How Woodridge Village Neighbors Fared in Last Large Rain and Why

Rains this week were neither as fast, nor as heavy as the May rains that caused extensive flooding on all four sides of Woodridge Village in May. Also, since the May rains, the developer had excavated much more of a crucial detention pond near the areas hardest hit by the May floods. As a result, I heard of no reported flooding in Elm Grove, North Kingwood Forest or Porter this week.

How Much Rain We Got

The screen capture below from the Harris County Flood Warning System shows the total rainfall for Lake Houston Area gages on June 5th and 6th. They range from about 1.5″ to 4″, with the higher totals on the southern side of the area. About 90% of these totals fell on Wednesday, June 5, during the morning hours.

Rainfall totals June 5-6 associated with first tropical disturbance of season. The rain fell on dry ground. No flooding was reported in the Lake Houston area, though Fort Bend and coastal counties received up to 14″. Source HarrisCoutyFWS.org.
During the 7 hours from 5 a.m. to noon, we received about 3.5 inches of rain at the nearest official gage. Source HarrisCoutyFWS.org.

Residents Anxious About a Repeat of May 7 Flood

Woodridge Village is the 268-acre clearcut area currently under development between Kingwood and Porter along the Harris/Montgomery County line. Two hundred homes in Kingwood and dozens in Porter that border the new subdivision flooded during more intense rains on May 7th.

So when the first tropical depression of the year approached earlier this week and merged with a second low coming out of the west, residents were on edge. Especially when the National Weather Service announced a flash flood watch that spread over two days.

However, repeat flooding was avoided. That was because of a combination of factors. Compared to May 7, we had lower rainfall totals, lower rainfall intensity, and most of Woodridge detention pond S2 (the second southern pond) had been excavated.

How Woodridge Village Handled the Rain This Week and Why

This sequence of pictures shows what the part of Woodridge immediately near Elm Grove and North Kingwood Forest looked like after the May 7 storm up through the peak of last Wednesday’s storm (6/5/19).

Engineers planned a huge detention pond for the entire southeast section of Woodridge. It should hold approximately 50 acre-feet of stormwater.

Approved plans for S2 Detention Pond (the second pond in the southern section).
Approximate S2 outline superimposed over keyframe from drone footage taken on May 9, 2019, two days after the May flood. This shows percentage of S2 actually excavated at time of flood: very little. Note also, the absence of silt fences. Virtually the entire 268 acres drains toward the culvert in the lower right. Drone footage courtesy of Jim Zura, Zura Productions. Zura is an FAA-licensed drone pilot.
By May 30, much more of S2 had been excavated. Outline of pond was becoming visible. Photo Courtesy of Jeff Miller. In the background, notice the black silt fence has finally been installed. It should have been installed before they started clearing land.

On the evening of June 4, Jeff Miller took the shot below from on top of the concrete box culvert where all of Woodridge Village drains into Taylor Gully.

Notice the depth of excavation in the deepest part. It had not rained for three weeks and the water was missing on May 30. Note also, the rocks in wire cages designed to hold back silt in a flood. The height of the bikes gives you a feeling for how tall the rocks are. Photo courtesy of Jeff Miller on 6/4/2019.

The next day, on 6/5/2019, we got the bulk of the rain from the storm. Jeff Miller went out again in the afternoon and took this shot showing how full the pond was.

6/5/2019 photo of S2 by Jeff Miller showing the amount of rainwater detained from the day’s storms. The low area in the center of the image leading to the pond is an overflow channel for the ditch behind the camera position that narrows down into a three-foot pipe.

Just after the rain stopped on the 6/5/19, Nancy Vera took this shot, near the peak of the flow.

At the peak of the flow, water covered the circled rocks (see swimming shot) now lining the channel to prevent silt moving downstream. Photo courtesy of Nancy Vera.
It appears that a 4″ rain spread out over a day – when the ground was not saturated – did not tax the capacity of the culvert either. This should be some comfort to residents. Image courtesy of Nancy Vera.
Even the 3′ culvert that runs along the western edge of North Kingwood Forest had room to spare. Photo courtesy of Nancy Vera.
Even Taylor Gully had plenty of room to spare. Photo courtesy of Nancy Vera.

Sleep a Little Easier

So what can we deduce from all of these observations.

