This is off topic, but it does affect thousands of readers, hence I’m posting this release from the City of Houston solid waste department. Please note: If your community association has private trash pickup, your schedule will vary. These dates and times affect only those with City pickup.
Solid Waste Schedule for Memorial Day/Week
Monday, May 25, 2020 (Memorial Day) CITY HOLIDAY: NO COLLECTION SERVICES. All Facilities and services closed.
Tuesday, May 26, 2020 Monday’s garbage collected, B-Week Curbside Recycling, Yard Waste and 4th Monday’s & 4th Tuesday’s Tree Waste collected. Westpark Recycling Center and Reuse Warehouse re-open. Neighborhood Depositories remain closed.
For more information about solid waste schedules, contact: Jessica Beemer at (832) 393-3008 or email districte@houstontx.gov.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/22/2020
997 Days after Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Trash.jpg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=11200900adminadmin2020-05-22 16:24:082020-05-22 16:24:33City Announces Trash Pickup Schedule for Memorial Day Week
Two days ago, Harris County Commissioner’s voted to heap another demand on the Perry Homes’ Woodridge Village purchase offer. Even though they had already sent a formal offer to Perry last week! Now, before Commissioners cut a check for $14 million to Perry Homes, they want the City of Houston to contribute up to half the construction costs of a regional detention basin, not just half the purchase price of the land. So the City’s costs went from half of $14 million to half of (potentially) $44 million. In other words, they tripled.
Despite the hiccup, however, construction crews at Woodridge Village are back in high gear. After a short rain delay, they continue to excavate all three detention ponds on the northern section.
Martin Provides Text of County’s Original Offer to Perry
“If the parties are unable to execute a mutually agreeable earnest money contract within 75 days after the date of this letter then this offer will be considered withdrawn and void.”
“If this proposed transaction is successful, the City and District (HCFCD) will work together to secure partnership funding from others to include, but not be limited to, the state and federal government in order to build the maximum flood risk reduction benefits at this site.”
The 75-day limit may be ambitious now that the City has to come up with more land (in lieu of cash) – and transfer it to the county before the deal becomes effective. (See below.)
And if other levels of government get involved, such as the State and Federal governments, that could create more delays. It took approximately 950 days to get all levels of government to the point where preliminary engineering could begin on more gates for the Lake Houston Dam. And it will take at least another three years to complete the project, assuming FEMA approves construction.
Conditions Must be Met Before Deal
Time is crucial because Commissioners made it clear Tuesday night that they want to see the City meet conditions on the sale before writing a check. They are not taking the City’s word that the City will fulfill its end of the bargain at some unspecified point in the future. They worry that could take 20 years. This was yet another crucial change in the offer that will require more time.
The County wants the money or land upfront so that it can begin work immediately and limit its potential liability.
Martin Insists Conditions are “No Problem”
Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin insists that the City has no problem with updating drainage and floodplain regulations related to Atlas 14. Nor, he insists, will the City have a problem coming up with land in lieu of cash. However, the City Council has not yet approved either.
“It’s not necessary to take up any issue with this through a City Council vote as there is no Interlocal Agreement to vote on,” says Martin. “Until Harris County Flood Control sends us an Interlocal Agreement to vote on, we don’t take action. We understand HCFC is working on this document as we have daily communication with them.”
Perry Plows Ahead
Meanwhile, Perry contractors continue to excavate detention ponds. Here’s where things stand as of this afternoon.
N1 Pond – Contractors are excavating in a northerly direction to connect the tail of N1 to the main body of the pond.
N2 Pond – Contractors continue to expand and deepen it.
N3 Pond – Contractors are extending it south to where it connects to Taylor Gully. They’re also sloping edges.
Contractors excavating the N3 pond on the northeastern border of Woodridge. Photo taken 4/21/2020 by Jeff Miller.Miller estimates that, weather permitting, they may finish excavating N3 early next month.Of course, it will take longer than that to make the pond fully functional.Contractors excavating the N1 pond in the northwestern corner of Woodridge Village.General layout of detention ponds on Perry Homes’ property.
In addition, contractors are:
Lining more of Taylor Gully with concrete
Getting ready to connect N1 and N2
Using dirt excavated from ponds to raise other areas.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/21/2020with thanks to Jeff Miller for reporting and photography
996 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/20200521-RJR_3015.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=18001200adminadmin2020-05-21 21:46:382020-05-21 22:06:15Detention Pond Work Continues at Woodridge Village Despite Change in County Purchase Offer
Yesterday’s Harris County Commissioners Court meeting contained two separate discussions of vital interest for those worried about flooding in Elm Grove. Thankfully, the Commissioners post video of their meetings online so you can hear exactly what they had to say as well as how they said it.
