10/2/25 – Houston City Council Member Fred Flickinger’s Town Hall Meeting on 9/30/25 contained updates on more than 20 infrastructure projects. Yesterday, I discussed three projects related to the Lake Houston Dam: the Gates, Repair, and Replacement Projects.
Today, let me focus on 13 more. They include the Lake Houston Dredging and Maintenance District; the Kingwood Diversion Ditch; Houston Public Works drainage and bridge projects; and San Jacinto River Authority efforts.
Diversion Ditch and Lake Houston Dredging/Maintenance District
State Representative Charles Cunningham focused on a variety of topics including tax cuts, crime, bail reform, and the Harris County toll-road surplus. He also talked about $100 million that he helped secure in state and federal funding for the new flood gates on Lake Houston and $5 million for the Kingwood Diversion Ditch Project which is now in final design.
Then he focused on HB 1532, his bill to create a Lake Houston Dredging and Maintenance District. The bill will create a perpetual dredging program financed primarily by sale of the spoils. That will help control sediment buildups that reduce the conveyance of the river, thus contributing to flooding. It will also help restore the storage capacity of the lake itself, improving water supply for a growing population.
Cunningham told me before the meeting that his next priority is to get the Dredging District organized and operational now that the legislative session is over.
He put the dredging district in perspective by saying, “That starts to put us in control of our own destiny regarding flooding. You know, our motto here in Kingwood is The Livable Forest. And we want to make sure that we continue to make it livable. And that dredging bill is going to do that for us.”
Houston Public Works Drainage and Bridge Projects
Later, Ryan Prillman from Houston Public Works discussed a number of drainage and bridge projects that will improve the flow of water (and traffic) in Kingwood.
He began with the Kingwood Drive and Walnut Lane Bridges over the Kingwood Diversion Channel. Estimated cost is $6 million, although the construction start date has not yet been set. The bridges are currently in design.
Red boxes mark location of bridges.
Public Works also plans to replace or rehab the two pedestrian bridges over Bens Branch at Kingwood Drive starting in Spring 2026.
They expect to finish restoring drainage ditches in the Chestnut Ridge area within several months.
Ditto for Drainage Improvements in Sand Creek.
Public Works has also started $18 million worth of repairs to Kingwood’s Central Wastewater Treatment Plant, which was badly flooded during Hurricane Harvey. The repairs could take two years to complete.
San Jacinto River Authority Efforts
Matt Barrett, Flood Management Manager for the SJRA then reviewed six efforts that have the potential to mitigate flooding.
Their Master Drainage Plan includes 16 projects in 3000 square miles across seven counties upstream of Lake Houston.
Barrett began his presentation with a reminder that in that entire area, only the San Jacinto West Fork currently has a water control dam on it: Lake Conroe.
The Lake Conroe Dam on the San Jacinto West Fork controls only 15% of all areas flowing into Lake Houston.
Master Drainage Plan
Barrett then reminded people that the SJRA is not a taxing authority. It has no dedicated funding to fix flooding. It can only facilitate projects by partnering with other entities such as Humble, Houston, and Harris County Flood Control.
One of the first large scale flood-mitigation projects that SJRA worked on was the San Jacinto Mster Drainage Plan in partnership with HCFCD, City of Houston, and Montgomery County. The effort identified 16 large scale projects still in contention for funding. See below.
Birch and Walnut Creek Dams
They included two areas (Birch and Walnut Creeks in green circle above) that are far upstream on Spring Creek. They would be dry bottom detention basins.
SJRA is currently looking for partners to help fund design and construction of the basins.
Sand Traps
Next, Barrett talked about the SJRA’s pilot sand trap study on the West Fork. Goal: to reduce the volume of sediment flowing into the Lake Houston Area.
SJRA’s goal is to work with a sand miner to clean out the trap(s) once they fill up. The study identified several possible sites near the Hallett mine. At the moment, SJRA’s efforts are focused on working with Hallett, using one of their pits no longer in production.
The West Fork has captured the pit in question and is now flowing through it. According to Barrett, SJRA is working to determine if and how the pit and other nearby sites could be used to mitigate sedimentation downstream.
Regional Sedimentation Study
The sediment trap effort is related to a bigger Regional Sedimentation Study. The goals? To determine:
Where does the sediment come from?
What causes it to to run off and go downstream?
Where does it end up?
Said Barrett, “Ultimately, we want to develop a regional sediment management plan that will recommend projects, strategies, best management practices that can help mitigate the flow of sediment downstream and ultimately mitigate flood issues that are caused by sedimentation.”
Lake Conroe/Lake Houston Joint Operations Study
Barrett said, “The goal of this project is to determine the most efficient and safe operation of the two reservoirs in series, both for water supply and flood management purposes. This is especially critical with the upcoming installation of the new gates at the Lake Houston Dam.”
SJRA will support the project, which will include development of an inflow forecasting tool, a gate operations policy, pre-release evaluations, and stakeholder communications.
Upstream Gages
Finally, Barrett discussed a network of gages throughout the region that provide flood warnings. It works with Harris County Flood Control to plan optimum locations. Barrett said, “We’re always looking to add more gauges to that network to have a more comprehensive coverage of the basin.”
You can monitor the gages during rain or flood events at either of the websites listed above.
