inches. Heaviest rains may end up close to the coast, say south of a line from High Island to Wharton. There’s still much uncertainty, although visible images this morning show a better organized system in the Gulf.”

Latest satellite images show storm in Gulf building.
Gonzalo, the Atlantic storm now looks like it will track into the Caribbean by Sunday and turn into a hurricane.

The second storm intensified this morning and was given the name Gonzalo. According to Lindner, Gonzalo may weaken as it moves across the Caribbean Sea if it encounters wind shear. So forecasters have low confidence in intensity predictions. However, “small systems such as Gonzalo can have rapid fluctuations in intensity,” says Lindner. And most models agree on the path.”

Nature, as they say in poker, could soon call everyone’s hand.

Option if Deal Does Not Happen

The amount of detention that Perry has built is 40% short of Atlas 14 guidelines for this area. What happens if the Woodridge Village purchase falls through? Is it the end of Elm Grove? Not necessarily.

Residents have a fallback. Harris County Flood Control could widen and deepen Taylor Gully. Engineers have reportedly studied that option as part of the Kingwood Area Drainage Analysis, due out in September.

However, widening and deepening Taylor Gully could take some time. And there is intense competition for resources right now. That option could not be constructed in time to head off storms for this hurricane season. So keep your fingers crossed.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 7/22/2020

1058 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 307 since Imelda

SJRA to Offer First Peak at Master Drainage Study Results Thursday Morning

Due to Covid, the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) Board of Directors will hold its regular board meeting via webinar Thursday morning.  Start time is 8 a.m. One of the more interesting things on the agenda is a first peak at the San Jacinto River Basin Master Drainage Plan. Chuck Gilman, SJRA Director of Water Resources and Flood Management, says that Halff & Associates will provide a high level summary of the results and recommendations. 

Master Drainage Plan Goals

The San Jacinto Regional Watershed Master Drainage Plan goals include:

  • Identifying the region’s vulnerabilities to flood hazards using Atlas 14 rainfall totals
  • Developing approaches to enhance public information and flood-level assessment capabilities during a flood
  • Evaluating flood mitigation strategies to improve community resilience
  • Providing a comprehensive Flood Mitigation Plan that supports the needs and objectives of each regional partner.

The study covers more than 3000 square miles!

Scope of Master Drainage Plan Study

The four partners in the project include Harris County Flood Control, SJRA, Montgomery County and City of Houston.

This web site explains the study in more detail, but not the results. At least not yet. The final report should be published in a month or two.

How to Attend the Virtual Meeting

You have to options to “attend” the meeting: webinar or telephone conference call.

For the webinar option, register to participate via this link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/487269876799947791. Please use Webinar ID: 375-802-867.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. 

If you choose to participate via the GoToWebinar App, you WILL have the opportunity to provide comments during the designated portion of the meeting.  

You can also LISTEN to the meeting via a telephone conference call, but you will NOT have the opportunity to provide comments if you choose this option. Only webinar participants may comment.

Telephone conference call phone number: 415-655-0052 and the audio access code is 882-885-021.

AGENDA

These meetings can run several hours. For folks who may not be able to see the whole meeting, but want to see the drainage plan presentation, here’s the full agenda. SJRA can not predict when the master drainage plan presentation will start.

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. PUBLIC COMMENTS (3 minutes per speaker)

3. DIVISION UPDATES – Receive updates from Operational Divisions and General & Administration Division related to ongoing projects, staff reports, or items on the consent agenda.

  • G & A: Jace Houston, General Manager
  • G & A: Heather Ramsey Cook, Director of Communications and Public Affairs
  • G & A:  Tom Michel, Director of Finance and Administration
  • Woodlands: Chris Meeks, Utility Enterprise O&M Manager
  • GRP: Chris Meeks, Utility Enterprise O&M Manager
  • Lake Conroe: Bret Raley, Lake Conroe Division Manager
  • Highlands: Jay Smith, Highlands Division Manager
  • Flood Management: Chuck Gilman, Director of Water Resources and Flood Management

4. CONSENT AGENDA – This agenda consists of ministerial or “housekeeping” items required by law, such as routine bids, contracts, purchases, resolutions, and orders; items previously approved by Board action, such as adoption of items that are part of an approved budget or capital improvement projects, interlocal agreements, or action which is required by law or delegated to the General Manager; and items of a non-controversial nature. These items will be considered by a single motion unless removed and placed on the Regular Agenda for individual consideration at the request of any Director.

  • G&A
  • RAW WATER ENTERPRISE

5. REGULAR AGENDA

Items requiring individual consideration by the Board of Directors.

G&A

  • Resolution Adopting Policies and Procedures Related to Contracting with Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs)

RAW WATER ENTERPRISE

  • Amended and Restated Water Conveyance Contract with Coastal Water Authority
  • Ratify Contract for Time and Materials Services with Masters Advanced Remediation Service, Inc.

