6/21/25 – Callan Marine’s San Jacinto West Fork dredging placement area near Luce Bayou is filling up…rather quickly. The City of Houston began its most recent dredging program with Callan on December 20, 2024 – six months ago. The goal: to move 800,000 cubic yards of sediment out of the river near the headwaters of Lake Houston.
Position of dredge on Saturday, 6/21/2025 on West Fork. Looking N toward Royal Shores visible near top of frame on East Fork.Looking south toward FM1960 bridge at top of frame.
From here, Callan pumps the sediment approximately 3.8 miles across the East Fork and up Luce Bayou to a placement area near the Interbasin Transfer Canal.
Route of 18-inch dredge pipe to placement area.
West Fork Dredging Placement Area Filling Up Quickly
To hold the sediment, Callan built a placement area approximately 300,000 square yards by 8 feet deep. That magically works out to (drum roll please) about 800,000 cubic yards!
After removing trees, Callan scraped dirt into a series of berms with a series of internal dikes that force sediment-laden water through a maze. The circuitous route slows water down and allows sediment to settle out of suspension before Callan returns clearer water to Lake Houston.
This afternoon, that maze looked like this.
Luce Interbasin Transfer Canal on lower left. Placement area is more than a half mile long and three football fields wide.
Glare on the water partially masks the depth of sediment, but it’s more visible from a steeper, closer angle.
From the air, it appeared that sediment/water mixture reached within a foot or two of the enclosure’s outer walls.Reverse angle shows proximity to Lake Houston in background.Closer shot shows miniature river delta forming as water seeks its way through the maze. Note height of water relative to height of outer berms in upper left.Water shooting into placement area through 18 inch pipe.Side shot shows impact of stream.
To put the size of that pipe in perspective, a basketball is 9.5 inches in diameter. So, two could almost fit side by side in the pipe.
Outfall back to Luce Bayou and Lake Houston
This job was originally scheduled for a year and the dredge has been pumping for six months so far. At this rate, they may finish early.
Volume Shows Importance of Dredging District
The amount of sediment moved to the West Fork dredging placement area in six months underscores how important the passage of Charles Cunningham’s Dredging District bill was this year.
This has been a wet spring and more sediment keeps moving downriver every day. And we’re still playing catch up with past neglect.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/21/25
2853 Days since Hurricane Harvey
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6/20/25 – Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) has announced that it will unveil the final design of the Woodridge/Taylor Gully Project in Kingwood on July 1. Based on preliminary engineering, HCFCD applied to the the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) via the Texas General Land Office for a grant of $42 million to cover the cost of construction.
According to long-time residents, Taylor Gully never flooded, even during Harvey, until Perry Homes purchased and cleared the 270-acre Woodridge Village property immediately north of Sherwood Trails, Elm Grove and Mills Branch Villages. The property, just across the county line in Montgomery County, forms the headwaters of Taylor Gully and used to be heavily forested.
But shortly after Perry’s contractors started clearing the property, hundreds of homes along Taylor Gully flooded twice in 2019.
Rustling Elms near Taylor Gully in May of 2019
Engineering documents specified that the contractors should have cleared the property in sections and built detention basins for each section before moving onto the next. However, the contractors clearcut the whole property and sloped it toward the homes that flooded before building the required detention.
The fiasco turned into a giant class-action lawsuit. During the lawsuit, Perry’s contractors scrambled to build the stormwater detention basins. However, it also became clear that the detention they were building was about 30-40% short of Atlas-14 standards which Montgomery County had not yet adopted.
County/City Purchase Property from Perry
HCFCD and the City of Houston purchased the property from Perry to keep it from being developed. Early on, they announced plans to turn it into a giant regional stormwater detention basin to reduce flood risk.
Building another stormwater detention basin on Woodridge Village holding 412 acre-feet (virtually doubling capacity).
Expanding a portion of Taylor Gully and lining it with concrete.
Replacing the culverts at Rustling Elms with a clear-span bridge.
HCFCD entered into an Excavation and Removal Contract with Sprint Sand and Clay to get a head start on excavating the new Woodridge Basin. However, when HCFCD applied for HUD funding, by law, they had to terminate the contract. That happened at the end of 2023. Why? Conditions on the property can’t change while the GLO and HUD evaluate grants. It’s a fraud prevention measure.
New Excavation on Woodridge Village as of May 31, 2025
Generic Differences Between Preliminary and Final Design Recommendations
During preliminary engineering, managers try to prove up the value of a concept. But along the way to final design, they sharpen their pencils.
As a project progresses from concept to constructible plans, typically they tighten and incorporate:
Hydraulic and Hydrologic Modeling – with higher resolution topography, updated rainfall data, and detailed channel/basin geometry.
Right-of-Way and Easements – Whereas preliminary layouts assume general access needs, final design incorporates, precise right-of-way limits, utility conflicts, coordination with surrounding landowners, and legal descriptions for acquisition and/or dedication.