The meeting went from 10am well into the evening hours. So you can go directly to the relevant portions, I’ve provided the timing code below. All are approximate. Here’s the link: https://harriscountytx.new.swagit.com/videos/62513. Make sure you go to Section V of the video.
County Discusses City’s Partial Adoption of Atlas-14 Standards
The first discussion lasts approximately 10 minutes from 5:20 to 5:30 into the video. It related to Item 1V on the agenda, the adoption of Atlas 14 standards by municipalities within Harris County.
Precinct One Commissioner Rodney Ellis uses that opening to introduce Elm Grove as a topic that wasn’t on the agenda. See Ellis at 5:21:25. He asks how we can get neighboring counties to participate.
Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis speaking on Woodridge Village buyout
At 5:22:29, Blount clarifies that the proposed rule changes would apply to the City’s ETJ (extra territorial jurisdiction. That includes most of southern Montgomery county. Blount explains why that’s important. “It’s about protecting our investment in projects so their benefits are not eroded.” He then clarifies that what the county proposes the City adopt is really “Best practices.”
Then, at 5:23:20, Ellis asks whether adoption of Atlas 14 will affect the prioritization of bond projects. Blount confirms it will.
At 5:24:50, Ellis asks whether City has already adopted Atlas 14. Blount explains the City adopted part but not all of the County’s recommendations. “They say they’re going to but they haven’t,” says Blount. “Adopting halfway isn’t helpful,” he says. “They need to adopt the whole thing…both storm-sewer sizing and detention-pond sizing.”
5:27:50 Hidalgo says “It’s about sustainable growth. We want to make sure we’re not flooding people downstream as we grow.”
5:29:50 Hidalgo transitions the discussion to buyouts and land conservation.
Intro to Discussion of Bond Costs and Elm Grove
The second important part for Elm Grove residents runs 42 mins. In this portion of the meeting, Ellis craftily draws Russ Poppe, executive director of Harris County Flood Control, into a discussion of cost escalation relating to flood bond projects. It later becomes clear when the discussion shifts to Elm Grove that Ellis worries the Perry purchase could consume so much money that it would delay or cancel Precinct One projects. This section runs roughly from 7:53 to 8:35.
If the narrative below sounds disjointed, that’s because it was. People kept interrupting each other. The discussion becomes heated. Ellis keeps repeating the same points over and over again as though his fellow commissioners are dullards and don’t get it.
Price Increases and Status of Bond Budget
At 7:53, Ellis queries Poppe about price increases for mitigation projects. Poppe explains that because of increase demand, the price of riprap is up 3X. Poppe also explains that “haul rates” have increased because they are now hauling dirt farther, i.e., beyond the 500-year flood plain. He says, “The biggest component of our costs is the excavation and hauling of dirt.”
7:56 Poppe talks about buyouts (Item 1B on the supplemental agenda). He talks about available funds, the process, number of homes bought out to date, and 400 applications “in process.”
Ellis Shifts Discussion to Perry Buyout
7:58:10 Ellis raises issue of Perry Homes’ Woodridge Village buyout in Montgomery County.
7:58:30 Ellis talks about original conditions for purchase: City would adopt Atlas 14 including inside its ETJ, that Montgomery County would also adopt Atlas 14, and that the City would contribute assets equal to half of the purchase price. He then estimates that the cost of additional detention ponds on the property could range from $20 – 30 million. Poppe confirms that as accurate.
7:59:30 Ellis adds up component costs: $14 million to acquire, possibly $30 million to develop. “That’s $44 million,” he almost shouts as he leans into the camera.
Ellis Proposes New Condition to Purchase
At 7:59:51Ellis proposes a new condition to the sale. He wants the county’s offer to Perry to now say that half of development costs must also be covered by the City…not just the half of the purchase price. He also says that the City must actually adopt the Atlas 14 requirements in their entirety, not just “promise to adopt them” at some point in the future. Finally, he wants the Atlas 14 requirements to apply to the City’s extra territorial jurisdiction.
He wants a 50:50 split of ALL costs and wants the City to put up assets to purchaseanddevelop the land.
He wants City assets put up before the purchase so that development of the land won’t be in limbo.
He makes a motion clarify the offer. Garcia seconds the motion.
8:06:48 Cagle reminds people that the offer has already been sent to Perry. He says the letter went out without any requirement about the City’s participation in future development of the property.
