More than 2000 years ago, Aristotle coined the phrase, “Nature abhors a vacuum.” But in the case of River Grove Park since Beryl, it should be, “Nature enjoys a vacuum.”
Flooded out, sanded in, and still under repair from May flooding and Beryl, humans may be visiting River Grove Park less frequently these days. But nature is filling the void.
Park Still Has Plenty to Offer
The park still has plenty to offer. I drove there today to test some new camera gear and found the park practically deserted.
A few people were using the boardwalk.
The soccer fields and playground were empty.
Disc golf is undergoing major repairs as crews clear dozens of fallen trees (from Beryl).
The main parking lot was virtually empty, thanks to sand blocking the boat dock.
So, I didn’t get the sports action shots I thought I might see. But I got something equally as impressive. Nature…up close and unspoiled.
Instead of water skiers and fishermen, great blue herons and great egrets stalked the shallows at the entrance to the Kingwood Diversion Ditch by the boat dock.
Great egret dining near the boat dock.As I crept closer, the egret prepared to swallow its catch.Note the drop of water dripping from the beak.Gulp…and it was gone.Farther out in the river, beyond the newly deposited sand bar, a great blue heron staged its own fishing expedition.
Even though River Grove repairs are far from complete, the park still has much to offer nature lovers.
Dredging Prospects
For now, the boat dock is still open for canoes, kayaks, jet skies, and other smaller watercraft that can get over the sand bar. KSA and the City are currently waiting to hear from FEMA about a possible grant to dredge the mouth of the channel. So enjoy the natural aspects of the park while you can.
Many thanks to the Kingwood Service Association for maintaining this precious gem for all Kingwood residents. Even those with feathers.
Posted by Bob Rehak
2563 Days since Hurricane Harvey
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9/3/2024 – Today, the Texas General Land Office (GLO) posted six state action-plan amendments for public comment. The amendments reallocate remaining money from federal grants for disasters between 2008 and 2019.
Includes Disaster Recovery Reallocation Program
Each of the six amendments includes a new Disaster Recovery Reallocation Program (DRRP). The DRRP will let the GLO utilize de-obligated and un-utilized funds remaining within the action plan for each disaster.
The $135 million being reallocated pales in comparison to the billions of dollars in unmet needs around the state. Better matching remaining dollars with remaining needs will help create a more resilient Texas. And simplifying the application process will help use up available money before federal deadlines expire.
Action-Plan Amendments, Deadlines, Major Changes
The GLO provided this summary of the deadlines for public comment on each amendment:
Hurricanes Ike and Dolly Amendment 7
Federally required public comment period of 7 days will end at 5:00 PM on September 11, 2024.
2015 Floods and Storms Amendment 6
Federally required public comment period of 14 days will end at 5:00 PM on September 18, 2024.
2016 Floods and Storms Amendment 8
Federally required public comment period of 14 days will end at 5:00 PM on September 18, 2024.
Hurricane Harvey $5.6 Billion Amendment 16
Federally required public comment period of 30 days will end at 5:00 PM on October 4, 2024.
Includes updates to the Harris County Homeowner Assistance, Residential Buyout, Affordable Rental and Single Family New Construction Programs.
Includes updates to the City of Houston Single Family Development and Buyout Programs.
2018 South Texas Floods Amendment 2
Federally required public comment period of 30 days will end at 5:00 PM on October 4, 2024.
Includes updates to the Specific Conditions Report in Appendix H.
2019 Disasters Amendment 3
Federally required public comment period of 30 days will end at 5:00 PM on October 4, 2024.
Includes updates to the Specific Conditions Report in Appendix G.
Submit all comments to cdr@recovery.texas.gov by 5:00 p.m. on their respective ending dates.
$135 Million Reallocated
The Hurricane Ike action plan amendment creates the DRRP. It will utilize remaining program funds from current disaster recovery grants from 2008 to 2019, with the exception of the 2011 Wildfires grant.
DRRP will expedite the expenditure of funds to comply with HUD’s timely expenditure requirements through a call for projects across multiple grants.
Each project will undergo eligibility analysis based on the grant that used to fund it.
As funds continue to be identified through the de-obligation process, they will be added to the DRRP program. All remaining funds will be reallocated to this program for each grant.
The amounts going into the DRRP “pot” total $135 million. That includes:
Based on the Dolly/Ike amendment, GLO will do a single call for projects statewide. Each agency that responds can submit up to two applications, and they will score them based on the published criteria.
Those criteria total more than 800 pages. Criteria for each of the six amendments are hyperlinked with the amounts above.
While that’s a daunting number of pages to read, GLO provides tables that show where money is going from and to, plus rules that will govern grant awards.
The GLO will perform the eligibility analysis to make applications easier. “We want this to be as simple as possible for applicants, so they will only have to submit one application and have all of the difficult analysis of eligibility and funding streams on our end,” said Brittany Eck, a GLO spokesperson.
If nothing else, these amendments dramatize how complex the flood mitigation process is. Today is 2562 days since Hurricane Harvey. But Hurricane Ike struck Houston on September 11, 2008. That’s 5836 days ago!