Geotechnical Investigations – Soil borings for slope-stability analyses for embankments, groundwater-level monitoring, channel linings, etc.
Structural-Design Finalization – Including sizes, materials, and load capacities for bridges , weirs and detention outlet structures.
Environmental and Permitting Integration
Cost Estimate Updates – Whereas preliminary estimates often have ±30 accuracy, final design includes detailed quantities, updates unit costs and construction phasing for more precise budgets and schedules.
Constructability and Value Engineering – Engineers and sometimes contractors look for ways simplify/reconfigure designs that lower costs.
Utility Coordination – Precise identification of existing utilities (water, sewer, fiber, gas) along with plans to relocate them if necessary or change design.
Public Involvement and Stakeholder Feedback – Where we are now. Feedback sometimes results in design modifications for aesthetics, access, noise or neighborhood concerns. It might also be valuable for inclusion of trails, parks or other recreational elements.
HCFCD has not yet released any of the specific changes between their preliminary and final plans for this property.
Preliminary plans called for replacing these culverts at Rustling Elms and Taylor Gully with a clear-span bridge like the one farther downstream.
HCFCD Hopes to Bid by October
According to HCFCD spokesperson Emily Woodell, “We’re wrapping up design for this project, which is what we plan to cover at the community engagement meeting. Based on current project schedules, this is set to go out for bid for construction contracts in October of this year.”
“We’re planning to amend this into the overall contract with the General Land Office in the very near future, which will allow us to draw grant funds. None of the design work has been funded by CDBG, it was all locally funded. Grant funds will be used for construction.”
HCFCD urges community members to attend the virtual meeting. Remember, it’s:
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Starting at 6:30 PM
If you have suggestions after seeing the plans, now is the time to share them. So sign up now.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/20/25
2852 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Elm-Grove-9.19_30.jpg?fit=1500%2C1000&ssl=110001500adminadmin2025-06-20 19:44:372025-06-20 19:58:22HCFCD to Unveil Final Design of Woodridge/Taylor Gully Project on July 1
6/19/25 – The first City-of-Houston Matching Grant Project designed to help beautify and reforest Kingwood was dedicated on Wednesday, June 18th. And City Council Member Fred Flickinger is working to make sure others will soon follow.
Hopefully, the Bear Branch Trail Association (BBTA) Project in the median of Kingwood Drive just east of Woodland Hills will be the first many similar projects.
The intersection looked like this before the start of the project.
“Before” shot, looking NE at Kingwood Drive median from across Woodland Hills. Note dense thicket of vines and underbrush behind signs.Photo Chris Bloch.
After Bear Branch Trails volunteers spent 200 hours cleaning out vines, deadwood and underbrush, they helped plant trees, shrubs and grass. When complete, the same area looked like this.
“After” shot of same area. Photo Chris Bloch. Blue-green color is hydromulch which should quickly sprout into grass.
Photos of Dedication Ceremony
(L to R) Lee Danner, BBTA; Debra Knebel, BBTA; Dee Price, KSA/Trees for Kingwood; and Chris Bloch, BBTA receive recognition from Council Member Flickinger.
See the extended team below.
(L to R) Tom Sanders, BBTA, Chris Bloch, BBTA; Vernon Autrey, A-Z Wright’s Tree Service; Dee Price, KSA/Trees for Kingwood; District E Council Member Fred Flickinger: Dustin Hodges, CoH District E; Lee Danner, BBTA; Paul Wright, A-Z Wright’s Tree Service; and Debra Knebel, BBTA.
Traffic visibility had become a major problem at this corner resulting in many traffic accidents. The improved visibility will help greatly.
How Project Came About
Early last year, the City announced it was willing to offer to match expenditures up to $5,000 for projects that improved the appearance of City-of-Houston property. The BBTA Grant application identified this section of the Kingwood Drive median as a project.
The application process for Matching Grants started on July 1st last year, as it does each year.
BBTA submitted its application in October, 2024. City Council Member Fred Flickinger approved the project, which uses money from his discretionary funds allocated to each Council Member. The City notified the Trail Association of the award in January of 2025.
BBTA generated and submitted a plan for approval to the City Department of Parks and Recreation. After approval, the project went out for bids to local landscaping contractors. A-Z Wright’s Tree Service won the bid and performed the final landscaping of the project which included planting seven more native trees, 17 bushes, and grass.
Total cost of the completed project was $10,224.15 of which the City will fund $5,000.
More Applications Being Accepted Starting July 1
The application period for 2025-2026 Matching Grant Projects will open on July 1st. Any Community Association or Trail Association in Kingwood can apply. Due to extensions granted after Hurricane Beryl last year, several grants are still pending. So more projects may soon follow that use 2024 funds.
In the meantime, Flickinger will sponsor an informational meeting at the Kingwood Community Center on Tuesday, 6/24/25, at 6 PM.
He invited all community and trail associations interested in enhancing the appearance of Kingwood to apply.