For More Information
Check back tomorrow for Part III, the last in a series of posts about the Town Hall.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Kingwood-2025-TOWN-HALL-SLIDES-Small_Page_25-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1440&ssl=114402560adminadmin2025-10-02 17:32:212025-10-03 09:24:58Kingwood Town Hall, Part II: Updates on 13 More Flood Mitigation Projects
10/1/25 – City of Houston representatives and their partners discussed the status of more than twenty infrastructure projects including more floodgates for the Lake Houston Dam at Council Member Fred Flickinger’s Kingwood town hall meeting on 9/30/25. Most of the projects had to do with flooding and drainage, but several had to do with the airport system.
Hundreds packed the Kingwood Community Center as Flickinger kicked off the meeting.
Overall, despite another delay in the project to add more floodgates to Lake Houston’s dam, it was one of the most positive, encouraging meetings in recent memory. Discussion topics included:
Three Lake Houston dam projects (Gates, Repairs, Replacement)
Two Kingwood Diversion Channel bridge replacements at Kingwood Drive and Walnut Lane
Neighborhood matching grants
Formation of the Lake Houston Dredging and Maintenance District
A new pedestrian bridge over Bens Branch at Kingwood Drive
Roadside ditch improvements along Chestnut Ridge in Forest Cove
Sand Creek Village drainage improvements
Multiple Kingwood Central Wastewater Plant improvements
SJRA’s Master Drainage Plan
Spring Creek Flood Control Dams on Birch and Walnut Creeks
A Pilot Sand Trap Project on the West Fork San Jacinto
A Regional Sedimentation Study
Lake Conroe/Lake Houston Joint Reservoir Operations Study
Regional Flood Planning
Flood Early Warning Systems
Six Houston Airport Improvements
Northpark Drive Expansion Project
Solid Waste Management Improvements
Houston Police Department also updated the community on crime.
In addition to Flickinger. other City Council Members in attendance included:
Twila Carter
Sallie Alcorn
Willie Davis
Julian Ramirez
City of Houston District E Council Member Fred Flickinger
Leaders from other organizations included:
State Rep. Charles Cunningham
SJRA Flood-Mitigation Manager Matt Barrett
Jim Szczesniak, Houston Airport Aviation Director
Larius Hassen, Houston Solid Waste Management Director
Casey Christman, TIRZ 10 Board Member
Craig Bellamy, HPD Captain
Additional Gates for Lake Houston Dam
In this post, to keep the length manageable, I’ll discuss three projects affecting the Lake Houston Dam.
Slide #8 from meeting presentation.
I will then summarize other flood-related projects in several subsequent posts.
Houston hopes to get design approval of the floodgates by May 2026 and start construction later that year. Construction could last 3+ years. That could take the project out to 2030 or even 2031 – if all goes well.
Benefits
the increased discharge capability would let Lake Houston shed water as fast has Lake Conroe has ever sent water downstream. This would facilitate joint reservoir operations and pre-releases to create increased storage capacity in both lakes before major storms strike.
That would, in turn, lower the maximum discharge rate from Lake Conroe and hopefully reduce flooding downstream.
The increased discharge rate would also help conserve water. While that sounds counter-intuitive, the higher rate means the City can wait until it is certain that approaching storms will strike the Lake Houston watershed before starting to release. And that reduces the likelihood of wasting water.
Change in Approach
Coastal Water Authority Board Member Dan Huberty spent much of his time at the microphone discussing floodgates’ delays. Huberty reminded the crowd of the original plan to put crest gates on the concrete spillway portion of the dam. But the City couldn’t find “a contractor in the world” willing to take on the risk because of the aging nature of the concrete in what was a 65-year-old dam at that time.
So, everyone involved (FEMA, the Army Corps, Public Works, Coastal Water Authority, City) decided to pivot. The focus shifted to adding tainter gates to the earthen, eastern portion of the dam.
According to Greg Olinger, CWA’s Chief Engineer, “In August of this year, we completed the preliminary engineering and 15% design. That involved quite a bit of field work, environmental assessments, geotechnical analysis, and structural testing of the embankment. We have developed an 11 tainter gate type of concept. Each is about 20 x 22 feet. And together they’ll pass up to 78,000 cubic feet per second (CFS) compared to the 10,000 CFS we can pass now.”
Greg Olinger, CWA Chief Engineer
Next Steps
Olinger added, “Now, we’re going to move forward with what we call the detailed design, carrying it forward to the 30%, 60%, and 90% final-design stages that can then be packaged and submitted for permitting.”
He then described the extensive permitting process with the Army Corps of Engineers, FEMA and Texas Division of Emergency Management.
“All have to review the plans and provide the requisite permitting – an 18 month process,” Olinger said. “And then, we move forward into construction. The 30% design is due by the end of the year, the 60% by May of next year, and the completed design by the end of 2026.”
Several people from the crowd shouted questions about the impact that delays could have on costs. But Huberty refused to blow sunshine at them.
Coastal Water Authority Board Member Dan Huberty
“We’re telling you what the reality is,” he said. “This is how long it takes to be able to do a project of this size and scope. That’s just the way that it works.”
Dam Repairs and Replacement
The City and Coastal Water Authority have two additional related projects moving forward simultaneously. One addresses repairs to the dam. The other studies its eventual replacement.