Argument Over Past/Future Tense in Wording of ILA
8:07:20 Ellis shifts the discussion. He reads the original letter proposing an interlocal agreement (ILA) with the City. He complains about use of the word “executed” in regard to the ILA. It says the Atlas 14 requirements “will be” executed when the ILA is signed. He worries about the future tense. He wants the letter to say “Once Atlas 14 regulations have been adopted” (past tense). By that, he means the deal will become effective once the City has adopted the regulations, not when they promise to adopt them at some unspecified point in the future.
It’s clear that he is wary of City promises. He worries about how long it might take to actually adopt Atlas 14. “They could adopt them 20 years from now.”
8:08:40 Ellis clarifies wording of his motion.
8:09:30 Ellis explains why he’s raising this subject outside of executive session: “to put the light of day on the deal.”
8:09:40 Ellis repeats: “My position is all three. Atlas 14. Half of purchase. Half of construction.”
8:10:20 Ellis paints the downside of investing in Montgomery County. “They could put another development up next door and benefit from $30 million worth of detention ponds we built without putting a dime up and doing nothing to stop flooding.”
8:10:35 Garcia interjects. He wants a policy about how Harris County spends dollars in another county.
8:12:10 Cagle agrees that he wants the City to adopt the Atlas 14 provisions before a purchase. Simply signing an interlocal agreement is not enough, he says.
Radack Proposes Deadline for City Adoption of Atlas 14
8:13:42 Radack says, “The City won’t adopt Atlas 14, so we might as well cut to the chase and adopt a deadline. That gives you a clear path.”
8:15:00 Ellis talks about how the project was “heavily lobbied.” “There’s a lawsuit on it,” he adds. He predicts people will say, “So when are you going to do it.” He implies, “Now, we’re liable” for anything that happens.
8:17:10 Hidalgo asks Poppe: How would you clarify the letter so the City knows Atlas 14 must be adopted (past tense), not just that they will adopt it (future tense).
8:17:20 Poppe reads the letter. It says, “Upon execution of the ILA, City of Houston will adopt by default…” Poppe thinks that language covers the problem.
“County Has Made No Commitment to Do a Project Out There”
8:18:00 Poppe says “We’ve made no commitment to do a project out there.”
8:18:30 Ellis goes rogue-elephant negative. “What are you going to do? Turn it into a birding park? You gonna pay for half of that?”
Hidalgo asks whether the language is clear. Poppe says “I will be happy to share the language tomorrow.”
Ellis says, “I want to make a motion so it will be clear.”
8:20 Ellis again makes the motion that includes the same three conditions: City contributes half of purchase and half of construction. City also adopts all Atlas 14 provisions.
8:21:30 Poppe reminds commissioners that the offer letter was already sent on the 14th of May, the day before the 15th deadline.
8:22:00 Hidalgo restates the motion.
Possibility of State or Federal Participation
8:22:15 At this point the discussion shifts a bit. They examine the possibility of 3rd party participation.
8:22:27 Ellis offhandedly reveals his motives at this point. He doesn’t want others taking money from his projects. “I know how this game works,” he says.
8:23:42 Cagle summarizes changes. “We want the City to ADOPT the standards.” “I’m fine with that,” he says. But then he adds that the second change, about construction costs, “hasn’t been in any of our discussions.”
8:23:55 Ellis asks, “Commissioner, what are we going to do with it?”
Cagle Reminds Commissioners of Two Key Elements
8:24:25 Cagle says, “There are two aspects to this development. One of them is that the developer is already putting in some detention ponds in advance and they did not go up on their price because of that work.” Cagle adds that he wants to build a plan before the purchase. He thinks they may be able to sell the extra dirt that needs to be removed. “Problem is though that that’s slower; it will depend on other projects that are going on in region.” By that he means there needs to be a market for the dirt.
Ellis Again Repeats Concerns
8:27:15 Ellis repeats his concerns yet again. “Houston should put up half of the price.” “Why is Harris County doing it all?” Then he goes back to his demands and says, “The current letter does not reflect all three of those conditions.”
8:29:30 Hidalgo clarifies motion.
Radack Reminds Commission that No Estimates Yet Exist
8:30:40 Radack breaks in and asks how long will it take to come up with an estimate of costs. “It will be very difficult to do anything unless the City and State know how much it will cost.”
8:31:43 A very frustrated and exasperated Jack Cagle says “I feel slapped around.”
8:32:45 Cagle says, “If the second part of the motion is that our partners have to put in as much as we do, I’m fine with that.”