About Trees for Kingwood
Trees for Kingwood, which operates as part of the Kingwood Services Association has planted more than 3,000 trees to date. It is soliciting support from local businesses and individuals to help support Matching Grant Applications made by neighborhood organizations.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/19/25
2851 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250618-DSC_2561.jpg?fit=1100%2C733&ssl=17331100adminadmin2025-06-19 21:25:022025-06-19 21:37:00First Houston Matching Grant Beautification Project in Kingwood Dedicated
6/18/25 – While speaking to the Kingwood Executive Group this morning, Houston District E City Council Member Fred Flickinger reassured members that the project to add more flood gates to the Lake Houston Dam was on track. He said that the engineering and environmental survey work should be completed by the end of this year as previously promised.
Houston City Council Member Fred Flickinger addressing members of Kingwood Executive Group today.
However, he also cautioned that a potential cost increase might skew the critical Benefit/Cost Ratio (BCR) used to evaluate grant applications.
In an update on a related drainage issue, Flickinger explained how important the passage of Rep. Charles Cunningham’s Lake Houston Dredging District bill was for the Lake Houston area. Specifically, he talked about how dredging done to date reduced predicted peaks in the May 2024 flood by more than 2 feet and kept water from entering homes throughout Kingwood and the Lake Houston Area.
Latest on Gates Project
After Hurricane Harvey, many people focused on the addition of more flood gates to the Lake Houston Dam could reduce lake levels and flooding by letting water out faster before and during major storms.
Lake Conroe’s dam can release water 15 times faster than the gates on Lake Houston’s dam.
The gates on Lake Houston’s dam release water so slowly that the City must begin releasing water days before a storm to create significant extra storage capacity in the lake.
With a lead time measured in days, forecasts can change before storms arrive. But with a higher release capacity, dam operators could wait until they were certain a storm would hit before opening the gates.
Flickinger stated that the engineering for the additional gates should be at least 90 percent complete by the end of 2025.
“At that point in time,” said Flickinger, “they’ll be able to get accurate BCRs. And they’re already working on the environmental study. Black & Veatch is handling that.”
Community meetings within the next 4 to 5 months will give the public a chance for input.
Construction Still Predicted to Start in 2028, Completion in 2029
“I think they’ll be able to start construction in 2028 and complete the project in 2029,” said Flickinger. “Nothing’s really changed with the dates in the last six months.”
Early indications are that the project could need another $35 million. Flickinger said, “That could delay the project a little bit if they don’t get the BCR they need. But we got it one time; I think we’ll get it a second.”
Flickinger was referring to when Dave Martin, his predecessor convinced FEMA to include social benefits in the calculation of the BCR. Typically, benefits must exceed costs before FEMA or any other group will award a grant.
Since Flickinger took office, the plan for the gates has significantly changed. The original plan was to construct crest gates on the concrete portion of the spillway. However, because of the risk involved, the City could not find a contractor willing to bid on that job.
The new plan is to add tainter gates to the earthen portion of the dam. The project basically turned into a “start over.”
Kudos to Crenshaw and Cunningham
In his talk today, Flickinger also addressed dredging – past, present and future.
He thanked US Rep. Dan Crenshaw and State Rep. Charles Cunningham. “We’re dredging out on the lake today,” said Flickinger. “That’s part of the money that Congressman Crenshaw got for us. We’re moving 800,000 cubic yards of sediment. And that makes a huge difference,” said Flickinger, before lauding HB1532, Rep. Charles Cunningham’s bill that will create a permanent dredging district on Lake Houston.
The Computer Model that Missed and the Legislation that Didn’t
To underscore the importance of dredging, Flickinger explained how computer models missed predictions for the timing and crest of the May 2024 floods in the Lake Houston Area … at a time when water was already lapping at the foundations of thousands of homes.
“The expectation was that the water would crest two feet higher than it did. But they missed it because their model did not include all the dredging that had been done over the last several years. They missed by about two feet and a day. The river was supposed to crest two feet higher and one day later,” said Flickinger.
“But all the dredging allowed the water to flow into the lake and over the dam faster than what they thought it would. So the dredging is a huge deal.”
HB1532, the bill to create a Lake Houston Dredging and Maintenance District, finally passed in this year’s session of the state legislature – after three previous tries.
“Sediment comes into the river and the lake 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” said Flickinger. “And unless we do something about that, it’s going to be a huge problem.”
Even though Cunningham got the dredging district over the goal line this year, Flickinger was quick to acknowledge assists from Senators Paul Bettencourt, Brandon Creighton and Mayes Middleton who helped push it through the Senate.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/18/2025
2850 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250618-DSC_2534.jpg?fit=1100%2C733&ssl=17331100adminadmin2025-06-18 18:05:412025-06-18 18:07:15Flickinger Provides Updates on Lake Houston Gates, Dredging District
6/27/25 – In a virtual public meeting tonight, the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) briefed the public on the last Cypress Creek Major Maintenance Project associated with the 2018 Flood Bond. The project name: Cypress Creek Channel Rehabilitation and Stormwater Detention Basin, Main Stem, Batch 5.