  • The expansion of the S2 detention pond since the May 7th flood has created a greater margin of safety.
  • Elm Grove and North Kingwood Forest residents should sleep a little better knowing that they are protected from storms as large as we got on Wednesday, June 5.
  • Based on the latest NOAA Atlas 14 figures (see below), it looks like Wednesday’s rain ranked as a 1- to 2-year event.
  • It appears that there may be even more capacity to absorb even bigger rains.
  • However, with all ponds not yet complete, it’s unclear whether these ponds could handle a storm like we had on May 7th or a major hurricane.
NOAA Atlas-14 Rainfall Frequency Chart. Find the line that represents how much rain fell during a given period of time. Then look up to the top of that column to find the average recurrence interval (ARI). 3.5 inches of rain in a 7-hour period would be a rain we could expect every year or two.

Posted by Bob Rehak on June 8, 2019 with help from Nancy Vera, Jim Zura and Jeff Miller.

648 Days since Hurricane Harvey and One Month since the May 7th Flood

City and MoCo Offer NFIP Flood Claims Workshop with FEMA

Houston Council Member Dave Martin announced that the City of Houston and Montgomery County will host a flood claims workshop from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 19, 2019.

  • Kingwood Community Center
  • 4102 Rustic Woods
  • Kingwood, Texas 77345

This event is for anyone (resident or business owner) who has: a) suffered flood damages, b) has flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and c) has questions about the policy claims process. FEMA representatives will be available to provide resources and answer questions. It does not matter what event caused the flood damage. Although the time has passed for submitting a Harvey claim, some people may still be struggling with the process. If they are protesting a settlement, they might benefit from this event.

Melissa Sturgis #4. Treasured antiques 3 generations back from New England are on this curb. Furniture and collectibles from 8 years overseas in Malaysia, London and Russia.
Melissa Sturgis’ home after Harvey
Flooded home in Elm Grove after May 7th rain.

For more information please contact the District E Office at DistrictE@houstontx.gov or Diane Cooper, Montgomery County Floodplain Administrator at Diane.Cooper@mctx.org.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/7/19

647 Days since Hurricane Harvey and One Month since May 7th

If They Called Wetlands Something Else, We’d Have a Lot More of Them

Wetlands are a natural solution to a natural problem: flooding. Problem is, their name sounds like it’s the opposite – more of a problem than a solution.

  • Wetlands? Get out the mop.
  • Wetlands? Will I need galoshes?
  • Wetlands? Just pave it.
  • Wetlands? We can’t have that.

See what I mean? If we named them something else, something that had a benefit, maybe they would stand a fighting chance against bulldozers. For example:

  • Flood-Prevention Lands? I’ll fight for that.
  • Flood Buffer? Give me an extra one of those.
  • Safety Shield? Don’t lose that.
  • Guardlands? Better than free insurance!

Wetlands detain water during heavy rains. They let it flow away gradually at a rate that streams and bayous can handle naturally.

Visual Comparison

Here’s a visual example. We had heavy rains the night before I took this shot – almost four inches. When I went to East End Park the next morning, I saw the wetlands at the end of the main entry trail filled with water. There’s a natural, little bowl in the landscape there that covers a couple acres. After a very heavy rain, it usually takes a week or two for the water to drain away.

After heavy rains, the bowl fills up. Then the water trickles away, evaporates, gets sucked up by trees, or percolates through the ground to the river.
OK, so sometimes it moves faster than a trickle. But this is still much slower than if two-acre feet suddenly hit concrete and a storm drain.

Contrast that with runoff coming out of the clearcut Woodridge Village below.

Developer filled in natural creeks and wetlands on this property without constructing required detention ponds first. Elm Grove is behind the trees to the left, where hundreds of homes flooded on May 7.

Why Wetlands are So Important

Watch this video taken from the porch of a house out of frame on the left of this shot. The home had never flooded before this area was clearcut and the natural drainage features were filled in. Notice a difference in the volume, clarity, and runoff rates of the water? Shortly after the rain started Tuesday, May 7, a lot of the water that hit this property filled the living rooms of Elm Grove and North Kingwood Forest residents.

Abel Vera, who lives next to this recently denuded area, told me how his kids used to play in the woods and creeks that covered the wetlands to his north.

Sadly, it will be a few decades, if ever, before more kids have that opportunity again. If only we had named the wetlands on this property something else. Protector Ponds? Storm Shields? Heck, even Gator Haven would have worked. Developers could have sold tickets.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/7/2019

647 Days since Hurricane Harvey

Houston Public Media Reports Houston City Council Not Attempting to Curb Floodplain Development

Houston Public Media yesterday reported that City Council approved a new floodplain development upstream from the Addicks Reservoir. This is what happens when you pit one person’s property rights against another’s. Engineers and developers say they take precautions to prevent downstream flooding. But still, people downstream flood.