Cagle Makes Motion Reflecting Ellis’ Concerns
8:33:25 Cagle finally makes a motion that includes all three conditions, after Ellis defers to him.
8:33:30The motion passes unanimously.
8:33:38 Ellis asks for yet another restatement of the motion.
8:34:00 Hidalgo reads the motion into the record.
8:34:44 End of Elm Grove discussion.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/20/2020
995 Days after Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Harris-County-Commissioner-Rodney-Ellis.jpg?fit=1200%2C824&ssl=18241200adminadmin2020-05-20 18:49:462020-08-07 13:48:02County Posts Video of Meeting in Which Conditions Were Added to Purchase of Perry Property
In Tuesday’s Harris County Commissioners Court meeting, while HCFCD Executive Director Russ Poppe was talking about buyouts, Precinct One Commissioner Rodney Ellis used the opportunity to go off on a rant about the County’s proposal to buy Woodridge Village from Perry Homes. The result: yet another condition added to the purchase.
City Must Now Cover Portion of Construction Cost, Too
The City of Houston now must come up with land or cash for part of the construction costs for any additional detention ponds built on Perry Homes’ property – not just the purchase price.
The actual amount would equal whatever the County contributes. For instance, if developing the property into a regional detention basin costs $20 million, and the county puts in $10 million, the City would need to put in $10 million also. But if either partner can find Federal or State funding to pay for part of the project, that amount would go down. For instance, if the the Feds or State put in 80% then the City and County would each pay 10%.
City must contribute land or cash worth half the purchase price.
City must adopt County’s Atlas-14 provisions. Those would apply to the City’s Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) as well as the City itself.
Raddick Predicts City Won’t Meet Conditions
Commissioner Raddick predicted there was no way the City would adopt the Atlas-14 requirements.
He also observed that the County would be forcing the City to commit to an expenditure of an unknown size. And that the City wouldn’t know the size for several months because the County has not yet drawn up plans for improvements.
For Elm Grove residents, this is especially worrisome. That’s because, by law, the City Council must approve every City expenditure over $50,000.
So basically, the County is asking for an unknown commitment. Meanwhile, the City cannot make such a commitment until it knows the exact amount. However, Commissioners did not discuss this dilemma in their debate.
Unanimous Vote to Add Extra Condition
The vote by commissioners on the three conditions was unanimous. The motion carried 5-0.
This hill becomes steeper to climb every week.
Perry Site Quiet for Last Two Days
Meanwhile, Jeff Miller reported today that no dump trucks were moving on the Perry Homes’ site. That may have been due to the rains last weekend that are still filling at least the one detention pond and likely filling the others too.
Video of the Commissioners Court meeting won’t be posted until tomorrow. I will link the relevant sections when video becomes available.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/20/2020
995 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 244 since Imelda
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Elm-Grove-9.19_71.jpg?fit=1500%2C1000&ssl=110001500adminadmin2020-05-19 21:41:332020-05-19 21:49:51County Commissioners Add New Condition to Purchase of Perry Homes’ Woodridge Village
The second district makes an arc around the north and west sides of Houston. So expect the discussion to cover more than just the Lake Houston area. Likely topics will include (but by no means are limited to):
Additional flood gates for Lake Houston
Addicks Reservoir
Houston Ship Channel
White Oak Bayou
Other local projects with shared Federal funding.
Attendees can ask questions online. Organizers have committed most of the time to answering those questions. The discussion should last 45 minutes, and in no case will exceed an hour.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Crenshaw-Webinar.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=112001200adminadmin2020-05-19 13:22:432020-05-19 13:22:55“Coffee Break with Dan Crenshaw” Will Discuss Flood Projects in Second Congressional District
Through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, ReduceFlooding.com has obtained details of Harris County’s request to the City of Houston to revise its flood regs. Complying with the request is one of two conditions the City must meet before the County will purchase Perry Homes’ Woodridge Village.
First, the County wanted the cash-poor City to pay for half the purchase through the donation of land that the County could then use to help offset costs for other HCFCD projects.
Second, the County wanted the City update to its stormwater and floodplain ordinances to make them consistent with the County’s.
Harmonizing the regulations would provide consistency between the three largest governmental agencies tasked with drainage projects in the our area: Harris County Engineering Department, Harris County Flood Control, and the City of Houston.
This is the first step in getting all municipalities and County governments that drain to Harris County to adopt similar standards to help reduce flooding risks and protect the billions of dollars of drainage infrastructure investments currently being made in the area.
A Houston Chronicle article (that didn’t even mention Elm Grove) said, that in the future, the county would not share flood bond money with any of 34 different municipalities within its jurisdiction that have not updated and harmonized their regulations with Harris County’s.