Huberty said, “We also have a project for filling of voids and doing concrete repairs on what is now a 71-year-old concrete dam spillway.
“And then the third project is looking in a proactive way to the future as this dam reaches the end of its service life. What are the concepts and options available for either doing a robust rehabilitation of the dam or doing a complete replacement? And this is a project that’s further out.”
Lake Houston Dam and Spillway were built in the early 1950s.
All three projects are related according to one engineer I interviewed. Repairs and more floodgates could help prolong the life of the existing dam while a new one is planned and built.
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9/29/25 – Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) recently completed Phase 2 of the Lauder Stormwater Detention Basin on Greens Bayou. The basin is located south of Intercontinental Airport between the bayou, Aldine Bender Road, Aldine Westfield Road and Lauder Road. It brings the total stormwater detention in the area to 1200 acre feet and Phase 3 is still to come.
Flood Control District Map not yet updated. Phase 2 is now complete.
Speaking at the dedication ceremony for Phase 2 on 9/17/25, HCFCD Executive Director Tina Petersen said, “The scale of this project is enormous. We have three different phases. Phase one was started in 2020, and it took two years to complete. This project started in 2022, and we completed it just this year in 2025.”
Flood Protection Plus Recreational Amenity
Petersen added, “One of the great things, too, is that we are able to partner with our precinct (Harris County Precinct 2), and they have been able to put trails along the first phase, and they are in the process of planning trails for this next phase. And so, not only will it provide flood mitigation, but it’s going to provide an amenity for this community.”
How much is 1200 acre feet? Imagine a football field stacked with water to the height of 1200 feet. That’s 200 feet taller than the tallest building in Houston and Texas – the JP Morgan Chase Tower which tops out at 1002 feet.
Resident in Alleged “500-Year Floodplain” Flooded 3 Times
At the dedication, Connie Esparza, President of the Castlewood Civic Club said, “What a great day to witness and be a part of this historic event. I moved to the Aldine area in 1979 when I built my house, never expecting to flood since the south side of Castlewood was in the 500-year floodplain.”
She continued, “But unfortunately, I, along with my entire subdivision, some of whom are present here, flooded in 2001 with Tropical Storm Allison, then again with Harvey in 2017, followed by Imelda two years later. We are certainly excited with the completion of this Phase 2 stormwater detention basin that will further reduce the risk of flooding.”
Esparza is also a member of the Harris County Community Flood Resilience Task Force.
9/28/25 – The final outlines of the Northpark expansion project are now fully visible – much like a skyscraper after being framed out (except Northpark is horizontal). Even though all the concrete is not yet poured, yesterday, I saw for the first time what ten lanes will look like.
For most of its length, Northpark will have six lanes (3 inbound and 3 outbound). But the area around the railroad tracks and Loop 494 will expand to 10 lanes. In addition to the six lanes that go over a bridge, contractors are building two surface lanes on both sides of the bridge for traffic turning left and right.
In other news, boring under the UnionPacific Railroad tracks has resumed. On a Saturday afternoon, crews were placing two 60″ steel pipes under the tracks to convey stormwater from west to east. See pictures below.
Photos Taken on Saturday, 9/27/25
I took all the photos below on a Saturday afternoon, shortly after lunchtime.
Looking east toward tracks and Loop 494 from WhataburgerOpposite direction from same location. Looking toward US59.Looking east over Loop 494. Boring operation (lower left) has held up completion of surface lanes on north side (left) of shot.
In the picture above note that only three large sections of stockpiled pipe remain. Originally, there were ten.
A look inside bore pit where pipe is being forced from east to west under tracks.However, neither pipe has yet reached the receiving pit on the east side of the tracks.Looking west from over Russell Palmer Road. Contractors are preparing the sub grade for more concrete.Still looking west from near Italiano’s.
Impact of Construction on Small Businesses
Note in the shot above how westbound traffic cannot turn left into the strip center that contains several restaurants. The parking lot is practically empty on a day and at a time when it should be teeming.
The University of Minnesota’s Center for Transportation Studies found that “Small businesses often suffer significant revenue declines (10-20 % or more) during and after disruptive construction.”
So, please continue to support Northpark businesses during this trying time.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/28/2025
2952 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/20250927-DJI_20250927151100_0150_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2025-09-28 11:34:212025-09-28 11:34:22Outlines of Full Northpark Expansion Now Visible
9/27/25 – The information below comes from a Texas Water Development Board newsletter pertaining to water supply funding propositions on the November Ballot. Buried within them are some rules that could also benefit flood mitigation. I am reprinting the newsletter verbatim.
Proposition 4 and Texas Water Fund
Frequently Asked Questions
Proposition 4 will be on the ballot in November
Texans will be voting in November on a number of propositions, including Proposition 4, which if approved would allocate a portion of state sales and use tax to the Texas Water Fund. The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) assembled the following FAQs as an informational resource for Texans.
1. What would House Joint Resolution 7 and Proposition 4 do?
Contingent upon voter approval, House Joint Resolution (HJR 7) would require the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts each state fiscal year to deposit to the credit of the Texas Water Fund the first $1 billion of the net revenue derived from the imposition of the state sales and use tax that exceeds the first $46.5 billion of that revenue coming into the treasury in that state fiscal year. This provision would go into effect September 1, 2027, and would expire August 31, 2047.