Hmmmm. Wonder why that happens? Here’s a pretty balanced report that explains why, and why politicians approve such developments.

Impact of Land-Use Changes

It’s filled with examples of people who said, “I lived here for 30 years and never flooded before. What happened?”

The experts say it’s usually due to some kind of land-use change upstream from them.

Houston Flood Czar: Stopping Development In 100-Year Floodplain “Not Going To Happen”

My Personal Experience

I had a similar experience years ago when I lived on Spring Creek in the Dallas area. I bought a house guaranteed to be two feet above the hundred year flood plain. But after they built the Collin Creek Mall in Plano upstream from me, I found I was almost flooding on tiny rains. The Army Corps came back out and resurveyed the creek.

They determined I was now 10 feet BELOW the hundred-year floodplain.

That was the last house I will ever own near water. Highly recommended listening (or reading).

Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/6/2019

646 Days since Hurricane Harvey

Update on Ben’s Branch and Other Drainage Repair Projects from Flood Control District

In March of this year, Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) announced a project to excavate more than a mile of Ben’s Branch in Kingwood. HCFCD expects to remove approximately 8,600 dump-truck loads of sediment that clog the creek between Kingwood Drive and the San Jacinto River.

Bens Branch cuts diagonally through the heart of Kingwood. Project area circled.

Current Conditions on Ben’s Branch

During Harvey, hundreds of homes and businesses flooded near the creek. It contributed to flooding in Kings Forest, Town Center, The Enclave, Kings Harbor, and Kingwood Greens. The project area affects all of those subdivisions, plus Kingwood Village Estates where 12 seniors died, either as a result of injuries sustained during evacuation or the subsequent stress of losing their homes.

Harris County Surveying Crew in Ben’s Branch just west of West Lake Houston Parkway and south of the Kingwood Library.
More sediment buildups just east of West Lake Houston Parkway on Ben’s Branch, south of the Enclave and north of the YMCA.

Next Steps for Ben’s Branch

Since the announcement of the project to restore conveyance on Ben’s Branch, HCFCD has been busy negotiating access rights to the stream. The District has also finalized construction plans and bidding specs. According to Beth Walters, a flood control district employee who lives in Kingwood, here’s what to expect next and when.

“We plan to advertise the project five times,” says Walters, “to attract bidders. Ads will appear through June 15.” She also said HCFCD held a mandatory pre-bid meeting for all interested parties.

Eleven potential bidders attended. “Hopefully, we’ll get some good unit prices,” said Jason Brock, the manager of HCFCD’s maintenance engineering department.

Project Award by July 9, Construction to Start Immediately

HCFCD expects to open bids on June 17th and award the project at the commissioner’s court meeting on July 9. Mark your calendars!

The winning bidder will have 250 calendar days, per the contract, to finish the job. That means the project should be finished by next February or March.

Status of Other Kingwood Projects

Yesterday, Commissioners Court approved a Kingwood Area Drainage Assessment Plan. The objectives of the plan are to:

  • Dermine the current conveyance of all creeks and ditches in the Kingwood area
  • Measure that against current and projected needs
  • Make recommendations for improvements.

But first, HCFCD must select a consultant. The project should kick off this summer after consultant selection.

In the meantime, HCFCD is repairing damage due to Harvey at several locations.

1. Project ID G103-38-00-X020 consists of repairs at three (3) locations along G103-38-00:

a.    Site 5416 consists of slope failure repair, including excavation of sloughed materials, disposal of unsuitable materials, and rebuilding side slopes. The Site is located approximately 1900 feet north of Walnut Ln.

b.    Site 5680 consists of erosion repair and pipe replacement including reestablishing channel toelines, and rebuilding side slopes. The Site is located approximately 250 feet south of Walnut Ln.

c.    Site 5682 consists of erosion repair including excavation of sloughed material, reestablishing channel toelines, and rebuilding side slopes. The Site is located approximately 500 feet northwest of Deer Ridge Estates Blvd.

2. Project ID G103-38-01-X010 consists of repairs at one (1) location along G103-38-01:

a.    Site 3228 consists of slope erosion repair including rebuilding side slopes. The Site is located approximately 70 feet west of Chestnut Ridge Rd.

3. Project ID G103-41-00-X008 consists of repairs at two (2) locations along G103-41-00:

a.    Site 5622 consists of slope erosion repair including lishing channel toelines, excavation of soils to reestablish channel width, and rebuilding side slopes. The Site is located approximately 1350 feet south of Kingwood Dr.

b.    Site 5622A consists of channel scour and slope repair including filling scouring with a well graded mix, reestablishment of channel toelines, and rebuilding side slopes. The Site is located approximately 1600 feet south of Kingwood Dr. 