So what were the requested changes?
Below are revisions needed for the City of Houston to comply with Harris County Infrastructure Regulations (2019 version) and the HCFCD Policy, Criteria and Procedures Manual.
In all cases cited below, Harris County flood regulations exceed the City of Houston’s. The County does not ask the City to relax any guidelines.
Houston Chapter 9 (Stormwater Design Requirements – July 2019)
General Note – The City updated this Chapter in late 2019 to add Atlas 14 rainfall information for use in storm sewer design. The County also added Atlas 14 to its regulations.
However, the County requests that the City make additional changes as follows:
Section 9.2 Design Requirements:
9.2.01(B)(3)(a)(1) Table of Rational Method Runoff Coefficients – Must be updated for lots greater than ¼ acre to be consistent with Harris County requirements.
9.2.01(C)(7)(d) Table 9-2 – Revise inlet capacities for Type A, D, D-1, C-2, C-2A, D, D-1, and E inlets to be consistent with Harris County requirements.
9.2.01(D)(3)(c) Relationship of Structures to Street – Revise finished slab elevation criteria to be consistent with Harris County requirements of 18” above the 100-year floodplain, one foot above the maximum ponding depth within a 10’ radius of the structure or at or above the 500-year floodplain, whichever is higher.
9.2.01(H)(2)(d) Waiver of Detention Requirements – Remove this section; it would allow developments to be constructed without detention.
9.2.01(H)(3)(a-e) Calculation of Detention Volume – Revise to remove detention rates based on tract size, revise detention rates to be consistent with Harris County requirements of 0.75 acre-feet/acre for storm sewer outfalls and 1.0 acre-feet/acre for roadside ditch outfalls, or HCFCD requirements if outfalling to HCFCD facility.
9.2.01(H)(3)(a-e) Tracts >50 acres – Refer to HCFCD requirements if outfalling to HCFCD facility, otherwise refer to Harris County requirements if outfalling to storm sewer or roadside ditch.
9.2.01(H)(4) Calculation of Outlet Size – Revise to be consistent with Harris County requirements, remove minimum restrictor size, remove allowable discharge rates of 0.5 cfs and 2.0 cfs per acre and include calculated allowable rates.
9.2.01(H)(5)(a) Private Facilities – Include Harris County pumped detention information including detention rate, allowable drain times, and percentage that must be drained by gravity. Add minimum bottom slopes and pilot channel slopes from Harris County requirements.
Houston Code of Ordinances, Chapter 19 Floodplain (September 2018)
Under Article III: Standards for Flood Hazard Reduction:
19-33(a) Base Flood Elevation Requirements –Must also include a provision that no fill will be allowed to elevate structures proposed for the 100-year floodplain. These structures must be on open foundations designed by a structural engineer.
19-33(c) AO Zones –Revise to require finish floor elevation of three feet above the depth number noted in the specific zone, or 6 feet if no depth number is specified.
19-34(a)(4) –Remove this item that allows fill to be placed in the 0.2% floodplain without mitigating excavation.
19-34(d) Critical Facilities –Add requirement for these facilities to have the lowest floor elevated 24” above the crown of the adjacent street if that is higher than 3’ above the 0.2% elevation.
19-43 (c)&(d) Floodways – Require an engineering report for the foundation in addition to the “no-rise” analysis and mitigation requirements. Add Harris County requirements for foundation design.
19-43(e) Bridges – Add requirement that all bridge construction that modifies the base flood elevation or that modifies the geometry of the bridge or channel must submit a CLOMR and LOMR.
19-75 Manufactured home placement in a floodway or coastal high hazard area – Remove this section that allows for manufactured homes to be placed in these areas.
The County also recommends that the Harris County Floodplain Administratorshould reviewChapter 19 for additional changes to ensure consistency with Harris County floodplain regulations.
Negotiations Still Reportedly Ongoing
City of Houston did not discuss conditions of the Perry purchase in last week’s City Council session. Neither are County Commissioners scheduled to discuss them this week. However, negotiations with Perry are reportedly continuing despite the passage of Perry’s extended deadline.