Batch 5 consists of two smaller packages:
Channel Rehab at Kuykendahl and the Cypress Hill Stormwater Detention Basin, expected completion by Q4 2027.
Channel Rehab near I-45 and the first phase of the Senger Stormwater Detention Basin, completed by Q2 2028.
Currently, HCFCD is finalizing design for both packages. They expect to complete design by July 2025 and advertise it for bids beginning in Q2 of 2026.
Batch 5 consists of channel repairs for 1.4 miles of the creek and its tributaries, plus two major detention basins that together will hold 631 acre feet.
All Flood Control District projects receiving U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Develop Block Grant mitigation funds must be completed by March 31st, 2028.
During the channel repairs, HCFCD says it will make the side slopes of channels less steep to minimize future erosion.
About Cypress Creek and Repairs
The first four batches of repairs restored approximately 24 miles of Cypress Creek and its tributaries. HCFCD has completed Batches 1-3 and Batch 4 is still in progress. Estimated completion for Batch 4: Q1 2026.
Cypress Creek is a highly developed watershed located in northwest Harris County. It extends into Waller County. The watershed comprises 267 square miles, making it one of the county’s larger watersheds. It has 250 miles of open channels including Cypress Creek itself.
During Hurricane Harvey, 29 inches of rain fell across the watershed, damaging more than 9,500 structures.
No Adverse Impact Allowed Downstream
This is the fifth of five major maintenance programs along Cypress Creek associated with the 2018 Flood Bond.
The detention basins are actually designed to mitigate the channel rehabilitation work. Specifically, the channel rehabilitation work will speed floodwater up. The basins will offset that by slowing floodwaters down and reducing the volume in the creek.
As one presenter tonight pointed out, “The flood control district is a “no-adverse-impact” agency. That means we do not allow our projects to reduce flooding risks for one area, while increasing risks somewhere else. That’s why stormwater detention basins are often built before or at the same time as channel conveyance improvements or channel rehabilitation to prevent any unintended impacts downstream.”
The detention basins will hold enough water to cover a football field to a depth of 478 feet.
Getting Closer to Lake Houston Area
Batch 5 includes two separate packages. One is near Kuykendahl.
And the other is near I-45.
HCFCD should hear from the Texas General Land Office (GLO) and HUD on funding soon. The District submitted a grant application for almost $54 million that is still under review (as of 6/7/25) by GLO.
Project Benefits
The District was a little hazy about the benefits. Of course, this is a maintenance program, not a capital improvement program.
A spokesperson said, “Pre-Atlas-14 100-year design storm models show a water-surface elevation reduction of up to one foot near the I-45 project limits” for the Kuykendahl package.
Altogether, HCFCD estimates the benefit area of this project will include nearly 40,000 people, who either live near and/or commute through the area.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/17/2025
2849 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/K500-31-00-E001.jpg?fit=1100%2C745&ssl=17451100adminadmin2025-06-17 22:37:062025-06-18 13:43:04HCFCD Briefs Community on Last Cypress Creek Major Maintenance Project
6/16/25 – Not many people understand the value of education and preservation as a flood-mitigation strategies. Leaving land near waterways in its natural state costs a tiny fraction of building giant detention basins after people flood. Plus the natural land provides recreation for people and habitat for wildlife.
The people who built communities like Kingwood and the Woodlands understood that. That’s why we have 300-foot-wide greenbelts along streams like Bens Branch. It’s also why we have giant natural areas like East End Park and the Creekwood Nature Center. They draw an exceptional amount of wildlife to one of the largest cities in America.
But passing that learning on to others requires education.
Connecting with Nature Through Photography
Ansel Adams once said, “If you want to preserve nature, inspire people with its beauty.” I’d take that a step further and add “…while they are young.”
Education and preservation are both crucial flood-mitigation strategies.
So, this morning, I gave a talk about bird photography to a class of young, aspiring photographers at the Creativity Shell in Kingwood.
Years ago before retirement, I built the building that now houses the Creativity Shell. It won national architectural awards for the way it integrated nature with business. I took many of the photos below on the property near Kingwood Park High School. The rest were taken in the surrounding area.
The photos underscore how preservation can bring beauty, contentment, excitement and joy to people who otherwise inhabit a densely populated urban environment. They help people see the subjects, not just as other species, but as individuals struggling to survive, thrive, and raise young of their own.
Photos of Area Wildlife
Two great egrets mirror each other as they preen their feathers.Painted bunting munches on tall-grass seed outside the front door of the Creativity ShellTwo proud parents watch the first of their chicks hatch out of its egg.Mallard on Lake HoustonA gathering of roseate spoonbills. The shape of their long bills lets them efficiently sift through muddy water in swampy areas where they can’t see food clearly. Mating display of great egret.Roseate spoonbill returning to nest.Great egret tilts its wings to slow down before landing on its nest.One species attempts to raid the nest of another and triggers a war.Another display of the great egret. The long, lacy plumes (aigrettes) are raised and displayed during courtship.One roseate spoonbill returns to the nest which the other was guarding.Red-tailed hawk was feasting on a possum outside Creativity ShellBig sticks like these are used to form the foundation of nests that will hold three to four chicks as they grow to adolescence.The vision of a hawk is significantly sharper than humans’. Some estimates suggest they have eight times more resolution. This lets them spot prey up to a mile away in some cases. Roseate spoonbill coming in for a landing.