The HJR 7 Proposition 4 ballot language is:
“The constitutional amendment to dedicate a portion of the revenue derived from state sales and use taxes to the Texas water fund and to provide for the allocation and use of that revenue.”
The availability of sales and use tax deposits into the Texas Water Fund for Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) financial assistance programs is contingent upon:
voter approval of Proposition 4 in the November 2025 election,
subsequent legislative appropriations, and
availability of state sales and use tax revenue that exceeds the first $46.5 billion coming into the treasury in that state fiscal year.
2. What is the Texas Water Fund and how was it created?
The Texas Water Fund is a special fund in the state treasury outside the general revenue fund that is administered by the TWDB. Senate Bill 28 and Senate Joint Resolution 75, passed in 2023 by the 88th Texas Legislature, provided for creation of the fund. In the November 2023 election, Texas voters passed Proposition 6 (associated with Senate Joint Resolution 75), creating the Texas Water Fund to assist in financing water projects in Texas.
3. What does the Texas Water Fund do for Texas?
The Texas Water Fund supports the TWDB mission of leading the state’s efforts in ensuring a secure water future for Texas. The Texas population is projected to increase
53 percent between 2030 and 2080, from 34.2 million to 52.3 million, according to the projections included in the adopted 2026 regional water plans.
The Texas Water Fund helps communities implement cost‐effective water, wastewater, and flood projects through new and existing TWDB programs. The costs associated with these types of projects can often make them difficult for some communities to implement. By providing low‐cost, flexible financing options, the funding provides economic opportunity for communities to overcome cost hurdles.
More information on funding needs for water and wastewater infrastructure across the state, as well as water supply strategies recommended in the state water plan and flood mitigation solutions recommended in the state flood plan, can be found in this infographic.
4. What can the Texas Water Fund be used for?
The TWDB may only use the Texas Water Fund to transfer money to the following funds or accounts administered by the TWDB (those in bold were added by Senate Bill 7 in 2025):
5. What statutory changes were made to the Texas Water Fund by the 89th Texas Legislature?
In 2025, the 89th Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 7, which made some changes to the Texas Water Fund statute. The legislature also passed House Joint Resolution 7, which proposes a constitutional amendment (Proposition 4) that will appear on the November 2025 ballot, to dedicate a portion of the revenue derived from state sales and use taxes to the Texas Water Fund and to provide for the allocation and use of that revenue.
Statutory changes to the Texas Water Fund by Senate Bill 7 include the following expansion of:
Funds and accounts to which funds may be transferred
Priorities for funding
Eligibility for the New Water Supply for Texas fund
Additional statutory changes contingent upon voter approval includes the following:
For the purposes of the constitutionally dedicated revenue stream, groundwater is considered brackish if the total dissolved solids concentration is not less than 3,000 milligrams per liter at the time of production from a well.
Of the money deposited to the credit of the Texas Water Fund (subject to expiration August 31, 2047), the TWDB shall allocate no less than 50 percent for transfer to the New Water Supply for Texas Fund and/or the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas.
6. How much money has been appropriated to the Texas Water Fund to date and what has it been used for?
The 88th Texas Legislature authorized a one-time, $1 billion supplemental appropriation of general revenue to the Texas Water Fund, as approved by voters in 2023. Of the initial amount appropriated to the Texas Water Fund, the TWDB was required to allocate no less than 25 percent ($250 million) to the New Water Supply for Texas Fund.
With the initial appropriation, the TWDB is required to ensure that a portion of the money transferred from the fund is used for the following:
Water infrastructure projects, prioritized by risk or need, for
rural political subdivisions; and
municipalities with a population less than 150,000;
Projects for which all required state or federal permitting has been substantially completed, as determined by the Board;
The statewide water public awareness program;
Water conservation strategies; and
Water loss mitigation projects.
To meet these statutory directives and in response to solicited stakeholder feedback, the TWDB Executive Administrator developed a Texas Water Fund implementation plan. As of September 2025, the TWDB has committed more than $735 million in funding from the Texas Water Fund through several financial assistance programs, as outlined in the plan.
7. When will new funding be available and what is the anticipated timeline?
Contingent upon voter approval, legislative appropriations, and the availability of sales tax revenue that exceeds the first $46.5 billion of that revenue coming into the treasury in state fiscal year 2028, funding may be transferred by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts to the Texas Water Fund late in fiscal year 2028 and may be available for financial assistance through the TWDB in state fiscal year 2029.
If the collected sales tax revenue does not exceed $46.5 billion in a state fiscal year, then no money would be transferred to the Texas Water Fund, and no additional funding would be made available through the TWDB financial assistance programs.
Anticipated timeline:
November 4, 2025: Consideration of Proposition 4 by Texas voters
May 2027: General Appropriations Act (90th Texas Legislative Session)
Summer 2028: Transfer of constitutionally dedicated funds by Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts to the Texas Water Fund, contingent upon revenue availability and legislative appropriation
Fall 2029: Availability of funds via TWDB financial assistance programs.
8. Where can information on sales tax revenue be found?
In January of each odd-numbered year, the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts releases its Biennial Revenue Estimate for the upcoming biennium, including a projected estimate of the amount of sales tax revenue.