How to Submit Public Comments
Submit all comments to cdr@recovery.texas.gov by 5:00 p.m. on their respective ending dates to be considered. GLO requests that you please include the name and number of the action-plan amendments that you’re commenting on in the subject line.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/3/24
2562 Days since Hurricane Harvey
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9/2/24 – On 8/26/24, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) issued a report on a San Jacinto West Fork pit capture. “Pit capture” happened when the river cut through an abandoned sand pit on a point bar instead of taking the long way around it. Worldwide, many environmental consequences have been linked to such pit captures. However, the TCEQ report never mentions the phrase.
This report does not discuss other pit captures that happened elsewhere in the West and East Fork watersheds earlier this year.
San Jacinto West Fork entering pit and abandoning its normal channel on May 22.
The TCEQ report, which took four months to investigate, compile and release, did not:
Refer to any water-quality measurements, even though the complaints concerned water quality.
Address other sand-mine dike beaches and emissions in the same area
Explore downstream impacts.
Result in any reprimands, letters of enforcement, or violations.
TCEQ Finds No Problems
The four-month effort resulted in no action. Apparently, the TCEQ feels that since the pit is no longer being actively mined, it is no longer a threat to the public. It simply concludes that the incident falls within their “enforcement discretion” and they chose not to take any action.
Approximate location of entry and exit breaches relative to island with Native-American cemetery.
Who Operated This Pit?
The report also ignores a complex web of interlocking corporations involved with West Fork sand mining. They include, but are not limited to, Hallett Materials, RGI, JR Development and the Rasmussen Group, headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa.
The first paragraph of the report states that the investigation was conducted to “evaluate compliance for RGI Materials, Inc. of the Porter Plant site located north of the West Fork San Jacinto River.” [Emphasis added.]
But the report lists GPS coordinates for a pond on the south and west sides of the river. It also shows photos of the pit on the south and west sides.
The report cites information obtained through a Jacob McCurry and identifies him as a Vice President of RGI Materials. But the Hallett Materials website lists Jacob McCurry as its Operations Manager.
The report never mentions Hallett, the largest operator on the West Fork. Hallett:
Operates a settling pond directly across the river from the pit that TCEQ investigated. That pond has been leaking almost continuously into the river since January through another pit that RGI used to own.
The Texas Secretary of State shows that RGI is an assumed name of Hallett Materials.
It’s all very confusing. Except for the TCEQ report’s conclusion. The TCEQ is taking no action.
Erosion of Cemetery
In 2018, I met Kurt Rasmussen at the Hallett plant. Rasmussen is part of the family that controls Hallett, RGI, and JR Development.
He gave me a tour of the captured pit on the south and west sides of the river. He also told me that Hallett was prohibited from mining that island in the middle of the pit because it is a Native American burial ground.
As a result of the pit capture, dikes no longer protect that island from the river and erosion.
Burial ground (upper left) in middle of pit captured by West Fork. Photo 5/13/24.
Unmentioned Problems with Pit Captures
The TCEQ report never mentions “pit capture.” Nor does it mention any of the problems associated with pit capture discussed in academic literature.
Where a river enters a pit, erosion typically migrates upstream (headcutting). That can lead to more river bank erosion. (You can already see it happening in the photo above on the right.)
Literature about pit captures also suggests that when rivers take a direct path through a sand pit, it can shorten the river’s length. This can increase the river’s gradient (slope) downstream, leading to faster water flow and more aggressive erosion.
Captured pits can act as sediment traps when water moves slow enough for sand to drop out of suspension. But when water moves as fast as it did in the May flood, it can stir up sediment and transport it downstream.
I measured the speed of water moving through the captured Hallett/RGI/JR Development/Rasmussen/Riverwalk pit at 5 miles per hour. That’s enough to pick up and transport large grains of sand.
This can contribute to increased sedimentation in downstream reaches, affecting water quality, habitat, and the morphology of the river.
Downstream from pit capture above at the confluence of Spring Creek and the West Fork. West Fork is on right.
That sediment began dropping out of suspension where the water slowed as it approached the headwaters of Lake Houston.
Kingwood Diversion Ditch blocked at River Grove Park, downstream from confluence above.Dredging cost estimated at about $750,000.
The increased flow velocity after a sand pit capture can also lead to downcutting that disconnects the river from its floodplain, reducing the ability of the floodplain to absorb floodwaters and support wetland habitats.
Scientific reports also say that such downcutting can reduce the level of the water table and destroy riparian vegetation.
TCEQ Ignores Downstream Consequences
TCEQ concluded with the words: “the discharge from this pond has been granted enforcement discretion.” TCEQ chose not to issue any violations.
Their decision apparently stems from the fact that the pit is no longer actively used for mining. According to the report, the current owner, Riverwalk Porter LLC, claims it intends to use the property (and presumably the graveyard within it) for “recreational purposes such as hunting and camping.”
It’s unclear how TCEQ’s ruling will affect boating on the river. The public waterway now cuts through private property. Will boaters be trespassers?
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
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8/30/24 – Another month has flown by. Below are quick updates on six flood-mitigation projects in the area.
HCFCD Beryl-related Ditch Maintenance
According to Jeremy Phillips, Director of Harris County Flood Control District’s (HCFCD) Asset Management Division, “The quickest way to ensure we are including debris in our post-storm cleanup is to fill out a service request online. We send them to our maintenance staff. They, in turn, ensure our contractors pick up the reported debris.”
I reported four trees this afternoon in a ditch that runs through Kings Forest just north of Kingwood Drive.
