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Harris County Commissioners Will Consider New HCFCD Head Thursday

6/22/2026 – On Thursday, 6/25/26, Harris County Commissioners will consider appointing Marcus Stuckett to replace Dr. Tina Petersen as the new head of Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD). Petersen resigned under pressure after the last Commissioners Court meeting on 6/11/2026. Slow project delivery during her tenure threatened the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding.

Commissioners Court 3.27.25 — *File photo of Harris County Commissioners Court. Agenda item for next Thursday is #137.*

The question facing Stuckett is whether he can quickly restore the momentum that HCFCD had when he previously worked there as Director of Engineering.

Stuckett’s Background

Stuckett is a professional civil engineer and Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) who has spent much of his career working on flood mitigation projects in the Houston region.

He joined HCFCD in 2015 and worked his way up through the organization. As Director of Engineering he oversaw planning, design, and implementation of flood-risk-reduction projects throughout Harris County.
Before and after his time at HCFCD, he worked in the private engineering sector and has roughly two decades of experience in stormwater, drainage, and flood-control engineering.
He has represented HCFCD in regional flood-planning efforts, including nomination to the San Jacinto Regional Flood Planning Group in 2021.
He was the public face for several major flood-control initiatives, including projects on South Mayde Creek and other watershed improvement efforts.

Stuckett is not a newcomer. He is thoroughly versed in engineering and planning discussions regarding detention, channel conveyance, floodplain management, and implementation of the 2018 flood-bond projects.

The context surrounding his nomination is significant. He would take over amid concerns that some federal funding could be jeopardized if spending deadlines are missed. Those issues contributed to Petersen’s departure and will likely be among the first challenges facing the new director.

The big question surrounding Stuckett: Can he speed up procurement and project delivery to improve compliance with Federal grant requirements?

What Distinguishes Stuckett?

Stuckett comes directly from the engineering side of flood control. He spent years inside HCFCD managing project development and engineering delivery. People familiar with Stuckett point to strong qualifications for the job at hand:

Greater emphasis on project execution and delivery – He reportedly has a greater sense of urgency than the leader he may replace and is more confident in his decision making.
Strong institutional knowledge – He has been involved in HCFCD projects for more than a decade and understands the agency’s internal processes and technical staff. Same for the county.
No learning curve – Unlike an outside hire, he already knows the flood-bond program, federal grant requirements, watershed studies, and ongoing capital projects.
Potential return to an engineering-led culture – Stuckett worked under Petersen’s predecessors who placed more emphasis than she on technical decision-making (as opposed to political decision-making) and project delivery.

Issues to Watch

Stuckett’s potential return on Thursday suggests Commissioners Court may now be placing a premium on technical expertise and institutional experience at a time when project delivery and federal funding compliance are under intense scrutiny.

The key question is not whether Stuckett understands flood-control engineering; he clearly does. The more important question is whether he can convert that expertise into faster delivery of major projects while navigating the political and funding challenges that have recently affected HCFCD.

Votes of Confidence from Former Co-Workers

For this post, I spoke with several engineers and managers who previously worked with Stuckett in various capacities. They unanimously sang his praises.

One of the strongest recommendations came from Eric Heppen, head engineer for Harris County Precinct 3. He worked with Stuckett for more than a decade and said “I have zero doubts about Marcus being able to do this.”

Heppen explained. “When Marcus started with flood control, he started as a coordinator between Flood Control’s Capital-Improvement-Project Department and Harris County Engineering to make sure that everything that the two offices did was properly coordinated.”

“After that,” said Heppen, “Stuckett worked his way up through watershed management into engineering and through the leadership ranks. He did a fantastic job and has been able to handle everything that we/I have ever thrown at him. He has a great handle on what it takes to get capital projects moving.”

Heppen described Stuckett’s management style. “It’s always ‘Let’s sit down. We’ll take an hour. We’ll sort through it. And we’ll move on.’ Stuckett doesn’t take six months to make a decision. It’s, ‘Let’s make the best possible decision today based on the facts. Then we’ll verify that it works. If we need to pivot, we’ll pivot. But let’s figure out what the ‘Decision-One’ point is today.’”

Posted by Bob Rehak

3219 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.

Sand-Mine Breach Triggers Erosion Threatening Widow’s Home

Kelly Callahan is a retired widow who loves fishing, kayaking and living near nature. That’s why she bought a home near the San Jacinto West Fork. Callahan accepted the flood risk. However, she didn’t expect that the man who bought the sand mine behind her wooded lot would partially drain the dredge pond into the river. Where a small creek flows across part of her property, the sudden drop in the pond’s elevation triggered what geomorphologists call “headcut erosion.”

About Headcut Erosion

Headcut erosion happens where flowing water reaches an abrupt, near-vertical drop. The falling water scours the base, causing the overhanging soil and plant roots to collapse. That forces the “waterfall” to rapidly migrate upstream. In Kelly’s case, it could soon threaten her home. Instead of fixing the sand-pit dike, the mine’s new owner has offered to buy the widow’s land for below-market value. I talked with her at length about her situation and options. But first, some pictures that illustrate what happened.