The January 2025 Biennial Revenue Estimate projects an estimated $94 billion in sales tax collections for the 2026 to 2027 biennium; the Biennial Revenue Estimate for the 2028 to 2029 biennium will be available in January 2027. The Comptroller’s website also features monthly updates on state revenue collections deposited to general revenue-related funds.
9. What are the Texas Legislature’s priorities for use of the Texas Water Fund?
The TWDB must ensure that a portion of the money transferred from the fund is used for the following (those in bold were added by Senate Bill 7):
Water and wastewater infrastructure projects, including projects to rehabilitate or replace deficient or deteriorating infrastructure, prioritized by risk or need for financial assistance, including grants for rural political subdivisions and municipalities with a population of less than 150,000;
Projects for which all required state or federal permitting has been substantially completed;
The statewide water public awareness program;
Water conservation strategies;
Water loss mitigation projects; and
Technical assistance for applicants in obtaining and using financial assistance from funds and accounts administered by the TWDB.
10. Where will the money for the Texas Water Fund come from and how will it be managed?
The Texas Water Fund will receive additional transferred funding from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, subject to the availability of revenue. Money in the Texas Water Fund will be held and invested by the Texas Treasury Safekeeping Trust Company.
The TWDB may not transfer money to a fund or account, other than the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas and the Texas Water Fund Administrative Fund, until the project application for which the money is to be used has received a financial assistance commitment from the TWDB governing Board. Additionally, the TWDB may only transfer money to a fund or account subject to legislative appropriation.
11. Is the Texas Water Fund a financial assistance program?
The Texas Water Fund is not a TWDB financial assistance program and cannot offer loans or grants directly. Rather, it will enable the TWDB to provide funding through existing financial assistance programs and the newly created New Water Supply Fund for Texas. Each program will have administrative rules, guidance documents, and in some cases an “Intended Use Plan” that outlines how the program will allocate and distribute funds.
12. Does the Texas Water Fund allow for grants in addition to loans?
Money appropriated to the Texas Water Fund will be transferred to allowable program funds and accounts, as approved by the TWDB governing Board. Once funds are transferred, all statutory and rule requirements applicable to each program will apply.
Programs that have authorization for grants (or principal forgiveness) include the:
Rural Water Assistance Fund
Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds
Economically Distressed Areas Program
Flood Infrastructure Fund
Agricultural Water Conservation Fund
Newly created New Water Supply for Texas Fund.
Some programs, such as the Texas Water Development Fund and State Water Implementation Fund for Texas, do not offer grants due to statutory or constitutional limitations.
13. What is the New Water Supply for Texas Fund?
The New Water Supply for Texas Fund is a special fund in the state treasury administered by the TWDB. Of the money deposited to the credit of the Texas Water Fund from the constitutionally dedicated revenue stream before September 1, 2047, the TWDB is required to allocate no less than 50 percent for transfer to the New Water Supply for Texas fund or the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas.
The New Water Supply for Texas Fund may be used for the following purposes (additional purposes added by Senate Bill 7 are in bold):
To provide financial assistance to political subdivisions of the state to develop water supply projects that create new water sources for the state, including:
desalination projects, including marine and brackish water desalination;
produced water treatment projects, other than projects that are only for purposes of oil and gas exploration;
aquifer storage and recovery projects;
water and wastewater reuse projects;
the required land has already been acquired;
a Clean Water Act Section 404 permit for the discharge of dredged or fill material has been issued by the United States Secretary of the Army;
a permit for the storage, taking, or diversion of state water has been issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; and
the development of infrastructure to transport water or integrate water into a water supply system, other than groundwater produced from a well in this state that is not part of a project described by this subdivision.
To make transfers to:
the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas or
the Texas Water Development Fund II.
To make transfers to the Texas Water Bank Account, which was established to facilitate the transfer, sale, or lease of water and water rights throughout the state, including purchasing, holding, and transferring water rights in the name of the TWDB.
To make transfers to the State Participation Account of Development Fund II.
The TWDB is directed to undertake project financing through the New Water Supply Fund for Texas that will lead to 7 million acre-feet of new water supplies by December 31, 2033.
14. Does the New Water Supply Fund allow for public-private partnerships?
Yes, financial assistance may be provided from the New Water Supply Fund for a qualifying project under Chapter 2267, Government Code, which covers public-private partnerships. The project must comply with all requirements of that chapter of the Government Code. The applicant must be a political subdivision of the State of Texas.
15. What is the Statewide Water Public Awareness Program?
Senate Bill 28 directed the TWDB to develop and implement a statewide water public awareness program to educate residents about water. The program will consider the difference in water needs of various geographic regions of the state and will be designed to complement and support existing local and regional water education or awareness programs.
In 2025, the TWDB awarded a contract to fund a statewide water public awareness campaign in the form of a grant from the Texas Water Fund. Campaign development is underway with plans to launch in 2026. The TWDB will seek feedback on other TWDB-led initiatives to further public awareness of water.
16. How are TWDB financial assistance program funds disbursed?
The TWDB follows administrative rules and, in some cases, an Intended Use Plan for each financial assistance program eligible to receive funds; these outline the intended method for allocating funds for that program. Eligible entities will apply for financial assistance, and the TWDB will evaluate projects according to specific application requirements. Funds will be disbursed for projects that meet all requirements, rank within the amount of funds available, and receive a formal commitment from the TWDB governing Board.