Blockage of Ditch in Kings Forest
The second is more serious: a cluster of three trees that have fallen across the ditch about 50 feet upstream.
Three more trees blocking same ditch in Kings Forest just feet away
Such blockages can catch other debris floating downstream during heavy rains and form dams that back water up into homes. HCFCD has 2500 miles of channels to patrol. Help them help you. Report any problems you see on the web page above.
Emily Woodell, a HCFCD spokesperson, said, “Through our Beryl debris removal efforts, we are currently at 10,966 tons of debris removed from 14 different watersheds. Based on our debris estimates, we are approximately 33% complete with our countywide debris removal operation.” Harris County maintains ditches, streams and bayous in 23 different watersheds.
Northpark Expansion
The expansion of Northpark Drive will create an all-weather evacuation route from Kingwood for almost 80,000 people when Hamblen and Kingwood Drive are cut off.
The project has been delayed by utility conflicts, but those now have reportedly been resolved. The Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority posted a new 3-week lookahead schedule yesterday.
The big news: new concrete is not far off.
In the next three weeks, contractors will focus on completing dirt work, preparing the sub-grade, and setting up rebar.
All photos below were taken on 8/30/24.
Rebar is being stockpiled in several places along the route.Looking East from approximately where the bridge over the railroad tracks (behind camera position) will start. Drainage work continues at several locations throughout the project. Here, you’re looking N at the SW corner of Northpark and Loop 494.
Tree Lane/Bens Branch Bridge Repair
I last posted about the Tree Lane bridge repairs over Bens Branch on 8/11/24. In the last 19 days, Houston Public Works has poured a few more loads of concrete and partially installed some culvert for a storm-drain outfall. No one was at the job site today.
New outfall on southeast side of Tree Lane Bridge.
After Harvey, the San Jacinto River Authority engaged in several flood-mitigation projects with partners throughout the river basin. Projects included the San Jacinto River Basin Master Drainage Study, a Sedimentation Study, a Sand-Trap Study and more. Unfortunately, none have been acted on yet.
The SJRA also worked with several other entities on the State’s first Flood Plan and developed a seasonal-lowering strategy for Lake Conroe to help protect downstream residents.
However, the seasonal strategy turned into an ad hocActive Storm Management strategy under withering criticism and a lawsuit from the Lake Conroe Association. The new strategy contributed to the flooding of hundreds of homes in May. Thousands more nearly flooded. It was the second highest release in SJRA history, exceeded only by Harvey.
Today, SJRA published a newsletter supposedly informing readers about their flood mitigation progress. The first 279 words explained how they don’t have money to do anything. So, they’ve worked with partners and the partner’s money to produce studies…none of which have been acted on yet.
The last paragraph states, “The [Flood-Management] Division has received and utilized grant funding via the Flood Infrastructure Fund through the Texas Water Development Board for studies and projects which may lead to flood reduction benefits in the future.“
“The Division will continue to pursue flood mitigation opportunities and partnerships throughout the region, with the ultimate goal of serving and improving the lives of the public,” said the newsletter.
Editorial Comment: The SJRA needs to focus on actionability in its studies.
Dredging
The City of Houston announced the start of a new dredging project in Lake Houston back on April 1. After delays due to floods, flood damage and a potential change in scope, they now hope to start within 30 days. I last saw them assembling pipe at the Army Corps’ old site south of the West Fork and the Forest Cove Pool.
The original project was designed to remove accumulated sediment between Kings Point and the FM1960 bridge.
The potential change in scope is encouraging. Due to additional sediment coming down from upstream during several floods earlier this year, the City has applied to FEMA for more money to cover several additional projects around the lake.
One such project is cleaning out the mouth of the Kingwood Diversion Ditch at River Grove Park. It has become badly silted in.
Diversion Ditch blockage.
A spokesperson for the City said they hope to hear from FEMA on this and other projects shortly.
The idea is to do as many projects as possible while the equipment is here. That reduces mobilization charges as a percentage of each job. And mobilization is a major component of most dredging jobs.
South of Forest Cove Pool, dredgers were assembling pipe on 7/16 while awaiting word on the final scope of the flood-mitigation projects.
Flood Gates
Earlier this week, I learned that FEMA and TDEM approved a change to an interlocal agreement in April concerning 11 new tainter gates for the Lake Houston Dam. The Coastal Water Authority approved the change in July. And the Houston City Council will take it up in September.
Councilman Fred Flickinger is reportedly meeting with Public Works next week to see what can be done to serve residents better and faster.
That’s this month’s roundup of flood-mitigation projects affecting the Lake Houston Area and Harris County.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/30/24
2558 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 54 since Beryl
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240830-DJI_20240830140330_0742_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2024-08-30 19:17:062024-08-30 19:20:09Flood Digest: Quick Updates on Six Flood-Mitigation Projects
8/29/24 – The City of Houston Solid Waste Department’s Beryl Storm-Debris Tracker shows that the department has completed the second pass of debris cleanup in virtually all of District E’s north sector. If you still have debris from the storm but don’t yet have it to the curb, you only have one more pass. So hurry. After that, the cost is on you.
About a month ago, the City launched the storm tracker to help residents understand when they can expect help.
Three Passes
The City promised “three passes” of debris pickup. This would give residents a chance to get all their debris to the curb for pickup. Curbs were so crowded during the first pass that not all the debris would fit within reach of the equipment.