*#1: Satellite image as of 12/23* *with full sand-pit pond* *behind Callahan’s home.*

*#2: January 2026. The breach is now real and level of pond has dropped precipitously.*

*#3 Breach is virtually twice as tall as man.* *Note excavator that created breach in upper left.*

*#4: Meanwhile, the ephemeral creek flowing across Callahan’s land has downcut to the new level of the pond.*

#5: 12-second video from inside the treeline shows attempt to slow erosion by owner of former mine. Recent heavy rains blew out the tarp and erosion continues.

Impact on Widow

Rehak: You investigated this property pretty thoroughly before buying it.

Callahan: Yes, I even talked to the sand-mine foreman. Never on God’s green earth did I think that somebody would purchase it and then lower the pond and cause all of this damage.

Rehak: What did the new owner do?

Callahan: He hired someone to cut through the dike surrounding the mine. He said it was to prevent flooding the homeowners on our street. But the dike completely blew out and 10-20 feet of water from the pond went downstream with a tremendous amount of sand.

*Breach still not repaired as of 6/20/26*

Rehak: You were dealing with some medical issues at the time?

Callahan: I had horrible sciatica and could barely walk. So, I couldn’t see what was going on back there until recently.

Rehak: What happened when he saw all the damage he caused?

Callahan: He started coming to me and saying “It’s eroding back there. You need to get some fill and fix it.

Rehak: Did you?

Callahan: No. He caused the problem.

Rehak: What happened the other day when you got 4.5 inches of rain in a few hours?

*Callahan’s home in foreground. Note creek, bottom left, flowing toward pond near top.*

Callahan: He showed up unannounced and trudged back to his pond. When he came back, he said, “Kelly, we got a $100,000 problem now. You didn’t put any fill back there.” I said, “That’s a band-aid and I’m not going to do it. It’s just going to erode again.”

Rehak: What did he say to that?

Kelly Callahan Property eroding from former Hanson Pit — *Kelly Callahan looking wistfully toward erosion on back of her property*.

Callahan: He said, “As far as I can tell, in two and a half years, it’s going to be all the way up to your house.” (At this point, Callahan breaks down into tears.) “It’s already travelled over a hundred feet. My guess is that it’s already 20% of the way to your house.” And again he asked, “Did you ever get someone with heavy equipment to come out and give you a quote?”

*Note how far erosion has cut into her back yard.*

Rehak: You talked to Montgomery County Engineering instead.

Callahan: Right. Every department I talked to advised me why I shouldn’t. Had I been band-aiding this, I would have been fined by the MoCo permitting office. They were requiring me to hire an engineer and get a permit. The new owner of the former mine has the same problems.

Rehak: It doesn’t sound like you’re responsible for this. Headcut erosion happens when there’s an abrupt drop in a stream bed. That happened when the mine owner cut through the berm and lowered his pond. He created a miniature waterfall migrating upstream. That’s why they call it headcut.

Callahan: My son thinks he’s just trying to get my property on the cheap.

Rehak: Where do you go from here?

Callahan: I don’t want to move back to the suburbs. After being out here, you can’t really go back to that. I cry every day. It breaks my heart.

*Callahan kayaking on the creek in her own backyard during happier times.*

Posted By Bob Rehak on 6/21/26

3218 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.

Economic Benefits of Healthy Watersheds

6/20/26 – The EPA has published a nationwide study of studies focused on quantifying the economic benefits of healthy watersheds. This 9-page PDF provides a high-level introduction to the EPA’s Healthy Watersheds Program.

The fact sheet also provides dozens of timely examples that support preserving 5,300 acres west of Kingwood instead of developing it.

The studies fall into six categories:

Lower water treatment costs
Reduced costs associated with flood protection and other natural hazards
Improving food supply through hunting and fishing
Promoting recreation and tourism
Quality of life and health benefits
Increased property values

Nationwide Scope, Wide Variety of Metrics

Scientists from Alaska to Florida and New England to Hawaii conducted the 35 studies cited in the fact sheet. They used a wide variety of metrics to estimate economic benefits. See several examples below.

In Iowa, riparian buffers for agricultural land reduced water treatment costs in the Raccoon River watershed by $2.63 million annually.

In Maine, forest conservation efforts contributed to such exceptional water quality in the Sebago Lake watershed that Portland Water District has avoided the need for a $150 million water treatment plant. They report a payback of $4.80 to $8.90 per dollar invested.

New York City saved an estimated $8-10 billion in costs to build a water treatment facility by preserving 140,000 acres of forests in the watershed that supplies residents with drinking water.

In Tampa, mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrasses provide flood-protection benefits valued at $31 million per year by preventing property damage from 100-year floods.

28,000 protected acres of greenway along the Meramec River reduce flood damage by an average of $31 million annually for residents downstream by promoting infiltration and reducing runoff rates.