Meanwhile, with hurricane season less than two weeks away, Perry Homes’ new contractors continue to put the full-court press on construction of detention ponds. They have made more progress in two months than the previous contractors did in two years.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/19/2020with keyframe from Jim Zura, Zura Productions
994 Days after Hurricane Harvey and 243 after Imelda
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/NotWetlands.jpg?fit=1500%2C835&ssl=18351500adminadmin2020-05-19 11:03:122020-05-19 13:06:30Flood Regs: What County Wants City to Do as Part of Woodridge Village Purchase Deal
The northern section of Perry Homes’ Woodridge Village now has three detention ponds in various stages of completion. As of a week ago, on May 11, 2020, all three were capable of holding water and did during last weekend’s rains. That meant much rainfall that previously might have overwhelmed the two southern detention ponds had places to hold up instead of overflowing into Elm Grove and flooding residents.
No Record Rainfall, But No Flooding Either
Harris County’s Flood Warning System shows that the area received about two and a half inches of rain last weekend. A 2.5 inch rain is far from a record. But forecasters predicted much more. And some areas to the south and east of Lake Houston got more than 10 inches! So Elm Grove residents lucked out, but they were rightly worried.
In the end, whether it was the additional detention capacity or the lighter rain, no one flooded. And that’s what counts.
The Harris County Flood Warning System shows that the nearest official rain gage to Elm Grove is at West Lake Houston Parkway. It registered 2.52 inches of rain in 3 DAYS. 2.52 inches would have to fall in 3 HOURS to even make this chart, and then it would be something we could expect every year.Source: NOAA
Status of Detention Pond Construction
So what is the current status of construction? As of last Monday, the two ponds on the southern section (S1 and S2) were complete.
Of the three ponds on the northern section:
N1 was partially excavated, with most of the capacity in the “tail” leading south toward N2.
N2 was about 80% excavated. Workers were expanding the new section and deepening the old section, developed by Montgomery County many years ago.
N3 was approximately half complete.
Part of N1 Excavation as of May 11, 2020Massive N2 pond in southwest corner of northern section. Grassy portion was previously excavated by MoCo, but contractors are deepening it. Photo taken May 11, 2020.Looking south at Woodridge Village N3 detention pond photo from week ago, May 11, 2020.Elm Grove is out of sight beyond top of frame.
As last week wore on, each pond expanded compared to the three images you see above. Jeff Miller, an Elm Grove resident who lives near Woodridge Village, estimates that all three detention ponds on the northern section were about 80% excavated by the end of last week. However, he also noted that much work remains in terms of sloping the sides, stabilizing soil, building pilot channels and connecting ponds.
Barring further major rains and at the current rate, Miller estimates contractors could finish all three ponds in June.
How They Performed Last Weekend
N1
The first shot below shows the tail of N1. It was not yet connected to N2 so water could not drain out of it.
Photo of N1, looking north, by Jeff Miller on Saturday after rains stopped.
N2
I have no pictures showing how well N2 did at holding back rain, but neither Taylor Gully nor the southern detention ponds overflowed.
N3
Prior to the rain, this portion of N3 was deep enough to conceal all but the top of a large dump truck.N3 might have held approximately 5 feet of water according to Miller.
Additional Culverts for Connecting N1 and N3
Jeff Miller also photographed these 4×4 box culverts stacked up north of N3.
Note the concrete box culverts stacked up north of N3. Plans call for connecting N1 and N2 with such culverts.Also notice how land has been sloped from left to right to flow into N3.See water draining into N3 from a temporary ditch that cuts through the bottom of the image.
Layout and Capacity of All Ditches
Layout of detention ponds on Perry Homes’ Woodridge Village.This pie chart shows the relative capacity of Woodridge Village detention ponds. In the May flood last year, only the blue pond was complete. By the September flood, Perry had also completed the green pond. The three northern detention ponds hold 77% of planned storage capacity. None of those had even started.
Conclusion
Last week’s rains were a small test. But results showed the work already done has added to to detention capacity.
Miller says that water from the northern section did not appear to spill over into S2. His pictures also showed that S2 was only half full.
That meant the entire rain, with the help of new detention ponds, was able to drain out through a 3 foot corrugated pipe that connects Taylor Gully on either side of the county line, just like it used to.
This is welcome news for flood-weary Elm Grove and North Kingwood Forest residents who feared the worst.
No Progress to Report on the Political or Purchase Fronts
Even though the deadline for a Harris County purchase of Woodridge Village from Perry has passed, and even though Commissioners are not supposed to discuss the buyout in tomorrow’s Commissioner’s Court meeting, Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle says negotiations are ongoing.