17. How can I stay informed?
Subscribe to our “General Information” and “Financial Assistance” email lists to receive the latest information.
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9/26/2025 – On Tuesday, September 30, Houston City Council Member Fred Flickinger will host a town hall meeting at the Kingwood Community Center. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m., with informational booths from various City departments available to answer your questions. The main program will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. Please mark your calendars for this important event!
Kingwood/Lake Houston
Tuesday, September 30
Program @ 6:30 p.m.
Kingwood Community Center
4102 Rustic Woods Drive
Houston, TX 77345
Speakers Will Include
The program will feature:
State Representative Charles Cunningham (including a Q&A conversation with Council Member Flickinger, moderated by Charles Blain)
Houston Council Member Twila Carter
Coastal Water Authority Board Member Dan Huberty
Houston Public Works
TIRZ 10 / Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority
Houston Police Department
Houston Solid Waste Management Department
Houston Health Department
This will be the perfect venue to speak with City and State leaders. Submit questions before hand here to make sure the speakers come prepared to address your concerns.
Your questions will be read aloud during the Town Hall. Your feedback is a vital part of the discussion and plays a key role in shaping the future of our community.
Council Member Flickinger encourages all residents to attend.
Visit Informational Tables from 5:30 to 6:30
Before the program, you’ll also have a chance to talk directly to the people who staff key City, State and regional services. They will include:
Department of Neighborhoods
San Jacinto River Authority
Houston Parks and Recreation Department
BARC
311
Trees for Kingwood
Texas General Land Office
Perfect Venue To Raise Flood Concerns
While the town hall meeting will cover far more than flooding issues, many people will be there who can address flooding concerns.
For instance:
Council Member Flickinger and Dan Huberty (now a member of the Coastal Water Authority board) can answer questions about the Lake Houston Dam, including repairs, replacement and the addition of gates.
State Rep. Charles Cunningham can answer questions about the new Lake Houston Dredging and Maintenance District, the TCEQ, sand mines, a river-basin-wide flood-control district, and more.
San Jacinto River Authority can answer your questions about lake lowering, sand traps, and joint-reservoir-operations (Lake Conroe/Lake Houston) and the near miss thousands of us had in the May Day flood of 2024.
Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority can discuss its reconstruction of Northpark Drive, and what will become the first all-weather evacuation route from Kingwood.
Questions Work Two Ways
So, submit your questions now. They will help you understand what’s going on. And they will communicate your concerns to leaders.
As Council Member Flickinger said, “Your questions, concerns, and ideas are invaluable in guiding the decisions that impact our neighborhood and quality of life.”
Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/26/25
2950 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20240919-DSC_0649.jpg?fit=1100%2C268&ssl=12681100adminadmin2025-09-26 15:19:342025-09-26 15:19:35Save the Date: Kingwood Town Hall Meeting On Tuesday, Sept. 30
9/25/2025 – At this morning’s San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) board meeting, the president of the Lake Conroe Association (LCA) protested the SJRA’s latest efforts to find a suitable compromise that protects upstream and downstream interests.
LCA argued against SJRA’s request to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to increase the maximum release rate in advance of storms from 700 to 2,000 cubic feet per second – even though the increase could help prevent unnecessary releases and conserve water – two things the LCA claims to want.
LCA president Kevin Lacy (white shirt with back to camera) addresses SJRA board today.
Why the Need for Lake Lowering?
During public comment, Kevin Lacy, LCA president, attacked the SJRA’s lake lowering policy, which has been modified several times since Governor Greg Abbott directed the SJRA to “immediately implement” policies that protected downstream residents from flooding.
The release of 79,000 cubic feet per second from Lake Conroe accounted for roughly a third of all the water coming down the West Fork at the peak of Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The resulting surge came without warning in the middle of the night.
The idea behind the lake lowering strategy: create extra storage capacity in Lake Conroe to minimize the need for such massive releases in the future. That would reduce flood risk for downstream residents until the City finishes new flood gates on Lake Houston that can keep up with Lake Conroe releases. But the gates are taking much longer than originally anticipated.
Iterations of Lake Lowering Strategy
The SJRA board has modified its lake lowering policy several times in response to pushback from the Lake Conroe Association.
At first, the policy called for lowering the lake by fixed amounts for fixed times during the spring rainy season and the peak of hurricane season.
Then, the SJRA began lowering the lake by lesser amounts and for shorter times.
Next, the SJRA began lowering the lake only in advance of major storms on an as-needed basis.
However, the maximum pre-release rate allowed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was 700 cubic feet per second. That was not always fast enough to lower a lake as large as Conroe significantly before storms struck.
Higher Release Rates Actually Conserve Water
So, the SJRA had to release much further in advance of storms, i.e., a week instead of 2-3 days. The excessive lead times sometimes meant that storms could veer away before they struck. Such a “false release” happened last June, according to Lacy’s testimony today.
The obvious solution was to increase the maximum allowable release rate. That would create more storage capacity faster. So, SJRA petitioned TCEQ to increase the release rate to 2,000 CFS, almost triple the previous rate, but not so much that it would flood downstream residents. And its a rate that the existing gates on Lake Houston can keep up with.
But LCA complained about that, too, even though it would minimize wasted water and inconvenience for Lake Conroe boaters.