In Middlebury, Vermont, protected wetlands and floodplains reduce flood damage to homes and businesses by an average of 54-78% per flood event by storing and slowly releasing floodwaters.

These studies are consistent with other studies I have reported. For instance, proximity to parks can increase home values by up to 20%. The parks also provide flood-reduction benefits.

Timely Lessons for Proposed Scarborough Development

The EPA publication provides timely lessons for the entire Lake Houston/Southern Montgomery County Area. A Dallas-based company named Scarborough has proposed developing 5,300 acres in floodplains and floodways west of Kingwood.

According to hydrologists, if Scarborough develops the land, it would be like “aiming a firehose at Humble and Kingwood.” But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Floodplains Streams from Ryko Drainage Study

You can help preserve this land, improve water quality in Lake Houston, reduce flooding, increase home values and provide healthy recreational opportunities.

If you haven’t already signed the petition at Change.org to block development of this floodplain property, please do so now. We’re closing in on 10,000 signatures. Both the Houston City Council and Harris County Commissioners Court have unanimously passed resolutions against developing the land.

Please help. Join thousands of your neighbors. Sign the petition now.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/20/2026

3217 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.

Study Documents Link Between Wetland Loss, Downstream Flood Damage

6/18/2026 – A new study published in the journal “Nature Water” on June 1, 2026 shows that wetland conservation is a potentially effective but undervalued strategy in managing growing flood risk. The authors, Jesse D. Gourevitch,
Adam C. Gold & Helena M. Garcia found a statistical link between wetland loss and rising flood insurance claims since 1985.

Economic Value of Wetlands in Reducing Flood Losses

The estimated increase in flood insurance claims due to wetland loss totals $10.1 billion.

That’s equal to about 9% of insured riverine flood losses. And according to a blog post by the authors in the Environmental Defense Fund website, “The highest added costs were concentrated in the Houston metropolitan area, southeastern Louisiana, and coastal Florida.”

Scarborough Wetlands — Scarborough wetlands between Spring Creek and San Jacinto West Fork, west of Kingwood. The study estimates that each acre of Scarborough wetlands reduces downstream flood losses by approximately $90,000.

The authors say that because the National Flood Insurance Program, or NFIP, covers only a fraction of total flood losses to homes, the full costs of wetland loss are likely even higher.

These numbers help quantify a value of land-use decisions for policy makers.

*USGS shows hundreds of acres of wetlands on the Scarborough property between the West Fork and Spring Creek like those shown in the photograph above.*

To help protect these wetlands and your home, please sign this petition on Change.org.

Other Savings Due to Wetlands

The authors caution that their study measures only one part of wetlands’ value: reducing insured riverine flood losses to residential properties.

However, they point out that wetlands also provide many other benefits. They include improving water quality, storing carbon, supporting wildlife habitat and creating recreational opportunities.

The study did not include many other categories of flood damage, such as losses to commercial or government property, business interruption, uninsured losses or flooding from coastal storm surge, etc. So, while the core estimate is significant, it is also conservative.

Local Interactive Map

The study also provides an interactive map that shows the value of wetlands in particular watersheds in terms of reducing downstream flood losses.

*An acre of wetlands in the Bens Branch watershed, for instance, reduces downstream flood losses by $146,756 per acre.*

To see where the wetlands are near you, visit the USGS National Wetlands Mapper.

Royal Shores wetlands — *Many of the remaining undeveloped tracts in the Lake Houston Area are flush with wetlands.*

Under- and Unvalued Assets

Adam Gold, senior manager of coasts and watersheds science at EDF and co-author of the study, said, “Wetlands act like natural sponges during heavy rain, storing floodwater and slowing runoff before it moves downstream. Yet wetlands continue to disappear, in part because the value of the services they provide is often overlooked. Our analysis helps fill that information gap.”

Gold concludes his article by saying, “Wetlands are not just open space waiting to be developed. They are part of the infrastructure that helps reduce flood damage. And when they disappear, households and communities bear the burden, and the costs, every time a storm hits.”

Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/18/2026

3215 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.

Ramsey Addresses Kingwood Group as Tropical Storm Forms Offshore

6/17/26 – Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey PE addressed the Kingwood Executive Group this morning about flooding and infrastructure as the season’s first tropical storm formed less than a hundred miles away from Houston. Local business owners comprise the group. Many had flooded badly during Hurricane Harvey.

They came eager to learn more about the status of flood-mitigation efforts in the area, turmoil at the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD), and a new, 5,300-acre proposed floodplain development just upstream from Kingwood. And true to form, Ramsey addressed each issue head on. But first…

Tropical Storm Arthur

Ironically, just as Tropical Storm Arthur formed, the rain started to end in the Lake Houston Area. That’s because of the lopsided nature of Arthur. See the infrared water-vapor satellite image below. Most of the rain is falling offshore and to the east of Galveston Bay.