And for something completely different…
Fawn born on the lawn of the Creativity Shell near the front door.
About the Creativity Shell
The Creativity Shell took over a building I constructed in the early 2000s for my business – Rehak Creative Services. The 20,000 SF facility is divided up into multiple open spaces designed to encourage interaction, sharing and creativity. Virtually every space in the building has a view of nature outside from at least three different angles.
Shelancia Daniel, M.Ed. and executive director, has turned it into a space for encouraging creativity among students of all ages. Offerings include classes/workshops for sewing, textile arts, fiber arts, art, drawing, painting, pottery, photography, media, cooking, culinary arts, knitting, S.T.R.E.A.M. (science, technology, reading, engineering, arts, math/media), and so much more.
More than 80 summer-camp students and teachers gathered outside the Creative Shell for a group photo this morning.
The Creativity Shell operates year round. It is a nonprofit organization on a mission to educate and inspire the next generation of makers. It was a privilege and a pleasure to see the light in their young eyes.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/16/25
2848 days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Slide6.jpeg?fit=1100%2C825&ssl=18251100adminadmin2025-06-16 15:39:412025-06-16 15:48:07In Praise of Education, Preservation as Flood-Mitigation Strategies
6/14/25 – In the NorthPark Drive expansion project last week, the traffic switch originally scheduled for 6/6 finally happened on 6/10. Since then, demolition of the old westbound lanes on Northpark between Loop 494 and US59 has begun.
In other Northpark news, contractors are laying rebar in preparation for a concrete pour between Public Storage and Quick Quack Car Wash.
And after an engineering review, Ralph De Leon, the Northpark project manager, says 100% of the water in the Enclave Detention Basin will go south toward the Kingwood Diversion Ditch and that it will not overflow into Northpark.
Finally, CenterPoint has removed an electrical pole that was in the way of boring underneath the UnionPacific Railroad tracks. Contractors have finished the receiving pit west of the tracks and have started boring for the second pipe that will go under the tracks. However, it appears there may be some utility conflicts in the receiving pit west of the tracks.
I took all the pictures below on Saturday, June 14, 2025.
Traffic Switch and Old Lane Demolition
The shot below shows how traffic was diverted from the old westbound lanes in the middle of the frame.
Looking E from in front of Exxon Station near US59. Note traffic swerving to left of the area where heavy equipment is perforating the old westbound lanes in preparation for their removal.
This close shot shows the actual perforations made by what looks like a hydraulic hammer (or giant punch) on the arm of an excavator.
Perforation of old concrete in preparation for removal.
After the old concrete is removed, new culverts will be placed underneath where it was. Then contractors will pour new concrete.
As you can see below, it looks like the perforation stretches halfway from Loop 494 to US59 as of Saturday 6/14/25. LHRA hopes to finish that work this coming week.
Looking East from over US59.
Getting Ready for Next Concrete Pour
Contractors have also finished placing rebar in new westbound lanes between the Quick Quack Car Wash and Public Storage.
Looking E toward Quick Quack from the Dunkin’ parking lot.Looking W from Dunkin’ driveway toward Public Storage.Wider shot looking W shows location of rebar in upper center (to left of traffic).New Enclave Subdivision within Kings Mill on right.
Enclave Detention Basin Controversy
In a previous post, I noted how construction plans for the Enclave showed its detention basin overflowing into Northpark during extreme rainfall events. That became a concern because one of the main goals for Northpark is to create an all-weather evacuation route for 78,000 people during high-water events.
Detail from Enclave construction plans obtained via FOIA request from Montgomery County Engineer’s Office.Highlight added.
Montgomery County Precinct 4’s Victoria Bryant said that she was convening a review of the plans by the two engineering companies involved (for Northpark Expansion and the Enclave), the Montgomery County Engineer’s Office and Houston Public Works. She has not yet communicated the outcome of that review.
Separately, the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10 conducted its own internal engineering review.
At the LHRA/TIRZ 10 board meeting on 6/12/25, Ralph De Leon, project manager for Northpark expansion stated that “It’s not going to overflow. 100% of the water goes south, ties into Kings Mill, and will go out (to) the Kingwood Diversion Ditch.”
Council Member Fred Flickinger added, “Now, obviously, all of it going into the Diversion Ditch creates another set of issues.”
It’s not clear yet whether the Montgomery County Engineer’s Office reached the same conclusion. No one has explained the reason for the notation on the plans yet.
Meanwhile, Enclave contractors have finished connecting storm sewer pipes to their detention basin.