According to Matt Barrett, SJRA’s Flood Management Division Manager, TCEQ has not yet ruled on the increased release rate.
View Live Testimony
You can view the live testimony on the SJRA website. Lacy’s public comment and the SJRA General Manager’s response take about ten minutes. Start watching at 2:13 into the video as Lacy takes his seat.
Throughout his time at the microphone, Lacy repeatedly complains about how long the City of Houston is taking to install additional floodgates on Lake Houston. Never once does he acknowledge the number of times that the lake lowering policy saved downstream residents from flooding.
Make sure you also watch the response to Lacy’s comments from Aubrey Spear, SJRA’s general manager. Spear explains how SJRA is trying to find a suitable compromise between upstream recreational and downstream flood-mitigation interests.
Spear said in regard to the increase in the release rate to 2,000 CFS, “We are committed to optimizing flood mitigation during major storm events to reduce flood impact to properties both upstream and downstream of the dam. We are adding another tool to our toolbox that could be helpful, but may never be used.”
Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/25/2025
2949 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/20250925-SJRA-Board-Mtg.jpg?fit=1100%2C611&ssl=16111100adminadmin2025-09-25 17:44:012025-10-01 11:57:14LCA Still Complaining to SJRA About Lake Lowering
According to ChatGPT, the 2025 Texas legislature this year devoted 2.7 times more money to increasing water supply than to mitigating flooding.
The water-supply funding aims to keep Texas growing, even as large sections of the state struggle with water shortages, drought, aquifer depletion and subsidence.
Dual-Purpose Funding
But some of the money allocated by the legislature to water supply can also be used for flood mitigation – if it serves a dual purpose, such as new reservoirs. This may be a way to reduce flooding and sustain growth at the same time.
Location of Winters Bayou Project approximately 10 miles upstream from Cleveland on the East Fork in San Jacinto County.
They chose the site for its ability to reduce flows in downstream damage centers, limited development within the footprint, and steep terrain that allows for increased storage volume.
But detention basins don’t qualify for water infrastructure funding under Texas Water Development Board SWIFT fund guidelines. SWIFT stands for State Water Infrastructure For Texas.
However, some changes in the name and design might make the Winters Bayou Project eligible.
Winters Bayou Project Might Qualify
Of all the projects listed in the San Jacinto Watershed Flood Plan, the Winters Bayou project was one of the largest.
A 54-ft tall concrete dam would create a 1.60-mile-long impoundment that captures runoff from Winters Bayou. It was conceived as a dry dam with five reinforced 10×10 concrete culverts and twin 300′ backup spillways that could hold 45,000 acre feet of floodwater (see page 180). To put that in perspective…
45,000 acre feet is about a third of the storage volume of Lake Houston.
The Winters Bayou project is already in the Lake Houston watershed. And the City’s Northeast Water Purification Plant on Lake Houston could purify the water.
But could a water-supply reservoir still serve a flood-control purpose? Perhaps with a different design.
The project made it into the final version of the 2024 state flood plan – as a flood-mitigation-only project. But it ranked #82 in the state. And its projected $134 million cost means it won’t be done for decades, if ever.
Perhaps given the state’s new water-supply priorities, a dual purpose reservoir would rank higher and get built sooner. Plus, the sale of water might help generate revenue that defrays expenses.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/24/25 based on a suggestion from Kingwood flood fighter Chris Bloch
9/19/25 – On 9/18/25, Harris County Commissioners reviewed a presentation about the status of 2018 Flood Bond Projects. They also.adopted six motions that will affect the future of Harris County Flood Control District and the 2018 Flood Bond. In fact, they will result in an “updated bond package.” (See Motions below.)
Highlights of Presentation
The presentation identified 75 active bond IDs out of the original 181 that are moving forward into construction. They include projects that rank in the top quartile of the 2022 Equity Prioritization Framework as well as those in lower quartiles that already had partner funding committed.
An additional 26 projects will be paused and reactivated if additional funding materializes.
15 Projects will be closed because they turned out not to be technically feasible or because partner funding never materialized.
54 projects have been marked “completed” meaning their full scope as outlined in the original flood blond has already been realized.
In all, 75 bond IDs that include 248 discrete projects will move forward. They include stormwater detention basins, channel improvements and bridge replacements that theoretically remove 183,000 people from the floodplain.
According to Eric Heppen, Precinct 3’s director of engineering, the engineering teams from each precinct have met weekly with HCFCD since June to arrive at recommendations that all four precincts and Flood Control could agree on. In that respect, yesterday’s meeting represents a dramatic improvement over earlier meetings that rapidly devolved into brawls.
This set of recommendations means the County is only $400 million short, not the $1.3 billion that Dr. Tina Petersen, executive director of HCFCD, previously alluded to.
Substance of Six Motions Adopted by Court
Commissioners adopted the following six motions.
Funding Allocation:
Motion to approve the allocation of 2018 Flood Bond funds for each Bond ID and all associated projects, as presented in the Updated Bond Package and as directed by Commissioners Court, funding current and future needs for all projects in Quartile 1 of the 2022 prioritization framework and projects with secured partnerships.