*Image from National Hurricane Center posted at 10:31 AM CDT.*

NHC expects Arthur to dump torrential rains on East Texas and Louisiana as it moves inland – up to 20 inches in places. Freeport received 9 inches this morning. However, totals dropped off farther inland with much of SE Harris County receiving only 2-4 inches. My rain gage in Kingwood recorded less than a half inch between midnight and 11 AM.

*Arthur has affected primarily coastal counties as it tracked NE parallel to the coast. It should make landfall near High Island late this afternoon or early this evening.*

Arthur formed a timely and ironic backdrop for a speech about flooding to many whose homes and businesses flooded severely.

Ramsey’s Priorities

Ramsey began his talk to the Executive Group with a story about his focus compared to others on Commissioners Court. “My job is to, number one, take care of infrastructure,” he said. “That’s what I get most of my calls on. Most people don’t call me about my policies. They call me on, ‘When are you going to fix something?’ My colleagues, on the other hand, are focused more on social programs.”

*Ramsey puzzling over the budget priorities of some other commissioners*

Replacement of HCFCD Director

Ramsey then segued to the resignation of HCFCD Executive Director Dr. Tina Petersen last week. “It may have been some concern to people, but it was a necessary thing if we’re going to do what we need to get done.”

He then added, “We will appoint a new director next week. And it will be an engineer, not a politician. An engineer who can deliver projects, not hold press conferences and tell you what you want to hear. It will be someone that actually understands what it takes to get projects delivered.”

Flood Bond Update

After emphasizing the need to speed up project delivery, Ramsey gave a brief update on the 2018 Flood Bond. The $2.5 billion approved by voters attracted another $2.7 billion in matching funds for a total of $5.2 billion available. But the county has only spent about $1.5 billion of that since 2018.

“So, we have a lot to do,” said Ramsey. “Probably another $3+ billion in the next four years. You better have someone who understands construction, who can deal with the things that happen during construction. My concern is that the easiest part is done. Design work is the easy part. Go actually build $3.5 billion worth of improvements! That’s a huge deal.”

Kingwood Flood-Mitigation Projects

Ramsey noted that the Taylor Gully/Woodridge project has started construction, but that the Kingwood Diversion Ditch project is still being studied. He wants to put the pedal to the metal on that one too. HCFCD spent 4 years doing a preliminary engineering review on the Diversion Ditch that was supposed to have taken 300 days. The latest Flood Bond Update shows the project may start construction in 2030, after HCFCD completes another study.

“You must have other projects queued up ready for construction,” Ramsey said. “I don’t know that we have all the money lined out for that construction, but you have to get the design work done. I’d rather have a whole lot of projects sitting on the shelf ready to build, than sit around and wait for someone to decide for us what the priorities are.”

Scarborough Floodplain Development

Ramsey next addressed the proposed 5,300-acre development north of Harris County in the floodplain at the confluence of the West Fork of the San Jacinto River and Spring Creek. He called it “A really bad idea.”

“Some ill-advised folks are trying to do some development there.” Ramsey suggested instead that the area should become a park. “What a great park that 5,000 acres would make for this entire area. What a great location for significant flood mitigation for the entire county!”

He emphasized that every drop of rain falling north and west of the confluence funnels past Kingwood. “Sometimes we lose sight of that,” he said.

More than 7,500 flood-weary residents from surrounding areas have signed a petition against the development.

Lake Houston Dam Gates Funding, Other Issues

Ramsey spent much of the rest of his time discussing a series of related issues, their connections, and finding funding for them.

In regard to adding more floodgates to the Lake Houston Dam, he noted potential significant cost escalation. That led to a discussion of partnership funding, surplus toll-road income, and using money for pressing state-mandated obligations versus other issues that have no constitutional mandate.

Before becoming commissioner in 2020, Ramsey began his engineering career 50 years ago designing drainage systems in the Porter/New Caney area. So, he is thoroughly versed on infrastructure issues in the Lake Houston Area and is fighting to make us safer.

The timing of his talk as Arthur was forming in the Gulf provided an irony worthy of a Hollywood movie!

Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/17/2026

3214 Days since Hurricane Harvey

Tropical Storm Chances Increasing

6/16/2026 (updated throughout day) – At 10AM EDT today, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued Potential Tropical Cyclone Advisory #1 for the 2026 hurricane season. At 4PM, NHC predicted the center of a tropical storm would pass Galveston around mid-day on Wednesday, 6/17/26.

Infrared satellite images show a wide band of deep tropical moisture building parallel to the coast.

*Infrared satellite image from NOAA as of 8:11 AM 6/16/26*

According to Jeff Lindner, Harris County’s meteorologist, while the chances of tropical storm formation are increasing, if one does form it will likely be weak and short lived.

However, the potential for very heavy rainfall and flash flooding remains. The National Weather Service predicts a moderate risk of excessive rainfall and flash flooding today and Wednesday.

Guidance for the track of of any tropical storm that may develop remains uncertain due to the weak and broad structure of the system.