Also, there were a limited number of tree service companies to help residents saw up trees and get them to the curb.
Three passes give contractors more time to help residents.
Citywide Status
The Beryl Storm-Debris tracker map below shows the status of cleanup citywide by sectors.
Purple = Second Pass Complete. Blue = Second Pass in Progress. Yellow = First Pass in Progress.
The Storm-Debris Tracker shows no gray areas left. Gray indicated areas that were still waiting for the first pass to begin.
To change between the first and second views shown above in the Storm-Debris Tracker, just zoom in or out.
Storm-Debris Tracker Statistics to Date
The City updates the map and associated statistics nightly at 8 PM. Today were are 34 days from the start of the effort. So far, the City has collected:
50,930 cubic yards of vegetative debris yesterday.
43,930 truckloads of debris to date.
2,139,624 cubic yards of debris to date.
The City estimates the combined impact of this year’s natural disasters in the Houston area to produce more than 4.5 million cubic yards of storm debris.
Prior to the July 4th Independence Holiday, the city successfully removed more than 1.7 million cubic yards of debris generated by the Derecho Storm. (Remember Beryl hit Houston on July 8. And within days, there were debris piles everywhere.)
For a full report on the damage Hurricane Beryl caused across the region (wind, flooding, surge, etc.) see HCFCD’s report on the storm.
Plan for Remainder of Cleanup
Over the next 60-90 days, the City will utilize all its available resources combined with supplemental disaster collection contractors to expedite the debris removal operations in neighborhoods throughout the city.
8/28/24 – In its July 10 board meeting, the Coastal Water Authority (CWA) unanimously approved a motion to move forward with final design for 11 new Lake Houston floodgates. Houston will now consider the same motion at its September 11th City Council Meeting. If approved, final engineering design of the gates will commence.
Separately, Houston Mayor John Whitmire appointed former State Representative Dan Huberty to the CWA board. Huberty, an early proponent of the gates project, may be able to help accelerate it moving forward.
The Most Talked About Flood-Mitigation Project
Since Hurricane Harvey seven years ago, I’ve authored 278 posts discussing additional Lake Houston floodgates. From the public’s standpoint, beyond a doubt, the gates are the most eagerly anticipated flood-mitigation measure considered after Harvey.
The most recent post appeared on 5/25 of this year after meeting with members of the Coastal Water Authority, Houston City Council and Houston Public Works at the dam. Not much has changed since then with the exception of some legal formalities.
The Coastal Water Authority Board met on July 10 to vote on an amendment to an Interlocal Agreement (ILA). FEMA and the Texas Division of Emergency Management previously approved the ILA amendment in April. It covers additional engineering services, the cost of final design, and changes from the initial scope of work.
The CWA board approved the ILA amendment unanimously. Final engineering of the new Lake Houston floodgates can now move forward with Black & Veatch as soon as the City approves it.
Minutes of the CWA meeting indicate that, before voting, members discussed potential downstream impacts. The minutes also noted that no significant impacts were found after extensive hydraulic modeling.
Next Up: City Council Vote on 9/11
The amended interlocal agreement will now go before Houston City Council on September 11th for consideration. If approved, final design of the gates could begin soon thereafter.
Need for Lake Houston Floodgates
The Lake Houston Floodgates Project will add 11 new gates to the dam in the earthen embankment to the east of the concrete spillway.
Approximate location for 11 new Lake Houston floodgates.
The new floodgates will increase the current discharge capacity by an additional 80,000 cubic feet per second (CFS). That roughly equals the discharge rate from Lake Conroe during Hurricane Havey – 79,000 CFS.
Currently, Lake Houston floodgates can only release 10,000 CFS. Increasing the discharge rate would enable the City and CWA to:
Coordinate pre-releases between Lakes Conroe and Houston before major storms without swamping the Lake Houston Area.
Discharge as much water from Lake Houston in 2-3 hours as they now do in a day.
Release water when approaching storms are much closer, reducing the risk of wasting water if storms veer away.
Create extra storage capacity in both lakes, reducing flood risk for residents around them.
Reduce flood peaks, helping protect residents between the lakes and downstream from the Lake Houston Dam.
Key to Active Storm Management
All these benefits are especially important because the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) has abandoned its seasonal lake-lowering strategy for Lake Conroe. The SJRA has gone to an as-needed lake-lowering strategy called “Active Storm Management” instead. Active storm management requires much more speed and agility than simply having extra storage capacity in the lakes ready and waiting when storm seasons begin.
Lake Houston Area residents got a taste of “Active Storm Management” without the extra gates in May this year. SJRA got surprised by a spring storm and started releasing water at 70,000 CFS. Hundreds of homes flooded downstream in Harris and Montgomery Counties. Thousands more nearly flooded.
The May floods highlighted the risks involved with ad hoc lowering of Lake Conroe. They also underscored the need for more Lake Houston floodgates to handle the extra water that SJRA may send downstream.
2556 days have now elapsed since the storm that motivated the Lake Houston floodgates project – without moving one shovel of dirt. That’s almost twice the time that it took to fight and win World War II – 1349 days.
I’m going to go way out on a limb here and say that there may be some room for improvement in the business processes surrounding flood mitigation.