6. BRIEFINGS AND PRESENTATIONS

  • Presentation regarding the San Jacinto Regional Watershed Master Drainage Plan Project.
  • Presentation regarding the Fiscal Year 2021 Operating Budgets.
  • Presentation regarding the proposed Rate Order for Raw Water Customers.
  • Presentation regarding the proposed Rate Order for Woodlands Division Customers.

7. EXECUTIVE SESSION (Not open to public)

Consultations with attorney regarding:

  • Litigation related to Hurricane Harvey, including additional legal services to be provided by Hunton Andrews Kurth, LLP;
  • Litigation related to GRP water line breaks (Line Segments W2A and W2B); and
  • Expedited Declaratory Judgement Act litigation and other litigation related to GRP.

8. RECONVENE in Open Session

9.  SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT for Lawsuit with Various Parties Associated with GRP Transmission Line Segments W2A and W2B

10.  ANNOUNCEMENTS / FUTURE AGENDA

11.  ADJOURN

Posted by Bob Rehak on 7/22/2020

1058 Days since Hurricane Harvey

More West Lake Houston Parkway Bridge Repairs Scheduled

This post is a bit off topic but it does relate to Hurricane Harvey. Harvey damaged the West Lake Houston Parkway bridge. So you can add this to the list of the area’s damages from Harvey.

Houston Public Works will conduct its final 5-month-long bridge repair project on the West Lake Houston Parkway Bridge beginning Monday, August 3. The project consists of repairing bents 25-28 underneath the bridge. 

What is a Bent?

A “bent” is the combination of the cap and piles. They act as supports for the entire bridge. Here’s an easy-to-read and well illustrated primer on bridge inspection that describes the purpose of bents. (See photo below of the West Lake Houston Parkway Bridge bents.)

Bents underneath the West Lake Houston Parkway Bridge. Photo taken 9/16/2018, one year after Harvey. Note the flood debris still caught in the bents. This is a random photo and not intended to show the damaged bents.

Cost More than $4 Million

The cost of the project is $4,385,197 and will be funded through the Dedicated Drainage and Street Renewal Fund. The contractor for the project is NBG Contracting, Inc. The work is expected to be completed by Saturday, January 9, weather permitting.

Road Closures and Schedule

On Monday, August 3, work will begin at 7:00 a.m. by closing the outer lanes of the bridge. Two-way traffic will be maintained on the inner lanes. Construction activities are expected to take place Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Crews will occasionally work from Sunday at 5:00 p.m. though Monday at 5:00 a.m. when work requires closure of one side of the bridge. During these occasional work hours, pedestrian sidewalks along both sides of the bridge will be barricaded and closed for safety.

Please be aware of flagmen and orange traffic cones in place on-site assisting with traffic flow through the construction zone. All lanes of the bridge and pedestrian sidewalks will reopen following the completion of the project on Saturday, January 9, weather permitting.

This project follows the completion of repairs done by Houston Public Works this spring and the temporary repairs last October after three bearing pads slipped from their concrete beams. The work completed this month are the final repairs needed for the bridge to ensure the longevity of the infrastructure. 

For more information, please contact Mayor Pro Tem Martin’s office at (832) 393-3008 or via email at districte@houstontx.gov.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 7/21/2020 with thanks to Josh Alberson for piloting the boat

1057 Days after Hurricane Harvey

Get Ready for the Rain Train

Forecasters predicted a higher than average hurricane season. We will find out whether they are right in the next three months – the peak of the season. But the rain train has already started.

Distribution of tropical storms and hurricanes by date in last hundred years. Source: NOAA.

The tropical wave that moved onshore yesterday produced 2 to 4 inches of rain over League City this morning.

Source: Harris County Flood Warning System as of 3PM 7/21/2020.

Other Storms Already Stacking Up in Atlantic

Meanwhile, two more storms are stacked up out in the Gulf and Atlantic. (See below.) The National Hurricane Center gives the orange one a 40% chance of developing and red one a 90% chance in the next five days.

Source: National Hurricane Center as of 3PM Tuesday 7/21/2020.
As of 6:30 PM on 7/21/2020 the NHC has upgraded the central Atlantic Storm to a tropical depression, likely to enter the Caribbean this weekend. Source: NOAA
One model has the storm building into a hurricane. However, most don’t at this time. The intensity forecast for days 4-5 is low confidence according to Jeff Lindner, Harris County meteorologist.

Tropical Wave Likely to Arrive Friday

NOAA says that a tropical wave currently over Cuba is producing a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms over western Cuba. NHC expects this system to reach the northwestern Gulf on Thursday and Friday. Tropical formation chance currently equals 40 percent.

Jeff Lindner, Harris County meteorologist, says, “Regardless of development, widespread showers and thunderstorms will begin to impact the upper TX coast as early as late Thursday evening. More likely the impact will be Friday and lasting into Saturday. Some of this rainfall will be heavy. Winds will increase into the 15-25kt range with seas building to 3-5 feet by late Thursday and likely higher on Friday.”

90% Chance of Formation for Atlantic Storm

NHC also expects that system midway in the Atlantic (now Tropical Depression 7) to get better organized. However they also say that less favorable conditions could limit additional development of the system by the weekend. Formation chance: 90 percent.