Storm sewer pipe from Kings Mill now reaches the Enclave Detention Basin.
Bore Under Railroad Tracks
Side-by-side 5-foot steel pipes will carry stormwater under the UnionPacific Railroad tracks from the area west of Loop 494 to the east toward the Diversion Ditch by Flowers of Kingwood.
However, for years, a CenterPoint electricity pole blocked the path. CenterPoint finally removed it last week. That’s good news.
Looking west at start of twin 5-foot pipes that will carry stormwater under tracks.“Receiving pit” on far side of tracks.
Contractors have also apparently finished the receiving pit west of the tracks where the pipes will tie into a junction box under Loop 494 northbound lanes.
However, the “receiving pit” west of the tracks appears to have some utility conflicts of its own. See below.
Note one pipe under ladder and another cutting diagonally across receiving pit.LHRA notes indicate one is an abandoned water line.
Once UnionPacific approves a workaround, LHRA says crews will work 24 hours to finish the bores within two weeks.
As they say in construction, “it’s always something.”
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/14/25
2846 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250614-DJI_20250614153752_0194_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2025-06-14 20:53:272025-06-14 20:53:28Demolition of Old Westbound Lanes Begins on Northpark
6/13/25 – We had a decentralized system of disaster assistance for almost 200 years before FEMA.
But more than 60% of the U.S. population has never known life without FEMA. So my post about President Trump’s intention to dismantle the agency caused considerable fear and anxiety. This post may help reassure those people. While change is always difficult, it’s possible. We had a decentralized system before. And we are still here.
More than 100 Programs Before Consolidation under FEMA
Before President Carter formed FEMA in 1979, disaster relief was a collection of scattered, fragmented federal, state, and local relief efforts. More than 100 programs existed on the federal level alone across HUD, USDA, DOE and other departments. The situation was chaotic and duplicative.
However, a recent announcement by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and President Trump indicated that FEMA will be disbanded after this hurricane season. Its responsibilities for disaster response will return to the states, according to Trump.
It appears we are coming full circle. How did we get here? Below is a brief history of disaster relief efforts in the U.S. dating back to 1802.
Early Federal Involvement (1802-1930s)
The first legislative act of federal disaster relief in U.S. history followed a devastating fire in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in December 1802. The destruction of large areas of the city’s seaport threatened commerce in the newly founded United States. In 1803, the U.S. Congress provided relief to affected Portsmouth merchants by suspending bond payments for several months.
In 1900, the first federal government disaster mitigation effort was in Galveston. The government assisted local and state groups with building the seawall.
Up through the 1930s, federal support was ad hoc. Congress passed more than 128 one-off disaster relief bills—each tailored to a specific event. There was no overarching federal policy.
During the New Deal era in the 1930s, agencies such the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (1932) and the Bureau of Public Roads (1934) began offering loans and disaster-related rebuilding funds for public infrastructure. (But the 1953 RFC Liquidation Act terminated its lending powers in an effort to fulfill President Dwight Eisenhower’s vision of limiting government’s involvement in the economy.)
From Civil Defense to Disaster Relief (1940-1960s)
On September 30, 1950, Congress passed the Federal Disaster Relief Act. It let the federal government assist states during disasters, by empowering the President to declare a “major disaster” and provide limited federal assistance. The President retained this function in various incarnations until 1973. But, overall, federal efforts still remained highly fragmented.
On December 1, 1950, President Harry Truman created the Federal Civil Defense Administration (FCDA). It focused on nuclear threats, civil defense and disaster relief. Then in 1958, the FCDA merged into the Office of Defense and Civilian Mobilization.
In the 1960s, several major disasters drove change. Events like the Great Alaska Earthquake (1964) and Hurricanes Betsy (1965) and Camille (1969) spurred federal involvement.
The Flood Control Act of 1965 gave the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers greater authority to implement flood control projects.
The National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 created the NFIP to address flood risk via insurance.
Toward Coordination (1970s)
As stated above, by the early 1970s more than 100 programs addressed disaster response across numerous federal agencies.
In 1974, President Nixon signed the Disaster Relief Act. It standardized presidential disaster declarations and improved federal assistance.
During the Carter administration, momentum grew to consolidate scattered federal disaster and civil defense functions under one roof. An executive order formed FEMA on April 1, 1979.
Early FEMA Years (1979 – 1988)
FEMA quickly began coordinating disaster and civil defense efforts, managing the national flood insurance rollover, and responding to events like Love Canal and Three Mile Island.
The Robert T. Stafford Act in 1988 set the foundation for FEMA-led responses following federal declarations. It also encouraged state and local disaster planning.
Expansion and Reform (1990s – 2000)
The next two decades saw both expansion and reform for FEMA. The Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska in 1989 led to the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. This act specified federal response roles for oil-related disasters.
The Federal Response Plan in 1992 created an interagency framework for coordinated disaster response under the Stafford Act.