Whitmire Appoints Huberty to CWA Board
On the good-news front, Mayor John Whitmire has appointed former State Representative Dan Huberty, a Lake Houston Area resident, to the CWA board. Huberty fought years for this project and helped land much of the early funding. He knows the people and already knows the project. He should be able to step in and start making an immediate impact.
Huberty has already had meetings with the CWA staff. He told me, “This will be my highest priority moving forward to meet the needs of Lake Houston Area constituents.”
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/28/2024
2556 Days since Hurricane Harvey
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8/27/24 — This week marks the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Harvey. Today is the 2555th day since the event. It’s hard to pinpoint an exact date for a storm that ravaged SE Texas for the better part of a week. But most of us remember anniversaries in a personal context.
For whatever reason, back when I started this blog, I set the counter atop the home page ticking 2555 days ago. And seven times 365 equals 2555. Add in a couple days for leap years, and I figure this is close enough. Who’s counting, right?
I would like to post some pictures from the peak of the flooding in the Lake Houston Area and its aftermath. I will also discuss some statistics from the storm.
Tomorrow, I’ll review what we’ve done during the last seven years to reduce our flood risk. But first…
For Hurricane Harvey, he began, “The tropical wave that would eventually develop into Hurricane Harvey moved off the west coast of Africa on August 11th and tracked westward across the tropical Atlantic becoming a tropical storm on August 17th and then moved into the Caribbean Sea where Harvey became disorganized and was downgraded to a tropical wave.”
“The tropical wave entered the Gulf of Mexico on the afternoon of the 22nd and was upgraded again to tropical depression Harvey on the morning of the 23rd. Over the next 48 hours Harvey would undergo a period of rapid intensification from a tropical depression to a category 4 hurricane and make landfall along the Texas coast near Port Aransas around 10:00 p.m. on August 25th.”
Lindner continued, “The upper air steering patterns that moved Harvey toward the Texas coast weakened and Harvey’s forward motion slowed to near 5 mph after landfall and then to a meander just north of Victoria, TX on the 26th. Rain bands on the eastern side of the circulation of Harvey moved into southeast Texas and Harris County on the morning of the 25th and continued through much of the night and into the 26th.”
“A strong rain band developed over Fort Bend and Brazoria Counties during the evening hours of the 26th and spread into Harris County and slowed while training from south to north,” said Lindner.
“Flash flooding developed rapidly between 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. as tremendous rainfall rates occurred across much of Harris County. Additional rain bands continued to develop into the morning hours of the 27th producing additional excessive rainfall amounts. As the center of Harvey slowly moved east-southeast and back offshore, heavy rainfall continued to spread across Harris County through much of the 29th and the 30th exacerbating the ongoing widespread and devastating flooding.”
“Harvey maintained tropical storm intensity the entire time while inland over the Texas coastal bend and southeast Texas. After moving offshore, Harvey made another landfall just west of Cameron, Louisiana on the morning of the 30th,” said Lindner.
Harvey Impacts
Re: impacts, Lindner said, “All 4.7 million people in Harris County were impacted directly or indirectly during the flood and after the flood waters receded. 60,049 residents were rescued by government resources across all portions of Harris County, most of them from their homes with 32,000-34,000 staying in 65 temporary shelters.”
“Tens of thousands of additional residents were rescued by local civilian resources and help that arrived from around Texas and surrounding states.”
“On Sunday morning, August 27th, parts of all of the 22 major freeways in the Houston metropolitan area were flooded and impassable resulting in nearly impossible travel conditions and creating significant challenges to rescue operations across not only Harris County but the entire region.”
“It is estimated that over 300,000 vehicles were flooded across Harris County, many of which were at homes, parking garages, and dealership lots.
“The Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed 36 flood related deaths across Harris County.”
Harvey was so big, it filled virtually the entire Gulf of Mexico.Looking S toward Humble from Kingwood across US59 Bridge. Supports for the southbound lanes were so badly scoured, they would take 11 months to repair while inbound traffic detoured to 45.Looking E across I-69 just south of West Fork
Heaviest Rainfall In U.S. History
HCFCD gages recorded a 4-day maximum of 47.4 inches.
A total of 1 trillion gallons of water fell across Harris County over the 4 day period which would fill NGR Stadium 1472 times and cover Harris County’s 1,777 sq. miles with an average of 33.7 inches of water.
This volume of water would also run Niagara Falls for 15 days.
Harvey dropped more rain than any other storm in the recorded history of the continental US, according to climatologists.
“There are three ways to examine a rainfall event to determine its historic nature and comparison to other events. This includes duration, amount, and spatial coverage of rainfall,” said Lindner.
“Texas State Climatologist Dr. John Nielson-Gammon examined the largest rainfall events ever recorded in United States history and compared against Hurricane Harvey for durations of 48, 72, and 120 hours and in spatial coverage of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, and 50,000 square miles.”
He continued, “Harvey exceeded the previous records in all of the 18 different combinations except one. The most astounding statistic is that for the 120 hour duration over 10,000 square miles, Harvey exceeded the previous record from June 1899 by 13.33 inches or 62%.”
“The rainfall amounts and spatial coverage of those amounts have never been experienced across the United States since reliable records have been kept.”
Jeff Lindner, Harris County Meteorologist
An estimated discharge of 425,000 cubic feet per second or 5.0 times the average flow of Niagara Falls occurred at the peak flow over the Lake Houston spillway. This amount would fill NRG Stadium every 3.5 minutes.