Dashboard:
Motion to direct Flood Control to maintain the public 2018 Flood Bond dashboard – which includes but is not limited to project schedules, prioritization scores, budget, location, and lifecycle stage for all projects – and to update the dashboard quarterly in advance of Commissioners Court updates, including directing the Flood Control District to continue to work with court offices and the community to improve the dashboard’s user friendliness, including but not limited to:
Providing Bond ID previews
Improved language accessibility
Incorporating the ability to filter projects by features such as:
Partnership projects
Quartile score
Project status, and
Project precinct;
Opportunities for the community to be engaged on testing the dashboard and relevant applications
Court Updates:
Motion to direct Flood Control to provide quarterly updates to Commissioners Court on the progress of all bond projects including spending and lifecycle stage.
Working Group:
Motion to direct Flood Control to convene the 2018 Flood Bond Working Group – composed of staff from the Court offices – at least quarterly in advance of Court updates:
The Working Group will be consulted on the following:
Project progress, schedules, and spending
New partnership opportunities that may arise
Unneeded/excess funds that may be freed up for reallocation
For projects completing a lifecycle stage where the estimated budget exceeds 15% of the allocated amount for that project or the proposed scope materially shifts from what was originally identified and agreed to, approval by Court will be required. The Working Group will work with Flood Control to define what constitutes a material shift and transmit the agreement to Court.
Prioritization Framework:
Move to direct the Flood Control District to use the 2022 Prioritization Framework scores to allocate any 2018 Flood Bond funds that become available to Bond IDs that are paused and other bond projects where the scope and funds identified in the Updated Bond Package need to be increased. Funds shall be considered available when the bond reserve contingency exceeds 15% of the total remaining funds left to be spent. Any deviation from the Framework shall require prior approval by a majority vote of Commissioners Court.
Prioritization Scoring:
Move to direct Flood Control District to add 2022 Prioritization Framework scores to every Bond ID and associated projects where feasible and with the exceptions of buyout projects and countywide projects as noted in the 2022 Prioritization Framework transmittal.
Additional Information about Project Rankings and Spending
Heppen also provided two spreadsheets shared with commissioners:
In future posts, I will discuss how these changes affect Bond IDs and projects in the Lake Houston Area and elsewhere that didn’t make the cut. So check back often.
Posted by Bob Rehak
2943 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/75-remaining-projects--e1758333314133.png?fit=1100%2C578&ssl=15781100adminadmin2025-09-19 21:11:092025-09-19 21:12:24Harris County Commissioners Adopt Six Motions Affecting Future of 2018 Flood Bond
9/18/25 – Just-in-Time Data! Harris County Commissioners have been begging for up-to-date information about the 2018 Flood Bond since February. Today, they will see a new Flood Bond Dashboard. It should enable them to make better, more timely decisions about flood-bond projects.
At times in the last few months, Commissioners requests became both blunt and brutal. But last night, HCFCD launched a new interactive dashboard on the 2018 Bond page of their website. The dashboard shows detailed information about the overall status of the bond and each project within it.
Drilling Down Through Data
The dashboard includes two main sections.
The first includes summary graphs. It also provides a path to information about every bond ID and project.
Selecting one or more Bond IDs in the first section pulls up a map of the project(s) in the second, bottom section.
Info boxes next to the map pop up and show additional information, including which stage of the project lifecycle the project is currently at. It’s a powerful and helpful tool that HCFCD intends to continue improving.
Take a Guided Tour
Below are some screen captures that illustrate the dashboard’s functionality.
Four main buttons across the top graphic let you drill down into information about the bond and projects within it.
Financial Summary
Clicking Financial Summary shows the total of secured funds plus where they came from.
Hovering over any one of the segments in the circle graphs translates percentages to absolute dollar amounts.
Project Summary
Clicking the Project Summary Button displays information about the total number of bond IDs and their project components.
Again, placing your cursor over a segment of a graph pulls up additional information about that segment.
Watershed Summary
The Watershed Summary table lets you compare spending to date and “funds remaining” within each watershed.
Project Overviews
The last button, Project Overviews, lets you drill down into any Bond ID and its associated projects to learn more information about them. Scroll up or down to select a bond ID or multiple IDs. Then check the one(s) that interest you.
Dragging left over the right hand part of the columns reveals more hidden columns.
In addition to the columns shown above, you can find information about the status of planning, engineering, and construction, as well as an ETA for construction.
Interactive Map
When you select a bond ID and then click the Map Query Button, the system highlights the location within the county.
Clicking on the location (represented by a dot) within the map then pulls up an info box that contains a narrative about the project. The box also includes lifecycle data and a close-up map of the project and its boundaries. See below. I checked Kingwood Diversion Ditch and then clicked on “Map Query.”
If you don’t know the Bond ID, start with the map and work in reverse. Clicking on one of the many dots on the map will still pull up the info box. From there, you can see the bond ID and then find the information in the table.
Other Related Information
The dashboard is still a work in progress. It launched last night. So give HCFCD a little time to work out any kinks you may find.
HCFCD plans to update the information quarterly and also issue a new Bond Update that incorporates dashboard information.
Check out the three summary reports at the top of the page:
Reportedly, commissioners’ staffs have used this information to eliminate some projects that had no or little benefit. They will recommend redeploying funding from those to remaining projects.
They also reportedly discovered that the budget shortfall was smaller than previously discussed and that they should be able to fund every project that already has partnership dollars attached.