The Emergency Management Assistance Compact in 1996 enabled interstate mutual aid during disasters. It facilitated resource sharing when federal help wasn’t triggered.
In 2000, the Disaster Mitigation Act further amended the Stafford Act to emphasize preparedness and planning, including pre-disaster grants.
Post-9/11 and Modernization (2001–present)
After the 9/11 attacks in 2001, FEMA played a key role in emergency coordination, accelerating policy development. The Homeland Security Act of 2002 placed FEMA under DHS (effective 2003), integrating it into broader national security efforts .
The widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, led to the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006. It reestablished FEMA as a distinct agency within DHS, defined FEMA’s primary mission, and designated the FEMA Administrator as the principal advisor to the President, the Homeland Security Council, and the Secretary of Homeland Security for all matters relating to emergency management in the United States.
In 2008, a National Response Plan aligned response partners from government, NGOs, and the private sector.
Then in 2018, the Disaster Recovery Reform Act updated the Stafford Act again to bolster pre-disaster mitigation funding and resilience-building measures.
Key Takeaways
Emergency assistance is constantly evolving in the U.S.
Fragmented federal assistance endured until the 1970s Relief efforts were hampered by dozens of distinct agencies and programs—resolved only when FEMA centralized federal coordination.
Shift from response to resilience Over time, legislation and policy have increasingly emphasized preparedness and mitigation, not just post-disaster relief.
Partnership model Disaster response in the U.S. is a layered system where local → state → federal coordination is essential, supported by mutual aid compacts and NGOs.
Important to Texas
In reorganizing disaster assistance yet again, I hope that we can retain its best aspects. Disaster assistance is too important to just disappear. The chart below makes that clear. It shows the total amounts of assistance FEMA has offered Texas and other disaster-prone states/territories since its inception.
6/12/25 – As Harris County begins setting its budget for 2026, a number of events have underscored the County’s appalling lack of transparency that involve billions of dollars in spending. For example:
An empty transmittal to Commissioners Court by the Office of Management and Budget that should have communicated level-of-service projections for budget discussions.
County Attorney Christian Menefee’s automatic appeal of every Public Information Request made by investigative journalist Wayne Dolcefino to the Texas Attorney General’s office.
The County Engineer’s failure to detail where 2022 bond money is being spent.
Missed deadlines by the County Engineer and Flood Control District to account for subdivision drainage expenditures and 2018 Flood Bond project funds.
Projected $270 Million Shortfall and Tax Increase
The County has a mandatory deadline of September 30, 2025 to set its budget for the next fiscal year. And this year won’t be pleasant. According to the Houston Chronicle, the county now faces a $270 million deficit for next year, more than double earlier projections.
As Commissioners Court debates which program budgets can be reduced and which genuinely need increases, they are reportedly also exploring a possible tax-rate election. Such an election is required under Texas statutes if the county seeks to raise taxes above certain limits.
But there is an appalling lack of information available on current and projected budgets by departments. That information is necessary for citizens to evaluate whether a tax increase is justified and to participate in the process.
Example: A “transmittal” by the Office of Management and Budget on today’s Commissioners Court agenda was to have described updates to the FY2026 Level of Service Projections. See Item 300. But when you click on the link for more information, the linked document had absolutely NO details.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey questioned budget director Daniel Ramos about it. Ramos promised to have details for the next commissioners court meeting on 6/26/25. We’ve been hearing that since February. Regardless, the three Democratic commissioners voted to “accept” the empty transmittal. Judge Lina Hidalgo was absent.
Automatic Appeals of Public Information Requests
At an hour-long talk in Humble on June 9, 2025 to a group of concerned citizens, legendary investigative journalist Wayne Dolcefino described his problems prying information out of Harris County.
Wayne Dolcefino Presentation at Spring Creek BBQ on 6/9/2025
He stated that Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee (who is running for Congress while still acting as county attorney) systematically denies every request for public information that Dolcefino makes.
Dolcefino says that Menefee appeals them all to Attorney General Ken Paxton. That forces Dolcefino to appeal the appeals. And that draws out the process and increases his costs – some by thousands of dollars.
Many of his requests are ridiculously simple, i.e., for an invoice. In one of the cases where Dolcefino’s appeal succeeded, he says that Menefee’s office supplied him with an invoice for a million dollars that had absolutely no backup or detail. Yet the County paid it.
Dolcefino thanks Gallery Furniture owner Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale for helping to support his quest to shine light on the County’s cult of secrecy surrounding its financial operations.
Where is That 2022 Bond Money Going?
In November 2022, Harris County voters approved three bond propositions totaling $1.2 billion for public safety facilities, roads, drainage, transportation-related programs, parks, and trails.
Of the total amount, $100 million is designated for countywide public-safety investments. The remaining $1.1 billion will be allocated across the four Harris County precincts for transportation, parks, and trail projects.
But despite having spent $116.7 million dollars in the last three years, the county engineer provides absolutely no detail on what the transportation, parks, and trails money has bought.