In all, Harvey caused an estimated $125 billion in damage. It ranks as the second costliest storm in U.S. history after Katrina.
Harvey flooded 16,000 homes and 3,300 businesses in the Lake Houston Area. They included 100% of all the businesses in Kingwood’s Town Center and 44% of all business in the Lake Houston Chamber.
Sally Geis evacuating through Kingwood Town Center. Note Whataburger in background and strength of current 1.67 miles north of West Fork. Kingwood High School flooded to the second floor. Repairs took a year and the building of a flood wall around it took 2369 days (6 1/2 years) and cost $78 million.Toppled tank in Forest Cove fell three years after Harvey shifted it off its foundation. The Texas Railroad Commission did a massive cleanup effort in the area.
Key Days in Recovery
TxDoT hoped to repair damage to the I-69 bridge by September, 2018, more than a year after Harvey. But they finished the job by July, 2018.When the water finally receded, it became clear that parts of the railroad bridge over the West Fork had been swept away.Rebuilding a new bridge would take 958 days.Harvey deposited so much sand at the mouth of the West Fork, that it took more than 3 years to remove it all.
Next in Series
No one planned for an event like Harvey. But we’ve learned a lot since. More tomorrow about what we’ve done to reduce flood risk since Harvey and some of the challenges that remain ahead.
I also hope to chronicle the stories of several leaders who have helped steer us through the recovery.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Harvey-Peak-Intensity.jpg?fit=1500%2C843&ssl=18431500adminadmin2024-08-27 18:17:332024-08-28 10:05:26Remembering the Seventh Anniversary of Hurricane Harvey
8/26/24 – On Thursday night, 8/22/24, Doctor Arelia Johnson addressed the Harris County Community Flood Resilience Task Force about Harris County’s new definition of equity. Dr. Johnson is the County’s new Chief Equity Officer and has been in her job only three weeks. She has a PhD in sociology and criminology from Howard University. You can watch the video of her talk on YouTube. It begins at five minutes and ten seconds into the meeting. Below is a transcript of her talk up to the point where she started taking questions from the audience.
Introductory slide from Dr. Johnson’s talk.
Host: Whenever you’re ready Doctor Johnson, just let me know and I’ll help you advance through your slides.
Johnson: Thank you so much Amanda. This is Doctor Arelia Johnson. My pronouns are she, her, hers. And I am the chief equity officer for Harris County. And so, we’re going to talk about equity and where we are in this process of creating this foundational work and analysis.
Racism, Sexism Declared Public Health Crisis
In June, 2020, Commissioners Court declared racism and sexism a public health crisis, and they then began to move towards creating a space for chief equity officer in 2021. The county then created its initial guidelines and definition for equity, and then more recently, we were able to update a definition that was more in alignment with the strategic planning that we’re doing.
Current Definition of Equity
This particular definition feeds into our framework, which is three parts of the model. And we’ll talk about that shortly. But our definition as it stands right now is…
“Equity is the actionable pursuit of recognizing that there are groups who have disproportionately benefited from inequities, and others who have had the burden of solving the problems that have been created by inequities.”
In other words…
“Equity is the actionable commitment to significantly reduce the disparity in the distribution of benefits and the actionable commitment in reducing the burdens of aligning and embedding goals, objectives, and outcomes related to inclusivity and accessibility to the historically marginalized.”
Benefiting From or Being Hurt Disproportionally
Now, what does that mean? I’m glad you all asked. When we’re talking about equity, we have historically talked about equity in very vague, abstract ways. We have these huge aspirational goals, as if we can undo 250 years’ worth of work institutionalizing disparity.
However, we have to take a step back. And so, that’s what we’ve done as a county. We are taking a step back to figure out what can we do to recognize that there have been groups, multiple groups, who have benefited from disproportionality.
And then there have been multiple groups who have not benefited from disproportionality and who have been tasked with the burden, whether it’s the emotional labor, the physical labor, the social-political labor of solving the problems that inequity has caused and that has resulted in disparate treatment and what those consequences are.
Equity is a conscious practice. It’s something that we are grounding in research, and it is informed by data that actively engages and addresses the historical, cultural and institutional dynamics and structures that privilege some and disadvantaged others.
Mitigating History
So, when you’re thinking about being a task force that wants to mitigate some of the flooding issues that we’re having, how do you then ground what you’re doing in research? How do you actively address the historical, cultural, institutional and structural dynamics?
And how do you know that you’re doing that? One of the tools that you can use is by actively engaging committees like this one, to where you can have a myriad of lenses and lived experiences at the table, to where you can hear from all of those different perspectives.
There are three ways that we are looking at equity structurally, which is achieved when we take all of those dynamics that I just talked about into consideration.
What is the historical context? How have certain groups been ignored or underserved or underprivileged?
What are the cultural contexts? Are there biases or perspectives that are involved with dealing with the historically marginalized?
What are the institutional dynamics that have traditionally privileged some and disadvantaged others?
Structural Equity
Now you’re talking about systems and systematic oppression, which does happen. It has structural consequences, especially when you’re talking about which areas are being served and which areas are going to be the hardest hit.
Those are some of the things that we need to consider from a structural perspective.
Structural equity also seeks to rectify underlying structures, frameworks and policies and practices.
Procedural Equity
Procedural equity is more about the development and implementation of equitable distribution and sustainability. We want to look at standard operating procedures.