Here’s how it all looks on the GOES-East satellite imagery in earth colors. Note the system about to enter the Gulf and the steady stream of clouds rolling off the western coast of Africa and across the Atlantic.

Note clouds over western Cuba and another mass starting to spin in mid-Atlantic.
Closer shot with land masses outlined.

I nicknamed the steady stream of clouds “the rain train.”

Trade Winds Powered Global Commerce for Centuries

Technically, though, they’re called the trade winds. The term has an interesting origin. For centuries, they powered trade between Europe and the Americas. This time of year, sailors from Europe heading to the Americas would first sail south to Western Africa. There, they would pick up the trade winds (visible in the photos above) that powered them west.

After completing their trade, they would head north along the Eastern Coast of the U.S. and pick up a return flow that would take them back to Europe.

It was a reliable, but often deadly route.

Of the 691 ships identified by the Spanish researchers that were lost between between 1492 and 1898, 91.2% were sunk by severe weather – mainly tropical storms and hurricanes.

Without satellites, hurricanes often caught them by surprise. The storms could snap their masts, at which point they would be “dead in the water.”

There’s an island off the coast of Honduras called Guanaja. The Spanish called it Isla de Los Pinos. Isle of Pines. It’s one of the few islands in the Caribbean with native pine trees. Columbus visited there on his fourth voyage. And according to local legend, Spanish sailors would often stop there after crossing the Atlantic to replenish their masts.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 7/21/2020, updated at 6:30 pm with info on TD7.

1057 Days since Hurricane Harvey

TCEQ Complaints Against Texas Concrete Plum Grove Plant Still Unresolved

On July 14, 2020, the TCEQ completed another investigation into the Texas Concrete Plum Grove Plant. The investigator confirmed that it remains in violation of stabilization requirements before abandonment.

Small part of an estimated 15 acres still without vegetative cover. Photo taken 7/19/2020.

Moreover the company still has not removed rusting equipment.

Excavator and fork lift parked near entrance on 7/19/2020

13 Previous Investigations

TCEQ investigated the plant 13 previous times in the last five years.

The Texas Concrete Plum Grove Plant was already part of an active enforcement case (#57254) due to an unauthorized discharge and for failing to meet final stabilization requirements before terminating coverage under the Texas Discharge Pollutant Elimination System (TPDES).

“Due to the severity of the unauthorized discharge and the facility’s history of past noncompliance, this case will be referred to the Enforcement Division,” said the TCEQ in its report of a September 24, 2019, investigation.

Meaning of “Final Stabilization Requirements”

Final stabilization requirements include the planting of “vegetative cover” to retard erosion before abandoning the site. Texas Concrete ceased operations at the site and pulled down its signs. However, approximately 15 acres of the site remain unplanted; they have no vegetation.

According to the TCEQ report, the company claims it planted grass, but the grass failed to establish. A company spokesperson was not available for comment.

The definition of final stabilization is as follows: “All soil disturbing activities at the site have been completed and a uniform (e.g. evenly distributed, without large bare areas) perennial vegetative cover with a density of 70% of the native background vegetative cover for the area has been established on all unpaved areas and areas not covered by permanent structures, or equivalent permanent stabilization measures (such as the use of riprap, gabions, or geotextiles) have been employed.”

TCEQ did not respond to a request for an explanation of how it measured 70% of the native background vegetative cover. Background vegetation is this case is a dense pine forest, not grass.

Rusting Equipment Allegedly Sold, But Still on Site

The company also seemingly abandoned rusting equipment on the site. The equipment includes a dredge, excavators, front loaders, dump trucks and trailers. Since the TCEQ’s followup investigations in June 2020, the company removed several dump trucks, but the vast majority of the other equipment remains – despite assurances from the company that it had all been sold. Neither the TCEQ, nor Texas Concrete has volunteered when the company will remove the equipment.

Weeds growing around tanker testify to how long it has remained there. 7/19/2020
Dredge still on site as of 7/19/2020
Cyanobacteria have taken over some of the ponds at the abandoned Texas Concrete Mine. 7/20/2020. The pond was not tested for cyanotoxins.

No Additional Leaks Found

There is some good news from the latest investigation. Texas Concrete plugged previous breaches in its dikes. The investigator did not find any new unauthorized discharges, or discharges that failed to meet water quality specs.

Approaching Peak of Hurricane Season and Year Wasted

Still, three tropical disturbances making their way across the Atlantic at this moment make a stark reminder of why abandonment requirements exist. This site has sat unused for approximately a year. That should have been plenty of time to establish grass at a minimum and to restore this site.

Texas Concrete brags that it is a member of TACA and that TxDoT is one of its customers.

If the State of Texas is serious about enforcing environmental regulations, now would be a good time to start. And this would be a good place.

The only thing that separates neighborhood kids from playing in the sand, climbing on the equipment, and swimming in the colorful water. The security guard sign is a bluff.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 7/20/2020

1056 Days after Hurricane Harvey and 305 since Imelda

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.