Helpful HCFCD Links

This page on the HCFCD web site explains their numbering system.

Some of these repairs may already be complete. This interactive map shows the status of active projects.

You can read more about the Harvey Repair Program here: https://www.hcfcd.org/press-room/current-news/2018/04/hcfcd-begins-drive-on-84-million-hurricane-repair-program/

For more specific information about Flood Control projects in the Kingwood area, including vegetation management, click here.

Posted by Bob Rehak on June 5, 2019

645 Days after Hurricane Harvey

Harris County Commissioners Approve Kingwood Drainage Assessment, But Not Without Battle Over Equity

Harris County commissioners approved a Kingwood Drainage Assessment Project Tuesday, but not before a 50-minute discussion of equity that had commissioners shaking fists at each other at one point.

Cagle Versus Ellis with Kingwood in Middle

The battle involved Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle and Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis. The flashpoint concerned Item 2a14 on the agenda. It read:

The Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority and TIRZ #10 wanted to PAY Harris County Flood Control $100,000 to manage and conduct a study of Kingwood drainage capacity. The study would have supplemented a Flood Control District study approved as part of last year’s flood bond. The objective of Item 14: to determine possible improvements to channels and mitigation basins to reduce flooding potential. Click here to read the scope document that Flood Control asked Commissioners to approve.

Illustration showing some of the ditches/streams included in the study including the reach of Taylor Gulley, along which Chris Kalman reported many blockages last week.

Commissioner Ellis invited four “equity coalition” representatives to the meeting. Each gave speeches, using the drainage assessment project as an example to show how poorer parts of the county were being discriminated against. During and after the speakers, Commissioner Cagle, whose Precinct 4 includes Kingwood, got into heated exchanges with Ellis.

The Equity Flap Revisited

The equity flap first surfaced in February. It concerned prioritization of projects in the 2018 bond proposal.

Section 14 (g) of the approved bond language states: “Since flooding issues do not respect jurisdictional or political boundaries, the Commissioners Court shall provide a process for the equitable expenditure of funds, recognizing that project selection may have been affected in the past and may continue to be affected by eligibility requirements for matching Federal, State, and other local government funds.”

Kingwood was among the hardest hit areas in Harris County. As the flood bond language was being finalized, Lake Houston area leaders argued to include language that said all areas would receive their fair share of funds to prevent reverse discrimination. Historically, the Lake Houston area had received no flood mitigation dollars.

Greater Houston Flood Mitigation Report Misrepresented

The following figures and chart are taken from the Greater Houston Flood Mitigation Consortium’s April, 2018 report on Hurricane Harvey. Ironically, one of the activists speaking for Ellis used this report to suggest that poorer neighborhoods have suffered historical discrimination. The report does not support her argument relative to Kingwood at least, as the figures below show.

From the Greater Houston Flood Mitigation Consortiums April, 2018 report on Hurricane Harvey

The San Jacinto watershed, says the Consortium, contains 3% of the region’s population, gets 0% of the mitigation budget, and had 14% of the region’s damages.

Contrast that with Sims Bayou and Braes Bayou, both of which run through Commissioner Ellis’ Precinct 1. Those watersheds have 20% of the region’s population, get 42% of the mitigation budget, and had about 20% of the damages.

The Flood Control District’s own Federal report from March of 2018, shows a map of Harris County with Federal partnership projects everywhere … except the Lake Houston area.

Of the three other speakers, one evidently did not think Kingwood had apartments. Another complained that his community was still recovering (as if we weren’t).

So much for equity! The fact-defying arguments of Mr. Ellis and his surrogates do no one any good; they serve only to drive wedges between people who should be working together to triage a battlefield.

See the Video for Yourself: Blow by Blow

To see the video of the meeting, go to this Commissioner’s Court page, select Item 1, Part 2 of 2 from the menu, then fast forward to 30 minutes. That’s where this discussion starts with the first speaker. If you don’t have an hour, see these other key time markers:

  • 34 minutes: In response to the first speaker, Cagle and Ellis debate who has really gotten the lion’s share of spending.
  • 38 minutes: The second activist begins talking.
  • 42 minutes: Another activist complains that his community still has not recovered and therefore should go first.
  • 48 minutes: A fourth activist quotes the Greater Houston Flood Mitigation Consortium Harvey report. She overlooks the fact that Kingwood is part of the San Jacinto Watershed, which historically has received ZERO mitigation dollars.
  • 51 minutes: She complains that by counting structures, not people, the government discriminates against neighborhoods with multi-family housing. She ignores the fact that at least five major apartment complexes flooded in Kingwood.
  • 1:04:40: Commissioner Cagle complains to Ellis that the discussion is rubbing him raw.
  • 1:06:00: Cagle and Ellis shake fists at each other and nearly come out of their chairs.
  • 1:25:00: Discussion wraps up on this agenda item and the meeting then moves on.

