11/3/24 – The latest round of repairs to the understructure of the Tree Lane Bridge in Kingwood has been completed.
In recent years, flooding, erosion from severe storms, stream migration, and insufficiently mitigated upstream development had jeopardized the integrity of the bridge next to Bear Branch Elementary. Approximately 600 children attend Grades K through 5 at the school and dozens of school buses routinely cross over the bridge every school day.
Before Photos
The four pictures below show the starting point.
Imelda flood almost overtopped the bridgeand backed water up.Photo by Chris Bloch.Looking upstream at downstream side of the bridge. Water pressure created a jetting effect that undermined the support structure and eroded the area downstream. Downcutting exposed water line and utility cable.Closer shot shows the power of moving water. Storm drain outfall (right) was pinched off by debristhat broke away.Stormwater had also eaten away the concrete bed that tied supports together.
After Photos
Compare the next five shots taken on 11/3/24.
Upstream is left. Note how stream meander over time has Bens Branch approaching the bridge from a 45 degree angle now.
Meandering streams can impact bridges in a number of ways, including:
Altering flow characteristics: A meander at the upstream of a bridge can change the flow characteristics at the bridge’s inlet and outlet.
Reducing bridge capacity: A meander can reduce the amount of water a bridge can pass during a flood.
Creating channel instability: Channel instability near a bridge can increase the risk of bridge failure during a hydrologic event.
Meandering streams are characterized by their sinuous, snake-like channels. Meanders move sideways and downstream over time, which can create challenges for maintaining bridges and roads.
However, these repairs should improve safety …. at least for a while.
Looking upstream. Note new storm drain outfalls surrounded by concrete on the left and right.Note how the side slopes change from 45º to 90º about three feet above the bottom of the channel.
The stream bed was previously at where the wall angle changes. The area between the 90º walls represents additional carrying capacity (conveyance) for the channel under the bridge.
Also note, in the picture above, the addition of at least five new rounded piers to increase support for the bridge’s road bed. The old piers are square.
Storm sewer outfall is now at an angle. Same on the opposite side.
According to ChatGPT, “Storm sewer outfalls are often angled when they enter a stream to help manage the flow of water and sediment, reduce erosion, and improve the overall stability of the stream bank.”
Also note in this shot by Chris Bloch how contractors hydromulched slopes and areas disturbed by construction.
Hydromulching should reduce erosion from water flowing over the top of the channel bank.
Thanks to Houston Public Works and the City of Houston for these repairs. I’ll check to see how these improvements work in future storms.
For More Information
For a history of the project and to see additional photos, see these previous posts:
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241103-DJI_20241103083715_0140_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2024-11-03 12:06:442024-11-03 18:09:57Before-After Pics of 2024 Tree Lane Bridge Repairs
11/2/24 – Numerous academic studies have found an increase in the number of storms with decreasing forward speeds, i.e., tropical cyclone stalling, when comparing recent decades with earlier periods.
Meteorologists call the distance that tropical cyclones travel in a given amount of time “tropical cyclone translation speed” or TCTS.
They have also found that TCTS is a key factor in determining the damage a tropical cyclone can cause to a community from rainfall, exposure to high winds, flooding and storm surge. That damage totals more than a trillion dollars in the last 40 years with death tolls in the thousands.
There is broad academic agreement on the increase in the number of slow-moving or stalling storms. And they identify the central Gulf Coast as one of the hot spots.
Some studies have also found a correlation between stalling storms and rapid intensification near coastlines, a red flag for emergency managers.
She says that regions experiencing tropical cyclones “will experience greater exposure to some of the most devastating aspects of tropical cyclones such as extreme rainfall, wind speeds, and flooding. Increased exposure to these elements could and will likely translate to a rise in both economic devastation and fatalities.”
21% decrease over land areas in the western North Pacific
16% decrease over land areas affected by North Atlantic tropical cyclones
22% decrease over land areas in the Australian region.
Remember, the more time a storm lingers over any given area, the higher the rainfall accumulations.