Today

Models predict thunderstorms will produce heavy rainfall near the coast and spread inland through the midday hours. How far inland remains in question, but areas south of I-10 look to have the best chances for heavy rainfall and flash flooding through the morning hours. Activity will likely decrease into the mid to late afternoon hours similar to yesterday.

*KHGX Composite Reflectivity image from RadarScope Pro as of 8:41 AM 6/16/26*. *That storm over Conroe dumped 3.9 inches, and* *2.9 inches at the Lake Conroe Dam in a few hours thi*s morning.

Wednesday-Thursday

According to NHC, a tropical system will move ENE/NE parallel to the coast. And according to Lindner, a track near the coast or just offshore would focus the heavier rainfall south of I-10 on Wednesday and Thursday. Meanwhile, a track further inland would bring the threat for heavy rainfall into at least the I-10 corridor.

Rainfall Predictions

Lindner forecasts widespread rainfall amounts of 2-5 inches along and south of I-10 with isolated totals of 6-10 inches through early Wednesday.

Hourly rainfall rates of 2-5 inches will remain likely with the heavier storms. He believes this will lead to rapid onset flash flooding.

North of I-10 rainfall amounts of 1-3 inches are most likely through today. However, grounds are saturated and any rainfall will convert to runoff quickly.

*Excessive rainfall outlook for Wednesday 6/17/26 from NWS*

River and Stream Forecast

Recent rains have caused rises on rivers. Lindner says that additional rainfall during the next 48 hours will potentially bring some watersheds to flood stage by late week. Most creeks and bayous across Harris County are doing well as of this evening with the exception of areas in NW Harris County up to the Woodlands. But intense rainfall rates tomorrow could result in significant and rapid rises.

*Channel status as of 7PM 6/16/26 as shown on Harris County Flood Warning System* https://www.harriscountyfws.org

At 6 PM Lake Houston was at 42.68 feet and releasing water near maximum capacity.

Lake Conroe is still at 201.23 feet and releasing only about 500 CFS.

Tides

Vacationers should watch coastal tides and rip currents. They will increase today into Wednesday as the tropical system moves into the Houston area. Current forecasts keep water levels 1-2 feet above normal (3-4 feet above barnacle level). Minor coastal flooding remains possible during high tide into Wednesday.

Winds

Winds will increase across the coastal waters and coastal counties today into Wednesday. Expect widespread 20-30 mph and gusts to 40 mph as seas build. Marine conditions will become hazardous as the coastal tropical system moves across the region.

Stay Weather Alert

For the latest information in fast changing situations such as this, consult the National Weather Service, National Hurricane Center and Harris County Flood Warning System. Stay alert and be prepared.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/16/2026

3213 Days since Harvey

Update: Taylor Gully-Woodridge Progress, Contract

6/15/26 – The Taylor Gully-Woodridge Project in Kingwood is now in construction. That’s good news for the hundreds of families who flooded repeatedly, largely due upstream clearcutting for construction.

How Long Will Construction Take and Other Questions

Many have asked me how long the project will take, so I submitted a FOIA request for the contract documents.

The short answer: December 2027 … if all goes according to plan.

Harris County Commissioners approved Brice Construction and Design LLC’s $29.4 million contract in their March 31, 2026, meeting. The contractor has 552 calendar days with another 64 days for inclement weather. That’s 616 days total. From the start of the contract, that would put completion in December 2027. So, we’ll have to go through two hurricane seasons before we see promised flood-risk reductions.

Readers have also asked about the scope of the project, where they will start, and how the contractors are progressing.

Scope of Contract

The contract has two large components:

Widening and deepening approximately two miles of Taylor Gully.
Building a 421.6 acre-foot detention basin on the Woodridge Village property.

The County bought Woodridge from Perry Homes in 2021. Part of it was already excavated under a previous “Excavation and Removal” (E&R) contract with Sprint Sand & Clay. Under an E&R contract, HCFCD gives a contractor the right to remove dirt from an area where a detention basin will go for only a $1000. The contractor then makes a profit by selling the dirt for beneficial uses on the open market.

For the detention basin, the current contractor must:

Excavate an additional 1,002,639 cubic yards of material
Create a wet-bottom basin with 30-65 foot wide berms and backslope swales
Construct a limestone aggregate maintenance access ramp
Build a 30-foot wide bottom shelf
Establish a 52-foot wide vegetative shelf for wetlands planting
Construct a wet pool 6 feet deep
Connect the basin with inflow/outflow culverts to the existing basin at the east end of Woodridge.

*Basin Plan for Woodridge Village Portion of Project*

For the channel conveyance improvements, the contractor must:

Lower the existing flow line of the channel by 4 feet by excavating 54,085 cubic yards
Install 10,306 linear feet of a 20’x4′ concrete low flow channel

Proposed Low-flow channel in Taylor Gully — *Adopted alternative for concrete-lined low-flow channel.*

The contractor must also build a:

Concrete maintenance access ramp
156-foot-long drop structure at the downstream end of the project
New clear-span bridge at Rustling Elms to replace the culverts which back water up during floods.