No Requested Update on Flood Bond/Subdivision Drainage Expenditures in 126 days
On February 6, Commissioners Court erupted into a rare display of bipartisan outrage when it became clear that the County didn’t have enough money to deliver flood-mitigation projects promised long ago. The shortfalls had to do with the 2018 Flood Bond and Subdivision Drainage programs.
One hundred and twenty-six days later, commissioners are still waiting for a simple report that details:
Sources of funding
Status of each project
Expected time to completion
How cost has changed over time
Whether there was a change in scope
The 2018 Flood Bond contained 181 projects totaling $5.2 billion. A 27.5% compound rate of inflation since 2018 has undermined a sizable, but undetermined chunk of the program’s purchasing power.
Commissioners worry whether enough money remains to complete priority projects in their precincts.
Transparency Needed for Accountability
In the last two years under Lina Hidalgo, Harris County has spent more than $5 billion dollars of your tax money. But no one can tell you, or at least will tell you, where that money has gone.
And yet the County wants more of your money. Some may be going to worthwhile programs. But until Harris County supplies more details, it will be hard to tell. We need transparency to hold elected officials accountable.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/12/25
2844 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250609-DSC_2471-2.jpg?fit=1100%2C733&ssl=17331100adminadmin2025-06-12 18:18:352025-06-12 20:42:01Harris County’s Appalling Lack of Transparency
6/11/2025 – President Donald Trump has provided the most specific timeline yet for his plans to eliminate FEMA. He says he will phase out the agency after this hurricane season ends on November 30. According to news reports on CNN and ABC, Trump says he will shift responsibility for disaster relief onto states.
Some Funding for States May Remain Available
However, that does not necessarily mean that ALL funding provided by FEMA will go away. Trump says his office will distribute aid directly to states. But he also reportedly said after an Oval Office briefing that there will be less federal aid.
For months, Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whose department oversees FEMA, have vowed to eliminate the agency, repeatedly criticizing it as ineffective and unnecessary. Noem reiterated those plans Tuesday in the Oval Office, saying FEMA “fundamentally needs to go away as it exists.”
Noem didn’t have much good to say about the agency she oversees. According to ABC, she reportedly said, “We all know FEMA has failed thousands, if not millions of people.” She obviously never lived in a FEMA trailer after her home was swept away by floodwaters.
Are States Prepared to Take Over FEMA’s Role?
No one thinks FEMA is perfect. The most frequent criticism: that it takes too long for aid to reach the people who need it when they need it most.
According to CNN, Trump’s exact long-term plans for the federal government’s role in disaster response remain unclear. But the administration is seeking ways to make it far more difficult to qualify for federal aid and have state’s handle the job.
However, plans to eliminate FEMA have reportedly baffled state emergency managers. Many doubt localized efforts could replace the agency. Most states, they said, do not have the budget or personnel to handle catastrophic disasters on their own, even if the federal government provides a financial backstop.
The Atlantic said that’s Trump’s statements suggest that “he does not understand that states already do lead disaster response; they just can’t do it without an infusion of FEMA dollars and expertise when the disaster is too big.” They concluded, “The buck has been passed.”
I’m personally waiting to hear how duplicating FEMA capabilities in 50 states and then putting them on standby between less frequent emergencies will improve efficiency.
What Will Happen When a Disaster Overwhelms a State?
The 62-page, well written report contains 17 common-sense recommendations to fix FEMA and other government disaster aid programs, not eliminate them. The recommendations focus on how to speed up the delivery of aid an eliminate red tape.
As I read the report, I had an eerie sense of deja vu. I kept flashing back to the problems Texas encountered after Hurricane Harvey – problems we still battle almost eight years later.
Edwards puts the scope of North Carolina’s disaster in perspective. He says, “In American history, only eight hurricanes have reached the $50 billion damage threshold across the area of impact. For Hurricane Helene, North Carolina has calculated at least $59.6 billion in damage in North Carolina alone, not include the six other states of impact.”
Helene, to cite a few examples:
Wiped out 18% of one North Carolina county’s housing stock
Forced 1300 companies in another county out of business
Caused a 70% decline in yet another county’s tourist economy
Damaged 152 bridges
Destroyed 4 miles of Interstate 40 and caused detours costing local businesses as much as $60,000 per month
“The tragic reality is that Western North Carolina is at risk of going bankrupt.”
Rep. Chuck Edwards, North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District, Page 38
Among Edwards’ 17 recommendations, he includes these:
Eliminate or consolidate duplicative programs and processes between agencies
Modernize FEMA’s outdated IT systems
Simplify processes for disaster survivors
Edwards’ report is highly recommended reading.
It seems to me that reforming disaster relief may be a better alternative than handing it off to states, such as North Carolina, that may find themselves unable to cope with disasters as large as Helene.
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/2025/06/I-40_Helene_2.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=17681024adminadmin2025-06-11 16:51:492025-06-11 16:56:34Trump Plans to Eliminate FEMA after 2025 Hurricane Season