Hurricane Harvey a Notable Example
Kossin also notes that “unprecedented rainfall totals associated with the ‘stall’ of Hurricane Harvey13,14,15 over Texas in 2017 provide a notable example of the relationship between regional rainfall amounts and tropical-cyclone translation speed.”
Hurricane Harvey as it approached the Texas coast in 2017
Kossin concluded that the “translation speed of tropical cyclones, particularly over land, is therefore highly relevant when considering potential changes in local rainfall totals.”
The authors found that TCTS influences rainfall accumulation, storm surge, and exposure to high winds. These effects are greatest when storms stall.
Trepanier and her colleagues provide both a definition and climatology of slow-moving or stalling TCs in the North Atlantic from 1900–2020. “A stall is defined as a tropical cyclone (TC) with a track contained in a circular area … with a radius of ≤ 200 km for 72 hours.”
The authors found that of 1,274 North Atlantic tropical cyclones, 191 or 15% met this definition. Of those, 10 stalled more than once. Hurricane Ginger in 1971 stalled the most with four separate stalls.
“Stalling TC locations are clustered in the western Caribbean, the central Gulf Coast, the Bay of Campeche, and near Florida and the Carolinas,” say the authors. “Stalling was most common in October TCs (17.3% of October total) and least common in August (8.2%).”
Their study examined two time periods, 1900-2020 and 1966-2020, and statistically tested for trends in the annual frequency of stalling storms.
The estimated annual frequency of stalls significantly increased from 1966–2020 by 1.5% per year. The cumulative frequency in the number of stalls compared to all storms also increased.
“Stalling storms have a significantly higher frequency of major hurricane status than non-stalling storms. Storms are also more likely to stall near the coast (≤ 200 km). Approximately 40% (n=77) of the stalling TCs experienced a period of rapid intensification, and five did so within 200 km of a coastal zone.”
The authors believe their findings will help emergency managers better prepare for the future. Speaking of that…
Stay Alert
Remember that hurricane season isn’t over until the end of November. The National Hurricane center shows three areas of activity in the Atlantic. They’re giving the closest one in the southwestern Caribbean an 80% chance of formation in the next seven days.
Don’t let your guard down yet.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/2/24
2622 Days since Hurricane Harvey
*Extensive quotes from abstract reproduced with permission of copyright holder.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Harvey-Peak-Intensity.jpg?fit=1500%2C843&ssl=18431500adminadmin2024-11-02 12:27:302024-11-02 13:57:27Impacts of Tropical Cyclone Stalling
10/31/24 – An extreme rainfall event near Valencia in southern Spain on Tuesday this week fueled a spate of hasty climate-change stories. But was that the cause of the flooding?
A year’s worth of rain fell in a day. The area has an average annual rainfall of 17.87 inches. October is their rainiest month with an average 2.91 inches. But according to Fox News, they got:
19.33 inches in 8 hours
13.55 inches in 4 hours
6.5 inches in 1 hour
Harvey Comparison
That’s pretty stout, even by Houston standards, which gets triple the average annual rainfall of Valencia’s mediterranean climate.
In fact, had that rain fallen in the Lake Houston Area during those same time periods, NOAA would have classified it between a 500- and a 1000-year storm on the Atlas 14 scale. See below.
NOAA’s Atlas 14 Precipitation Frequency Estimates for Lake Houston Area
So, you can imagine the impact of that much rain in an area built to engineering standards that anticipate far less.
The death toll has climbed steadily throughout the day as search-and-rescue efforts uncover more fatalities. By 5 PM Houston time, the count had climbed to 158, but dozens still remain missing.
To put that into perspective, Harris County reported 36 deaths from Hurricane Harvey. And Harvey dropped three times the rain, but spread out over four days (August 25-29, 2017).
The major factor contributing to the different death tolls: Valencia is mountainous, and Houston is flat. The steeper geography accelerated the speed of floodwaters that carried away vehicles, bridges and even whole buildings.