*Compartment 2 will be considered in future. It is not part of this project.*

Where They will Start

The contract documents contain a Q&A section with questions submitted by bidders buried in approximately 600 pages.

At least one bidder (we don’t know who) expressed reservations about completing a project of this size in 616 days. HCFCD responded that it expected the contractor to work on both parts of the project simultaneously. See below.

*Screen capture from Q&A Per Addendum No. 1 to contract*

…But Work to Date Has Focused Only on Detention Basin

Regardless, in the first 2.5 months, Brice has focused only on the detention basin.

It took Brice several weeks to mobilize for the job. After being awarded the contract at the end of March, 2026, I first noticed activity on the site around mid-May. That’s when the contractor started breaking up old storm sewer pipe on the site.

Brice then started moving dirt by the first week in June. To see how much work Brice has completed to date, compare the first two photos below.

Woodridge village excavation at end of October 2023 — *How Woodridge* *looked* *before Brice started.*

*How same area looked around 2 PM on Friday 6/12/26.*

Brice appears to have:

Cleaned up the site
Broken up pipe, which they will likely use later
Knocked down some trees at the far end of the project area
Smoothed out the western edge of the pond
Piled the dirt onsite rather than hauling it away now.

See below.

*Reverse angle shot, also taken around 2 PM on 6/12/26*

Meanwhile I saw no work on the Taylor Gully portion of the project.

*Taylor Gully. Looking at the old Rustling Elms culvert bridge in the foreground and the West Lake Houston Parkway Bridge by the water tower at the top of frame.*

Taylor Gully End of Project in Center by Concrete — Taylor Gully Project ends at concrete in center of image between Mills Branch (under camera) and Maple Bend (far bridge). I spotted no construction equipment anywhere along the entire length of the channel.

Contract Documents

If you have other questions, consult the contract documents below. HCFCD sent me all the components of Brice’s contract in a file too large to post. So, I split the file up into the sections below for your convenience.

Note: As I post this, FEMA has the Lake Houston Area under a flash flood watch with another 8-12 inches of rainfall possible by Wednesday.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/15/2026

3213 Days since Hurricane Harvey

Flash Flood Watch: Extreme Rainfall Possible Thru Wednesday Morning

6/14/2026 – The entire Houston region is under a flash flood watch until Wednesday morning, 6/17/26, according to Jeff Lindner, Harris County’s Meteorologist.

Weak tropical circulation from northeastern Mexico is lifting northward into south Texas on Monday and Tuesday while a weak front from the north stalls over our area.

Deep tropical moisture colliding with the front will create intense downpours at times. “Widespread rainfall amounts of 2-5 inches will be possible with isolated totals of 6-8 inches and this may need to be increased,” says Lindner. “Some models suggest upwards of 9-11 inches of rainfall in isolated locations by Tuesday morning.”

Lindner warns people not to try to figure out the exact locations for the heaviest rain, but instead to focus on the overall potential.

The models are increasingly signaling heavy rains and flash flooding. “This sort of setup in a tropical air mass can result in rapid onset flash flooding with significant hourly rainfall rates and totals,” he says. So, stay tuned to forecasts before you venture out.

What is Flash Flooding?

Flooding is often categorized by how quickly it develops, what causes it, and how long it lasts. The key distinction is that flash flooding happens very rapidly, often with little or no warning.

It begins within minutes to a few hours after intense rainfall, a dam failure, or another sudden water release.

Key characteristics include:

Develops in less than 6 hours, often in 30 minutes to 3 hours.
Usually caused by very intense rainfall over a small area.
Water rises rapidly and can move at high velocities.
Often occurs in:
- Urban areas with lots of pavement
- Small watersheds
- Gullies, and normally dry channels

Don’t drive into water where you can’t see the road. Turn around don’t drown.

Why It’s Dangerous

Flash flooding can happen with little warning time. Fast-moving water can sweep away vehicles and people. It accounts for a large share of flood-related deaths.

We’ve had several recent examples in Houston. During parts of the 2015 Memorial Day Flood and 2016 Tax Day Flood, some bayous and streets flooded within hours of intense rainfall, producing flash-flood conditions.

Other Types of Flooding

Hydrologists distinguish flash flooding from several other types of flooding. Houstonians should know the differences, so they can better understand weather warnings.