What are those practices? How do we then create impact within those communities, not just in word but also in deed, and making sure that those populations are groups that are not otherwise considered:
One, have a seat at the table so they can have consideration,
Two, they can also help with these efforts instead of those efforts being done for them.
Socio-Emotionally-Intelligent Equity
And then you have socio-emotionally-intelligent equity. I think this is probably one of the things that we have to work hard because we have all been socialized and conditioned to some extent.
This form of equity helps us to increase the capacity to recognize, understand and address and then mitigate the impacts of interpersonal, individual, structural, systemic and institutional racism and sexism on the well-being of others.
Aligning with Commissioner’s Court Priorities
We think this is really important as a county, because we want to be in alignment with all of the resolutions that are coming out of commissioner’s court. But then, we also want to be able to take a step back and be introspective and reflective when having interactions with others.
Must Work on Unconscious Biases
Sometimes our implicit biases are our unconscious biases seep into interactions. It’s not because we intend on being harmful. Sometimes we are completely unaware that we are being harmful.
And so, this is something that we really have to work on. And it has to be very intentional and conscious.
Socio-emotionally intelligent equity is locational or context specific, which means that you have to recognize where you are, your generational context, your historical context, your social context, your political context, and recognize it and recognize that sometimes we assume things to the detriment of progress.
What you may be experiencing with someone, if it looks like anger, may not actually be anger, it may be frustration or disappointment.
And so doing all of those things, what it does for us, it helps promote a uniform starting place, which means that then we go into this place of what training looks like, what a shared language looks like, what commonality looks like.
So, those are the three components of our equity framework and our definition.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/26/24
2554 Days since Hurricane Harvey
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8/25/2024 – An investigation by the Associated Press shined a light on how information is being withheld by the government that affects flood risk below dams. The secrecy also affects the cost of flood insurance that residents below dams pay.
West Fork and US59 after 2017 release from Lake Conroe during Hurricane Harvey. Floodwaters stretched 2 miles wide.
It begins, “Conflicting federal policies may force thousands of residents in flood-prone areas to pay more for flood insurance or be left unaware of danger posed by dams built upstream from their homes and worksites, according to an Associated Press review of federal records and data.”
Lieb continues, “The problem stems from a complex set of flood policies and some national security precautions taken after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.”
Lieb covers recent emergency repairs in Georgia, Minnesota, New York, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin, forcing evacuations and costly repairs.
Let me try to summarize the essence of Lieb’s excellent research and articles. But first, lest you think this doesn’t affect you, let me remind you of a local example.
Local Example: Lake Livingston
Emergency repairs to the Lake Livingston Dam were made public earlier this year after 20 inches of rain fell upstream from the dam. Releases washed out some areas below it. But the nature of the repairs and who would be affected if the dam failed were kept under raps due to federal policies, according to the AP.
Key Takeaways from First AP Story
The AP Reports blame recent intense storms and aging dams on a series of emergency repairs and outright dam failures.
According to AP, “Conflicting federal policies may be inhibiting the ability of local officials to share details with residents, businesses and other property owners about the places that get could inundated with floodwaters if a dam were to fail. That same information gap also could be costing residents more for flood insurance.”
Below are some takeaways from the AP’s report on the conflicting federal policies.
Flood Insurance Discounts vs. Secrecy of Inundation Data In Event of Dam Failure
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) oversees the national flood-insurance program. FEMA also oversees the Community Rating System that offers discounts on flood insurance to communities that score high on flood safety measures.
A community that earns the best rankings (Class 1) earns its residents 45% discounts on their flood-insurance premiums. “But,” says Lieb, “it’s not easy to achieve. Just two of the 1,500 local governments taking part in the Community Rating System have earned the top discount for their residents.” That’s 0.13%.
Why only two? The Community Rating System focuses in part on dams. Receiving a Class 1 ranking requires communities “to maintain maps showing the homes, businesses and critical facilities that could get inundated with floodwaters if a dam were to fail,” says Lieb. The communities must also warn residents. But only four out of 1,500 communities nationwide have earned any credit for their local efforts regarding flood risk below dams.
Secrecy about Dams and Indundation Stems from 9/11
Some federal agencies have prohibited the release of inundation maps for dams that they own or regulate, a legacy of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. They fear dams could become targets,
The Bureau of Reclamation, which owns 430 dams requires non-disclosure agreements when sharing dam inundation maps and emergency action plans with local officials. “That has inhibited officials from sharing specific information about the risks of dam failures with residents who could get flooded,” says Lieb.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulates about 1,800 power-producing dams. It too says dam inundation maps “could be useful to a person planning an attack.” FERC requires those receiving such information to sign non-disclosure agreements.
It took AP nearly two-and-half years after the news organization submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to FEMA to obtain the information regarding flood risk below dams that can cost homeowners money and lives.
Are Changes Coming?
The Bureau of Reclamation said it is revising its policies and will start allowing communities to publicly share information about dam inundation zones, including:
Potential flood-wave travel times
Flood depths and durations.
The Bureau said changes will begin in 2025, but will take 8+ years to complete.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also has become more transparent. The Corps began posting dam inundation maps online in late 2021 after determining that releasing the information “is more beneficial to the public than any risk of misuse.”
“The information is more beneficial to the public than any risk of misuse.”