The County made an offer to buy the land in order to build a regional flood detention facility. But the offer was contingent on the City of Houston donating $7 million worth of other property to the Flood Control District to help offset costs. The City also had to adopt County drainage criteria. It reportedly is more conservative than current City standards.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/18/2020 with photos and reporting from Jeff Miller
993 days since Hurricane Harvey and 242 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.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/20200516-IMG_1440.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=19001200adminadmin2020-05-18 17:53:562020-05-18 18:23:32New Perry Detention Ponds Held Surprising Amount of Rain Last Weekend
Erosion can sometimes be sudden. It’s not always a slow process of water grinding away at dirt and dissolving it, or wearing down rocks. This post will examine several examples around us and look at their implications. I intend it as a continuation of yesterday’s post about ditch maintenance.
The Northpark Woods development (right) on the West Fork San Jacinto River (background)
Hydraulic action – When rapidly moving water churns against river banks and scours or undermines them.
Abrasion – Caused by small pebbles moving along a river bank or bed and knocking other particles loose. Think of sandpaper.
Attrition – When rocks carried by the river knock against each other. They break apart to become smaller and more rounded. This is how boulders turn into gravel.
Solution – When water dissolves certain types of rocks, for example limestone. We often see this in Florida, where sinkholes frequently develop.
Most of these processes happen slowly. But the first can be sudden. One storm. One flood. And boom. That river bank where you used to sit and quietly contemplate nature is gone.
Now You See It; Now You Don’t
Sometimes large slabs of a river bank or ditch suddenly slump into a river, almost like mini landslides. One flood expert commented on the picture above; he said “The owners of those new homes may suddenly find the ditch in their backyards.”
At other times, the size of a flood forces a river to widen. We saw this during Harvey and Imelda. The relentless pounding of flood waters carries away everything in their path. Cutbanks (the outside of a river bend) are especially vulnerable. Water slams directly into them like a firehose and washes them away. This action actually changes the course of a river over time.
Most of the time, it happens so slowly, we barely notice it. But during large floods, it’s sometimes sudden, large, and devastating to homeowners or businesses near rivers.
Three More Examples of Hydraulic Action
Example A: East End Park
East End Park in Kingwood. In 2019, the San Jacinto East Fork removed approximately 50-100 feet of river bank during Imelda,including this part of the Overlook Trail.
Example B: Balcom House and River Migration
Note a long peninsula south of the Balcom House on the San Jacinto West Fork before Hurricane Harvey.After one monster storm, the peninsula was gone. The Balcoms lost 175 feet of riverfront property.
Example C: River Aggregate Mine on West Fork in Porter
The third example comes from the abandoned River Aggregates sand mine beyond the new development in the first picture above. It’s a spectacular example of river migration.
In this case, the San Jacinto West Fork migrated 258 feet toward the mine’s dike in 23 years. When I first photographed the dike after Harvey, the river had eaten away an average of 12.4 feet per year. At the time, the dike was only 38 feet wide, and I predicted it could soon fail. It did. Within approximately a year.
Image taken on 9/14/2017, shortly after Hurricane Harvey. At the time, only 38 feet stood between the abandoned mine in the background that the San Jacinto west fork in the foreground.Note how the pond in the foreground disappeared when the river took the last 38 feet of river bank.
Wait a minute, you say! What happened to the pond. After the river bank collapsed, the pond drained, exposing sediment already within it. And the action of draining concentrated more sediment in it, like all the remnants of food trapped in your sink drain after you’re done washing dishes.
History of Pond
The missing, shallow pond in the foreground above used to be the settling pond for River Aggregates.
This satellite image from 2004 shows thatRiver Aggregates used the missing pond as a settling pond.This is how the mine looked in 2017 after River Aggregates abandoned it.Note river bank is still intact.This is how the abandoned mine looked in January of 2019. The river bank was gone. The pond had drained. And a steady stream of silty water from other ponds leaked into the West Fork.
Here’s how it looks today from a helicopter.
River Aggregates mine now leaks a steady stream of silty water into the West Fork San Jacinto.This is the same area as above, but from the reverse angle.
Lessons of Life Near a River
Most people never live long enough to see massive changes such as these in rivers. In most places, river change happens on a geologic time scale. But along the Gulf Coast, hurricanes can create floods that make rivers change on a human time scale, as these examples have shown.
What can we deduce from this?
Around here, we need to give rivers room to roam. Parks, green spaces, and golf courses, often represent the highest and best use of land near a river, bayou or ditch.
Building too close to rivers, bayous and drainage ditches can be costly. Disturbing wetlands and topsoil accelerates erosion. That, in turn, can threaten everything in its path. Be prepared to maintain anything you build near a watercourse, including the watercourse itself. And be prepared to fight what ultimately becomes a losing battle.
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.