River (Fluvial) Flooding
- Caused when rivers, creeks, or bayous exceed their banks. It:
  - Develops over hours, days, or even weeks.
  - Usually results from rainfall over a large watershed.
  - Often more predictable than flash flooding.
  - Can last days or weeks.
- Example: Hurricane Harvey when rivers carried enormous volumes of water downstream
Urban Flooding
- Occurs when rainfall overwhelms storm drains, roadside ditches, and local drainage systems.
- Common in highly developed areas.
  - Can occur even when nearby rivers stay within their banks.
  - Often accompanies flash flooding.
  - Water collects in streets, underpasses, and low spots.
- Many Houston-area street floods are urban flooding events rather than river floods.
Coastal Flooding
- Caused by seawater moving onto normally dry land from:
  - Storm surge from hurricanes
  - High tides
  - Sea-level rise
- Most common near bays and coastlines.
- Saltwater flooding can damage infrastructure and ecosystems.
- Example: Coastal and bay areas during Hurricane Ike.
Pluvial Flooding
- Occurs directly from rainfall accumulating on the ground before it reaches a stream or drainage system
  - Can occur far from rivers.
  - Happens when rainfall exceeds infiltration and drainage capacity.
  - Frequently overlaps with urban flooding.
- Example: A subdivision may flood because rainwater ponds in streets and yards even though no nearby creek overflows.
Backwater Flooding
- Caused when high water downstream slows drainage upstream.
  - Common in flat areas with low gradients.
  - Water “backs up” into tributaries, ditches, and neighborhoods.
  - Often worsens flooding duration
- Examples: Lower reaches of Spring Creek, Cypress Creek, and portions of the San Jacinto River can experience backwater effects because of the region’s very low slope and interactions with Lake Houston.

Lake and Other Reports

As of 4PM on Sunday 6/14/26, Lake Conroe is not pre-releasing any water.

For updates see the homepage at SJRA.net.

Lake Houston is pre-releasing only a small amount.

For Lake Houston updates, visit https://www.coastalwaterauthority.org.

For tropical updates, visit the National Hurricane Center at https://www.nhc.noaa.gov.

Be on high alert until the flash flood watch expires. Check weather forecasts frequently.

To see how rainfall accumulations affect rivers, streams and channels around you, check the Harris County Flood Warning System at https://www.harriscountyfws.org. When you visit the home page, you can see rainfall accumulations around the region. Click on “Channels” in the upper left to see the status of streams, rivers, and bayous near you.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/14/26

3211 Days since Hurricane Harvey

2018-Flood-Bond Update Illustrates Concerns of GLO, Lake Houston Area

6/12/26 – Dr. Tina Petersen’s final 2018-Flood-Bond update shows why she was under so much pressure to resign. Yesterday’s Commissioners Court agenda listed it as a “transmittal,” but it wasn’t transmitted. Nor was it posted on Harris County Flood Control District’s website as of this writing.

However, I have since obtained a copy of the 25-page spreadsheet with the help of Commissioner Ramsey’s staff.

Analysis reveals disturbing delays, slowness, contradictions, inaccuracies and incomplete data.

These were all among the list of failures that Texas Land Commissioner Dr. Dawn Buckingham complained about in regard to HCFCD. But the problems go far beyond GLO CDBG projects. The update shows how hundreds of other projects have fallen off HCFCD’s radar.

So Many Questions, Few Answers

I haven’t reviewed every project yet. But here are several from the Lake Houston Area that illustrate the problem.

Lake Houston Gates

The project to add gates to the Lake Houston Dam shows “Planning” as “complete.” But they have a blank entry for Engineering, which recently passed the 30% completion milestone. And they show no plans for construction. The county has paid only $23.5 thousand dollars out of the $20 million it pledged to the project.

Kingwood Diversion Ditch

HCFCD plans to start Kingwood Diversion Ditch improvements in mid-2030. The Diversion Ditch relieves flooding along Bens Branch and in Kingwood Town Center where more than a dozen people died during Harvey. So you would think it would merit higher priority.

Sedimentation and Sand Traps

In the Q1 2026-Flood-Bond Update, HCFCD says it is Closing projects related to sand traps and sedimentation in the upper San Jacinto River Basin, even though the projects are still “In-Progress.”

Dig deeper and you will find that HCFCD has paid its entire share of both studies to the SJRA to manage the projects…without getting any results yet. The final:

Sedimentation report is due to the Texas Water Development Board in less than a year, but SJRA has yet to publish a draft.
Sand-trap study is due in mid-2026, but the SJRA hasn’t published anything on that since 2022.

The SJRA sand trap study web page contains some hilarious entries. It shows:

“Contractor Notice to Proceed: TBD”
“Completion Date: TBD”
“Dates Subject to Change.”

Quick! Wake someone up. HCFCD seems to have lost interest in getting results for your tax dollars on these two studies.

Atascocita Flood Reduction Study

The Atascocita Flood Reduction Study shows “Planning” as complete and engineering as “Planned” But the project was “Paused” after only a third of the budget was spent. It fell into the bottom quartile of the Equity Prioritization Framework, scoring only 2.35 out of a potential 10.0. There’s $542K down the drain.

Tributaries East of Lake Houston

A study of San Jacinto Tributaries east of Lake Houston shows only $1 million out of $22 million has been spent to date. Engineering is “in progress” with construction planned for mid 2029. However, $0 has been spent on a preliminary engineering review so far. Where’d that first million go?