Motion Finally Passed, Next Steps

Luckily and thankfully, when it came time to vote on the measure, it passed.

Matt Zeve, Deputy Executive Director of Harris County Flood Control, said of the plan approved today, “This is not the full scope of the project, just what HCFCD and the TIRZ are partnering on. The full scope will be determined once we have a consultant selected.”

Zeve continued. “The project will involve developing detailed hydrologic and hydraulic models to determine the current “drainage level of service” on open channels in the Kingwood area. Once those are determined, alternatives will be developed to increase the level of service for channels deemed to be undersized.”

“These alternatives,” concluded Zeve, “will be shared with the public in a community meeting. Final recommendations for future projects will be provided. Once Commissioners Court approves the final report, preliminary engineering for the recommended alternatives will begin.”

Zeve expects the assessment work to begin before the end of the summer.

Need for Vigilance and Balance

Today’s meeting underscores the fact that the Equity Flap has not gone away. Lake Houston area residents need to remain vigilant and fight for our fair share of dollars as this and every Lake Houston area project moves forward. We need several Kingwood residents to speak at the next commissioners court meeting to provide balance.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/04/2019

644 Days since Hurricane Harvey

Flash Flood Watch In Effect from Midnight Tonight Through Thursday Morning: Simple Ways to Reduce Flood Risk

The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for most of southeast Texas. The three graphics below tell the story.

Expected Tuesday: Source NWS, issued Tuesday AM.
Expected Wednesday: Source NWS, issued Tuesday AM.
Expected Thursday: Source NWS, issued Tuesday AM.

Expect Heavy Rain Late Tonight but More Likely on Wednesday

Showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop tonight as a surge of tropical moisture approaches Southeast Texas and merges with a low coming from the west.

Rainfall rates could reach 2 to 3 inches per hour at times. Widespread rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches are expected across Southeast Texas by Wednesday evening with isolated totals exceeding 6 inches. The heaviest rainfall is expected to fall along and east of the I-69/US 59 corridor.

Those totals are close to what we experienced in early May.

Jeff Lindner, Harris County Meteorologist warned, “A low level convergence boundary may become established between the US 59 corridor and the coast and help to organize and focus thunderstorms and heavy rainfall. This pattern remains in place Wednesday and Wednesday night while 91L moves up the TX coast and likely either across SE TX or just offshore over our coastal waters.”

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation. You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

Street Flooding Likely; Significant Rises on Bayous/Creeks Possible

Do not drive your vehicle into areas where the water covers the roadway. The water depth may be too great to allow your car to cross safely.

If water is deep enough to cover your tailpipe, your car will stall.

Vehicles caught in rising water should be abandoned quickly. If your vehicle stalls…abandon it and seek higher ground immediately. Rapidly rising water may engulf your vehicle and its occupants and sweep them away. Move to higher ground.

Check Drains and Creeks Near You; Park on High Ground

During storms last month, yard debris (leaves, twigs, small branches, grass clippings, etc.) washed into sewers and drainage ditches. Also, in places, large trees had fallen into creeks and ditches due to bank erosion. Flooding doesn’t always come from the river. It can come from blockages anywhere in the drainage system.

So while the weather is still nice today:

  • Make sure your drains are clear
  • Do not stack branches or garbage where they could back up water
  • If you live near a creek or drainage ditch, walk it. Look for downed trees. Focus on areas downstream from you that could back water up onto your property.
  • Report clogged street drains to City of Houston by calling 3-1-1. Have address ready when you call.
  • Report downed trees in ditches to Harris County Flood Control or call 713-684-4197.
  • Park your car on high ground.
  • Move valuables and important papers to an upper floor or top shelf.
  • Make sure your cell phone and weather radio batteries are fully charged; have backup batteries in case of power outages.
Remember, streets are DESIGNED to be part of the floodwater retention system. They are meant to hold excess water until the ditches, creeks, streams and bayous can absorb it. So don’t park in the street if you can avoid it.

Attention Vacationers: Coastal Forecast is Rough

Winds will begin to increase this afternoon and evening over the coastal waters which will help to build seas on Wednesday. Tides are forecasted to reach near 3.5-4.0 ft on Wednesday which may cause minor coastal flooding on Bolivar and low lying coastal area on the west end of Galveston, Surfside, and in SE Harris County. A coastal flood advisory may be required on Wednesday.  

Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/4/19

644 Days after Hurricane Harvey

Kingwood Drainage Assessment on Commissioners Court Agenda Tuesday and Why We Need More Systematic Reporting

Harris County Flood Control tomorrow will ask the Harris County Commissioners Court tomorrow to approve money for a Kingwood-wide drainage assessment. One of the reasons why is shown below: trees that have fallen into Taylor Gulley since the last time someone from Flood Control reviewed it. That underscores the need for every community association to start a flood committee. With more eyes on drainage, we might be able to keep problems such as these at a sub-acute level and help prevent flooding from clogged ditches.

Thank You, Chris Kalman

Chris Kalman of Woodstream Village sent these pictures to Flood Control and to me last Friday. They show trees that fell into Taylor Gulley during the three huge storms early last month.

This and next four photos taken on Taylor Gulley near White Oak Creek. All photos courtesy of Chris Kalman.

Blockages, such as these, can quickly turn into even bigger blockages when they catch additional trees and debris swept downstream in floods. When blockages become big enough, they can back water up into neighborhoods.

Kudos to Chris for communicating these problems (and their locations) to Harris County Flood Control. HCFCD can’t be everywhere all the time; they have 2500 miles of natural streams and man-made ditches to patrol. They need the help of residents to report problems like these so that they can respond in a timely way.

Photographs like Chris’ help Flood Control find and recognize the problems when workers visit the site. After all, in print, one downed tree sounds a lot like another. Photos also help Flood Control visualize the number of people and type of equipment to bring. In addition, Chris provided them with a map.

Commissioners Court To Consider Kingwood Drainage Assessment Project

As a result of the efforts by people like Chris and Barbara Hillburn of Kingwood Lakes who has been beating the drum to improve internal drainage, HCFCD has an item on the Commissioners Court agenda for tomorrow. Item 2.a.14 on page 10 is a request for authorization to negotiate with the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority to start HCFCD Bond Project F-14. It includes a drainage analysis of all open channels in the Kingwood area.

Matt Zeve, deputy executive director of the Flood Control District is adding an evaluation of Taylor Gully and the May storm event to the scope of work for this project. 

If you are interested, any Harris County resident can sign up to speak on items on the Court agenda.

The Lake Houston area has more trees than most other parts of town. We definitely need this.

Start a Flood Committee in Your CA

Also, please urge your community association to start a “flood committee” that A) periodically checks creeks and ditches for problems and B) reports them. Often people see problems but don’t recognize them as such. Or they recognize them, but assume someone else reported them already. That’s why, in my opinion, we need to set up a system for reporting problems such as these.

An organization like KSA could coordinate the flood committees of each CA. They could then compile a master list of problems so that Flood Control could better schedule and prioritize clearing and ditch restoration efforts. It would be much more efficient for Flood Control to deal with one entity rather than thousands of individuals, many of whom might duplicate each other’s efforts. Also, as Chris discovered, sometimes it’s difficult to know whom to email. But a group that manages reporting on a regular basis could quickly learn the proper channels.

Two-foot Sections

If your neighbors, CA or trail association tries to remove such blockages, remember this. Flood Control typically cuts trees like the one above into two foot sections. Two feet is small enough to float through culverts in the next flood without getting stuck.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/3/2019 with photos by Chris Kalman

643 Days after Hurricane Harvey

Governor Signs Flood Mitigation and Sand Mining Legislation. Now, what happens when?

Governor Greg Abbott has signed final versions of Senate Bill (SB) #7, SB 500, House Bill (HB) #907 and HB 1824. So, what will happen when? Let’s look at the implementation of each.

Flood Mitigation: SB 7 Implementation

SB 7 establishes special funds dedicated to flood mitigation. The bill creates dedicated Texas Infrastructure and Texas Infrastructure Resiliency Funds for flood control planning and the funding of flood planning, mitigation, and infrastructure projects.

Money from SB 7 could help fund additional flood gates for the Lake Houston spillway. They could help release water faster before and during floods such as Hurricane Harvey.

Within 90 days, a Texas Infrastructure Resiliency Fund Advisory Committee will submit recommendations to the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) on rules it should adopt in administering the fund. TWDB has another 90 days to adopt rules governing the fund. After that, on or before the end of this year, the TWDB may begin financing projects in the state flood plan.