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Harris County Flood Control District has quietly started repairs to two more Kingwood Drainage Ditches. The first is G103-33-01, the ditch between Fosters Mill and Kings Point that enters the river near the mouth bar at Scenic Shores. The second is the Kingwood Diversion Ditch, G-103-38-00. It runs down the west side of Woodland Hills, crosses Kingwood Drive by the fire station, then descends to the lake between Trailwood Village and Forest Cove.
Work In Progress as of Monday 5/11/2020
Erosion on the ditch between Fosters Mill and Kings Point that enters Lake Houston near the mouth bar (background) undergoes repair.Turbulence downstream of weirs, bottom left, commonly results in erosion.Here’s what the erosion looked like before repairs started. Picture taken in 2018 courtesy of HCFCD.Close up of eroded drain pipe near weir.
Work on Diversion Ditch Expected to Start This Week
According to Beth Walters of Harris County Flood Control, work on the Diversion Ditch should start this week. Below are several pictures taken of severe erosion that threatens homes and trails.
Looking west at Property in Deer Ridge Estates threatened by erosion of Kingwood Diversion Ditch. Looking west. Picture taken Jan. 2019.Looking south at the Kingwood Diversion Ditch erosion just south of Walnut Lane. This area is a perennial problem. Photo taken in 2009.Kayakers have dubbed this area the Kingwood rapids. During floods, it offers the only white water experience in Kingwood.
Ditch maintenance includes erosion repairs, silt buildup removal, mowing, de-snagging (removing downed trees), and removing collapsed drainpipes.
Erosion in Kingwood Diversion Ditch near fire station on Kingwood Drive.
Additional details are not yet available on the length of time repairs will take.
Thursday evening, I posted about a drainage ditch on the western edge of Woodridge Village in Montgomery County that Perry contractors had partially blocked off.
Encroachment on Adams Oaks drainage ditch by Perry Homes Contractors in Woodridge Village. Note how dirt spills past silt fence still visible in upper right.Picture taken on Monday, 5/11//2020.
With storms and possible flash flooding predicted for Friday and Saturday, nervous residents worried about possibly flooding a third time and expressed their concerns to the contractor. Luckily, the current batch of Perry Homes’ contractors proved far more responsive than the last.
Contractors Clean Out Ditch Friday Morning Before Storm
Friday morning, they started cleaning out and widening the ditch. The rains came that night and into Saturday morning. And the nervous residents breathed a sigh of relief. There was no visible flooding, according to Jeff Miller, who toured Adams Oaks Saturday morning as rain ended.
Miller sent in these pictures of work in progress on Friday morning before the rain.
Looking north. Adams Oaks resident inspects widening in progress on Friday morning. Photo by Jeff Miller taken 5/15/2020.Reverse angle looking south toward N2 detention pond and Kingwood.Photo by Jeff Miller taken 5/15/2020.
Miller’s pictures make it apparent that the ditch which emptied Adams Oaks is becoming part of a much bigger ditch that extends south from Detention Pond N2. In fact, the old ditch looks as though it will become the backslope interceptor swale for the new, bigger ditch, which is really the tail of the N1 detention pond that helps connect it to N2 and Taylor Gully. See map and photo below.
The newly “rehabilitated” ditch ran along the western (left) edge of Woodridge Village between N1 and N2.
Photo by Jeff Miller taken Saturday morning, shows that the old ditch, left, became the backslope interceptor swale for a much bigger new ditch (right.) This should improve Adams Oaks drainage. Photo take Saturday, 5/16/2020 after about 2 inches of rain.
Regardless, the contractors responded to concerns and scrambled to connect Adams Oaks with their drainage system before the storm.
Standing at the end of Flower Ridge in Adams Oaks and looking west toward Woodridge Village.Photo by Jeff Miller taken Saturday, 5/16/2020.
Further south, you can see east/west drainage from Mace and Joseph reaching north/south drainage on Woodridge.Photo by Jeff Miller taken 5/16/2020.
As additional detention ponds take shape, they will help hold water back from S1 and S2. That may help them prevent overflowing which flooded Elm Grove twice last year.
Status of Sale to County/City
That’s important. By Houston law, any financial transaction greater than $50,000 must be approved by a vote of City Council. And the Council did not consider the donation of land to Harris County Flood Control this week for a Perry deal this week.
You may remember that that was one of two conditions Harris County put on a purchase deal with Perry Homes. And Friday was Perry Homes’ deadline for consummating a deal. However, if the City and County can work something out before Perry finds a private buyer, I assume the land would still be for sale.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/16/2020 with photos and reporting by Jeff Miller.
991 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.
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