Crosby Eastgate Mitigation Bank

Engineering for the Crosby Eastgate Mitigation Bank on Cedar Bayou is still “In-Progress” and HCFCD plans construction for 2029. HCFCD’s website says it is a “wetlands restoration” project with a total budget of $1 million. But the bond update lists the budget at $1.75 million – a 75% increase.

Cedar Bayou Detention Basins/Channel Conveyance Improvements

More than a dozen regional detention basin projects and channel conveyance improvements along Cedar Bayou have been “paused.”

Danubina/East James Drainage Improvements on Cedar Bayou Tributary

HCFCD lists Engineering on the Danubina/East James Drainage Improvements as active. But only $1.7 of the $33.8 million budget has been spent so far. And flood control lists no estimated date for construction.

Little Cedar Bayou Drainage Improvements

Engineering is still “planned.” And HCFCD anticipates actual construction of drainage improvements may start in 2033.

Cedar Bayou Implementation Program

The Cedar Bayou Implementation Program is marked “closing.” But HCFCD lists planning as “in progress.” Is it just winding down? Are they planning to close it? Or with so many Cedar Bayou projects “paused,” has HCFCD just determined it to be a waste of time/money at this point?

Cedar Bayou Lynchburg Sub-Regional Detention Basin

Quick. Call the Keystone cops. The Cedar Bayou Lynchburg Sub-regional Detention Basin is marked “Complete” with engineering “in progress” and construction starting in 2031.

Luce Bayou Right of Way Acquisition and Floodplain Preservation

Luce Bayou’s Right of Way Acquisition and Floodplain Preservation program is “Closing,” having spent $0 to date – even as developers apply for permits to build in floodplains. Hmmmmm!

Summing Up

HCFCD originally conceived the 2018 flood bond as a ten year project. Yet 69 projects show construction starting beyond then. Today’s construction estimates will certainly prove inadequate by then.

Dozens of additional projects contain puzzling entries that warrant explanation. But HCFCD offers not one footnote.

Then there is the widespread pausing of projects because they don’t meet “equity” requirements. That penalizes the fastest growing parts of the county.

The examples above offer a taste of the type of information you can glean from the document. Dig in and explore projects in your watershed. You may actually find some pleasant surprises. I found one.

One Potential Opportunity Noted

HCFCD has spent less than a fifth of the budget allocated for dredging Lake Houston with the project marked “Complete.” However, more than $40 million remains that the new Lake Houston Dredging District could put to good use.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/12/26

3209 Days since Harvey

HCFCD did not return calls or emails concerning this study.

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.

HCFCD Executive Director Resigns Under Pressure

6/11/26 – Commissioner’s decided to take no action on the question of Dr. Tina Petersen’s continued employment as head of the Harris County Flood Control District. Again. However, after commissioners returned from executive session, she promptly resigned before the meeting was over.

Playing Dodgeball

Before the executive session, Petersen played dodgeball in the dock for 94 minutes re: her plan to avoid losing $322 million dollars in Federal funding. Here is a transcript of the discussion and a Powerpoint describing the plan. Judging by commissioners’ questions, her presentation/explanation was hard to understand.

Despite Petersen repeatedly refusing to give direct answers to questions about the plan, Commissioners Court approved it as the best available option to skirt an imminent deadline. Petersen never did address what would happen after the immediate deadline to another half billion dollars of federal funding with an early 2028 deadline.

But she avoided the elephant in the room – what she was doing, if anything, to speed up project execution. Instead she talked in vague terms about “acceleration strategies” that would yield tens of millions of dollars in savings which could be reinvested in additional projects. It all sounded a bit too good to be true given the dire situation.

Commissioners tried to pin her down on the savings, but with little success. What Petersen didn’t say was that the savings she promised likely came from a consultant she hired who radically overestimated construction costs.

Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia has been one of Petersen’s biggest fans. He reportedly recommended hiring her. He also defended her today. Garcia even offered a factually incorrect timeline in an attempt to rewrite history and support his protege. But thankfully County Judge Lina Hidalgo corrected him.

Petersen’s Resignation Announcement

After the executive session, Petersen announced her resignation in an email to employees. The letter enumerates what she believes her accomplishments were during her four and a half years in the office.

She called her work “transformational.” She also talked about:

“…tremendous strides toward becoming a more effective, accountable, and forward-looking agency.”
Her maintenance tax increase
“…staying on track with key milestones.”
Prioritizing “much needed transparency.”
“…accountability…”
“…leading the charge…”

Petersen just left out the part about endangering almost a billion dollars in federal funding.

I can’t speak to all of her claims. But “transparency” triggered a belly laugh.

Replacement Not Announced Today

At this hour, the major question is, “Who will replace Petersen?” Reportedly, the announcement will be made on June 25th at the next Business Court Meeting.

Another major question: Will voters re-elect Adrian Garcia? He got us in this mess. He also continued to defend Petersen long after it became clear she wasn’t achieving results.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/11/2026

3208 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.