Reporting is predictably focused on the gore. As the old saying in the news business goes, “If it bleeds, it leads.”
Climate-Change Hysteria
But there’s another predictable subtext to the stories: climate change. Several factors fuel the climate-change thread:
Readers’ desires for explanations in a less-than-predictable world.
Editors’ desires to provide them.
Academicians’ trying to raise their media profiles and obtain more grants to fund future studies on existential threats.
Poor public understanding of statistics and complex weather models
Private interests pushing agendas by using editorial content as incognito advertising.
Everyone’s desire to capitalize on a crisis to push their individual agendas.
Of several dozen stories from major news organizations that I reviewed for this post, only one (Fox News) refrained from climate-change speculation. It focused mainly on the rainfall amounts. Below is a rundown on several others.
Al Jezeera
Al Jazeera claimed, “Scientists warn that extreme weather such as heatwaves and storms is becoming more intense as a result of climate change.”
New York Times
The New York Times said, “Estimating the influence of climate change on any single flood event requires further analysis, but scientists have said that global warming is making storms in many regions more intense. Warmer air holds, and releases, more water.”
Then the Times went on to disclaim what they just implied. “Scientists convened by the United Nations have found no consistent trend in the way global warming is affecting extreme rainfall in the Mediterranean region…”
Guardian
The Guardian said, “In recent years, scientists have warned that the waters of the Mediterranean are rapidly warming, climbing as much as 5C above normal.”
What was it when the event occurred, Guardian? And if the relationhip is so strong, why didn’t the rainfall happen when the sea-surface temps were higher?
Reuters
Reuters said, “While experts say it will take time to analyze all the data to determine if this particular [event] was caused by climate change, most agree that an increase in temperature of the Mediterranean and warmer and more humid atmospheric conditions contribute to producing more frequent extreme episodes.” What is the increase, Reuters?
Basically, they’re saying, “The Spanish rains may not be related to climate change, but they could be…if you don’t look at recent data.”
CNN
CNN said, “Figuring out the precise role climate change played in Spain’s devastating floods will require further analysis, but scientists are clear that global warming, driven by fossil fuel pollution, makes these types of extreme rainfall events more likely and more intense.”
It reads like boilerplate.
The Independent
But some publications were more apocalyptic than others. The Independent took the prize in that department. “Climate crisis ‘worsened all 10 deadliest weather events,” the publication trumpeted.
The Independent claims “The deadliest weather events since 2004 caused more than 570,000 deaths and the ‘fingerprints’ of climate change were present, scientists say.”
We Need a White-Coat Rule for Climate Claims
If this were an advertisement as opposed to a news story, it would probably be illegal in the U.S. I remember a time when television commercials trumpeted equally unsubstantiated claims.
It led to the passage of the “white-coat” rule by the FTC. It used to be common to dress actors up in white coats to make claims for medical products. “Four out of five doctors recommend…” They were implying that a scientific study actually existed that said 80% of doctors recommended something. But what was the sample size? Five? Which five? And which four?
CBS Cites Source, Then Pulls Story
The publications above rarely cited the name of a scientist. And I only found one news source that actually cited a scientific study. That was CBS, which has since taken their story down. Turns out, their story referred not to a study, but the transcript of a UN press conference about “climate crunch time.” No actual study was linked to the UN press conference story.
Reporting Fuels Skepticism
Climate change may be real. But the reporting around it sure makes me skeptical. If there’s substance to these claims, why such vague boilerplate? Why do so few cite sources, studies and professional credentials?
Last year, I published a story called “Hurricane Lee, Climatology, Data Truncation and the News.” It reviewed an Associated Press story about a hurricane that struck Maine in 2023. It created 1-2 feet of storm surge and dropped 1-4 inches of rain. But this was a climate change disaster according to AP.
The Rockefeller Foundation admits, “Our focus is on scaling renewable energy.”
We need a white-coat rule for climate claims. No quoting unnamed, uncounted “scientists”! And if they actually exist, give us their credentials. Provide links to their studies in peer-reviewed journals.