The bill itself takes effect immediately because it passed both the House and the Senate by more than a two-thirds majority. The Senate passed it 31-0. The House passed it 143-1 with two present but not voting. However, Article Two of SB 7 – the part dealing with the infrastructure fund – takes effect on January 1 of 2020 ONLY IF VOTERS APPROVE a constitutional amendment in November. If voters do NOT approve the constitutional amendment, Article Two has no effect.

Flood Mitigation Funding: SB 500 Implementation

SB 500 is an all-purpose special appropriations bill. It appropriates money for SB 7 and other Hurricane Harvey relief projects. For instance, it include $30 million to help dredge where the San Jacinto meets Lake Houston. SB 500 passed with greater than two-thirds majorities in both House and Senate. Therefore, it takes effect immediately.

That means $30 million should be available today to help dredge the mouth bar of the west fork.

$30 million can now used to help dredge the mouth bar.

Sand Mining Inspections and Fines: HB 907 Implementation

On its way to becoming law, the Senate strengthened HB 907. In its final form, it increased inspection frequency for all aggregate production operations (APOs) from every three years to every two.

Breach in Triple-P mine in Porter allowed process water to flow directly into Caney Creek, East Fork and Lake Houston, the source of drinking water for millions of people.

HB 907 also allows the TCEQ to conduct unannounced inspections if the TCEQ investigated a complaint about an APO operation in the previous three years.

It sets registration fees for APOs at a level that will allow the TCEQ to establish an active APO registry.

Finally, it increases penalties for failure to register an APO. It set the minimum at $5000 and the maximum at $20,000 per year with the total not to exceed more than $40,000 for any three year period.

This act takes effect on September 1, 2019. It passed in the House by 135-8 with one present and not voting. It passed in the Senate 28-3.

“Sand Trap” Bill: HB 1824 Implementation

Environmental groups and citizens, including me, fought to clarify the open-ended language in HB 1824. It allows the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) and Harris County Flood Control District take sand and gravel from the San Jacinto without a permit in order to restore the conveyance of the river. They can also deposit the sand and gravel on private land.

Opponents feared that it would open the door to river mining because the SJRA is essentially an economic development entity that is sensitive developers. The SJRA has also shown no desire in the past to control sand mining along the banks of the river.

When I asked legislators, miners, TACA and the SJRA how it would work, I received four different answers!

Proponents of the bill sold it as “the sand-trap bill.” The idea: to get sand mining operations to dredge the river, allow them to sell the sand, and avoid taxpayer expense. By dredging at certain locations under government supervision, proponents hoped to reduce the amount of sand coming downriver. That sand reduces the conveyance of the river and contributes to flooding.

If the bill actually works that way, great. But there’s nothing in its language that indicates how it will work or whether miners will be supervised. River mining is outlawed in many countries, including most of Europe. It has been linked to the destruction of private property in many of other countries that allow it.

Watch private sand mining activity on the river closely! This bill takes effect in three months, on September 1, 2019.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/3/2019

642 Days since Hurricane Harvey

The thoughts in this post represent my opinions on matters of public interest and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP statute of the great State of Texas.

Even More Discoveries Demand Independent Investigation into Causes of Flooding Around Woodridge Village

On 8/28/2018, LJA Engineers’ project manager for hydrology and hydraulics, submitted a 59-page letter to the Montgomery County Engineer’s Department. The subject: Figure Four Partner’s proposed Woodridge Village development. It shows that the developer knew of the potential for downstream flooding, yet did not develop the site in a way that might have prevented or reduced flooding.

Specifically, the developer’s team failed to construct needed detention ponds in a timely manner. They could have helped offset the effects of clearcutting the southern section of land. Instead, the contractor continued clearcutting the northern section, filled in existing drainage, and sloped land toward Elm Grove BEFORE installing needed detention ponds.

The contractor also failed to repair a culvert running next to North Kingwood Forest. Engineers warned that the damaged culvert had to be replaced.

Finally the engineers may have mischaracterized the soil in modeling assumptions. They classified soil as sandy loam instead of clay. That could have skewed a key factor in runoff models by 2X to 3X.

Parts of Porter Also Flooded That Were Not in Any Recognized Flood Zone

LJA’s letter also shows that residents who flooded in Porter on the western edge of the new Woodridge development were NOT in either 100-year or 500-year flood zones. This supports the claims of Porter flood victims, such as Gretchen Dunlap-Smith. They say they never flooded before. They also claim that Rebel Contractors pushed dirt up against the western edge of the development while filling in natural drainage and wetlands. These actions likely constrained drainage on May 7th, before the contractor began installing storm sewers, drainage ditches and detention ponds in that area.