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 2021 as reported by the AP
FEMA is considering potential changes to the Community Rating System for flood insurance.
This summer, FEMA opened a public comment period on potential changes to the Community Rating System. People can submit suggestions regarding flood risk below dams through Sept. 9. But FEMA doesn’t expect to make any changes until 2026 at the earliest, according to Lieb.
Flood Insurance Discounts in Houston and Harris County
Lieb’s second story focuses largely on the impacts to individual communities. It points out that FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program is available in 22,692 communities that have adopted and enforced floodplain management regulations.
Premium discounts range from 5% to 45%.
City of Houston’s 128,767 policy holders pay NFIP premiums totaling $38.71 billion thanks to a 25% community discount.
However, 97,365 NFIP policy holders in unincorporated Harris County pay $31.31 billion. They get a 15% discount.
Thus, Houston and Harris County earn up to 20-30% less in discounts than they otherwise might.
Proximity to abandoned sand mines can bring down home values. But with care, abandoned sand mines can also become community assets. People and planning can make the difference.
Ever since Hurricane Harvey when mountains of sand blocked the San Jacinto West Fork, contributing to the flooding of thousands of homes and businesses, I have predominantly focused on the negative consequences of sand mining. But a recent experience with ChatGPT 40 gave me a glimmer of hope.
ChatGPT 40 Experience
I started peppering the AI bot with questions about sand mining. Here’s the entire 58 page list of questions and responses. The last one I asked opened my eyes to new possibilities:
“Can you list case studies of sand pits near rivers that have been successfully repurposed.”
Within seconds ChatGPT came up with five. See the bot response verbatim below.
ChatGPT said:
Yes, there are several case studies where sand pits near rivers have been successfully repurposed. These examples demonstrate how abandoned sand mines can be transformed into valuable community resources or natural habitats with proper planning and management.
1. The Maasplassen, Netherlands
Background: The Maasplassen region in the Netherlands consists of a series of lakes created by sand and gravel extraction along the Meuse River (Maas). Over the years, these pits were repurposed into recreational areas and natural reserves.
Repurposing Strategy: The Dutch government, in collaboration with local municipalities and environmental organizations, transformed these former sand pits into a network of lakes that serve multiple purposes, including water sports, nature conservation, and tourism.
Successes: The area now supports diverse ecosystems and provides recreational opportunities like sailing, fishing, and swimming. It has become a popular destination for both locals and tourists, contributing to the regional economy while also enhancing biodiversity.
2. Chattahoochee RiverLands, Georgia, USA
Background: Along the Chattahoochee River in Georgia, several abandoned sand and gravel pits were left after decades of mining operations. These pits were identified as potential sites for repurposing as part of a larger vision to create the Chattahoochee RiverLands greenway.
Repurposing Strategy: The project involves converting these pits into natural areas and parks that are integrated into a broader greenway system. Plans include restoring native vegetation, creating trails, and ensuring public access to the river.
Successes: While the project is ongoing, it has already seen success in terms of community engagement and environmental restoration. The repurposing efforts aim to reconnect people with the river, enhance flood resilience, and create wildlife corridors.
3. Tinsley Green Sand Quarry, South Yorkshire, UK
Background: The Tinsley Green sand quarry, located near the River Don in South Yorkshire, was a large sand extraction site that became disused in the late 20th century.
Repurposing Strategy: The site was transformed into a wetland nature reserve, known as Tinsley Green Wetlands, through a combination of regrading, habitat creation, and community involvement. The focus was on creating habitats for birds, amphibians, and other wildlife.
Successes: The wetland now supports a wide range of species, including several that are rare or protected. It has become a key site for biodiversity in the region and is used for environmental education and passive recreation.
4. The Little Miami River, Ohio, USA
Background: Along the Little Miami River in Ohio, several sand and gravel pits were abandoned after mining activities ceased. These sites were initially left unmanaged, posing environmental risks.
Repurposing Strategy: Local authorities and environmental groups collaborated to restore these pits into wetland areas and floodplain habitats. The efforts included soil remediation, reforestation, and the creation of wildlife habitats.
Successes: The restored areas now provide flood control benefits, support a rich array of wildlife, and have become important recreational and educational resources for the surrounding communities.
5. Angler’s Paradise, United Kingdom
Background: A sand and gravel pit in Devon, England, was transformed into a well-known fishing and leisure destination known as Angler’s Paradise.
Repurposing Strategy: The site was creatively repurposed by stocking the lakes with various fish species and developing facilities for anglers and tourists. The project also focused on enhancing the natural beauty of the area through landscaping and the creation of wildlife habitats.
Successes: Angler’s Paradise is now a popular destination for anglers and nature enthusiasts. It contributes to the local economy through tourism while also maintaining a focus on environmental stewardship and habitat preservation.
These case studies illustrate that with careful planning, community involvement, and a focus on sustainability, abandoned sand pits near rivers can be successfully repurposed into assets that benefit both people and the environment.
I quickly looked them up using a conventional search engine. I began to see some potential with the very first one. It led me to wonder whether something like these could work in the San Jacinto watershed.
The thing we’ve never had that all these examples had is a long-term vision that united parties with disparate interests. They include miners, trade associations, environmentalists, residents, regulators, developers, county leaders, and more.
Perhaps it could be done with careful planning and the cooperation of committed people who shared a long term goal.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/23/24
2551 Days after Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
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