Flood Plain Maps Show What Developer’s Team Knew Before Permit Granted

Section 1.5 of LJA’s letter to Montgomery County states, “The project site is shown on FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) panel 48339C0750H for Montgomery County, Texas and Incorporated Areas, revised August 18, 2014. The area just across the county boundary from the project site is shown on FIRM panel 48201C0305L for Harris County, Texas and Incorporated Areas, revised June 18, 2007.” On Page 51, the letter shows existing floodplains on the map below.

Page 51 from LJA letter to Montgomery County Engineer. The dark purple lines show the boundaries of the new development. The light purple and gray areas below the new development show the 100-year and 500-year flood plains in Elm Grove, North Kingwood Forest, Mills Branch and Woodstream Villages.
Drainage on the developer’s two tracts is sloped toward Taylor Gully, Elm Grove and North Kingwood Forest in red circle.

Clearcutting of the S2 detention pond area finished last November according to Nancy Vera of Elm Grove. However, only detention pond S1 and the flow-restricting box culvert next to Vera’s house had been substantially completed by May 7. Neither N1, nor the drainage ditch connecting it with N2 were excavated on May 7th; they still have not been excavated.

At the time of the May 7th flood, only detention pond S-1 had been installed. N-2 is on land owned by Montgomery County and was at least partially excavated in 2006, but none of the devices regulating flow into or out of it had been installed on May 7th.

LJA Engineering’s models assumed all the detention ponds are in and functioning, but we know they were not at the time of the flood. Instead of installing drainage first, the contractor focused on clearcutting and grading the northern section of land which exacerbated flooding on the southern section.

Drain Pipe Should Have Been Replaced

Page 3-1 of the LJA Letter mentions, “…an existing 36-inch-diameter x 290-foot HDPE culvert in Taylor Gully at the downstream end of the project. The upstream end of the culvert is within Montgomery County and the downstream end is within Harris County. Because of its poor structural condition, this culvert needs to be replaced.”

Intake end of the pipe referenced on page 3-1 of LJA Engineer’s letter to Montgomery County. Photo taken on May 12, 2019.

Judging by the poor condition of the pipe after the May 7th flood and the lack of disturbed soil around it, I feel it’s safe to say that it wasn’t replaced at the time of the flood.

Modeling May Have Included Faulty Assumption About Soil

Every time I re-read the letter to Montgomery County, new things jump out at me in light of new things I have learned. Today, I spotted another huge and potentially faulty assumption relating to runoff and flooding. The site description on page 1.1 states that the project site is “characterized by fine, sandy loam.” One of the oil industry’s leading geologists, however, characterized it as “mostly clay,” though he did say it became more sandy in natural drainage features, such as stream beds.

Major factors affecting the runoff coefficient for a watershed are land use, slope, and soil type. We know the contractor increased the runoff rate when it clearcut the forest and altered the slope of land. But I had not previously focused on how the engineers characterized the soil type, which affects water infiltration.

  • Sandy soils absorb more rain, generally reducing runoff.
  • Soils with more clay absorb less rain, generally increasing runoff.

In modeling runoff and flooding potential for Woodridge Village and downstream areas, LJA Engineers used the Army Corps’ Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS). Page 216 of the user guide for that program states that, “The sand percentage accounts for the effect of infiltration and surface runoff properties on hydrograph generation. Zero percent indicates essentially all-clay soils with characteristically low infiltration rates. Conversely, 100 percent indicates essentially all-sandy soils with characteristically high infiltration rates.”

BrighthubEngineering.com estimates infiltration rates in inches per hour for different types of soil. They show the rate for clay-based soils to average one-third to one-half the rate for sandy loam. That means…

The characterization of the soil could have skewed this component of LJA’s modeling by 2X to 3X. Certainly, that merits further investigation and verification of LJA Engineering’s results before contractors begin pouring concrete.

New Discoveries Argue for Independent Engineering Investigation

All of these observations argue for an independent investigation into the engineering of and construction practices on this site. They raise serious questions about the accuracy of LJA’s conclusions and whether their plans will protect downstream residents from future flooding.

Let’s pray that Montgomery County and the City of Houston commission a forensic investigation into the causes of this flooding. That’s the only way we’ll be able to prevent similar flooding in the future. By the time these issues work their way through the court system, contractors will have built homes and streets that could forever alter downstream flood potential. Harris County and the Federal government could be stuck with hundreds of buyouts costing tens of millions of dollars. A second opinion might save a lot of heartbreak, misery, and tax dollars. Better safe than sorry.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/2/2019

642 Days since Hurricane Harvey

The thoughts in this post represent my opinions on matters of public policy and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP statute of the great State of Texas.