We need more facts. Not more fuel for climate hysteria.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/31/24
2620 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/SST-Valencia.jpg?fit=1100%2C648&ssl=16481100adminadmin2024-10-31 19:30:322024-11-01 18:07:37Rain in Spain and Sad, Sorry State of Climate-Change Speculation
10/28/24 – After posting about maintenance dollars per square mile in Harris County’s different watersheds, an astute reader suggested I look at maintenance dollars per stream mile.
Why? Stream miles don’t always vary proportionally with square miles and may be a more appropriate metric for maintenance. Certainly, when considering activities, such as channel mowing and clean outs, that makes sense. Especially when you consider “open stream miles,” as distinct from natural channels.
So I ran the numbers. Rankings varied slightly, but overall, maintenance money still goes disproportionately to watersheds with a high percentage of low-to-moderate (LMI) residents. Maybe more so.
Different Metric, Similar Results
Last week, at the start of early voting, I posted about the proposed 63% tax increase called Proposition A. Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) is pitching it as a tax increase dedicated to maintenance, even though the ballot language does not limit it to maintenance.
In last week’s post, I examined maintenance dollars spent per square mile in each watershed. To see what would happen with maintenance dollars per stream mile, I transferred stream miles from the HCFCD website into my spreadsheet and recomputed everything.
While some watersheds rose and others fell in the rankings, watersheds with a majority LMI-population still floated to the top. Even moreso.
Coincidentally, those with the highest concentrations of spending also tend to have Democratic precinct commissioners. And the eight lowest ranking watersheds (with one exception) all fall into the lone Republican-led precinct on Commissioners Court.
Here’s the new table. Gold colored watersheds have a majority of LMI residents.
HCFCD maintenance spending per stream mile since from Hurricane Harvey through 3Q24.Does not include County-wide spending.$89,471 is average in last column.
Will You See Any Benefit from Proposition A?
Why is this important? HCFCD’s proposed tax increase, Proposition A, would raise your flood control taxes by 63%.
Also, HCFCD is trying to increase the percentage of HUD dollars going to LMI-watersheds to 70%, even though HUD only requires 50%.
When looking at maintenanc data, it seems we may already have an Equity Prioritization Index for maintenance dollars – in practice if not in policy.
If you vote for the “maintenance-tax” increase, understand that you may not see as much benefit from it as other parts of the county…if you see any benefit at all. Nothing in the wording of the ballot item guarantees a fair share to each watershed. For instance…
The difference between Halls and Luce Bayous’ maintenance spending per stream mile since Harvey is 28:1!
Data obtained from HCFCD via FOIA request shown in table above.
Compare Watershed Map, Precinct Map and Spending
Most people don’t know the location of all of the watersheds in Harris County. Nor are they familiar with precinct boundaries. So I will reprint both maps below. Compare them, then look up the maintenance dollars for your watershed in the table above.
Harris County Watershed mapMany watersheds cut across precinct boundaries. But P3 is the only precinct with a Republican commissioner.
Past is Prologue
As Shakespeare said in The Tempest, “What’s past is prologue.” Before you vote on Prop A, understand where your money has gone until now. Maintenance dollars often follow capital improvement dollars. And capital improvement spending has also leaned heavily toward LMI areas, since Harvey. So the trend is unlikely to change anytime soon.
Is Harris County Misusing LMI?
All other things being equal, I believe that LMI should be used as a tie-breaker when allocating funds. But all other things are not equal. Some of the watersheds that receive the fewest maintenance dollars have the worst flooding.
Chart showing feet above flood stage of 33 gages of misc. bayous in Harris County during Harvey.
Politics has trumped public safety in Harris County for some time now. I urge you to use your vote to send a message to Commissioners Court if you want to see your fair share of HCFCD spending.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/28/24
2617 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 9 More days until Election Day
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Maintenance-per-Stream-Mile-e1730162628470.png?fit=1100%2C1212&ssl=112121100adminadmin2024-10-28 20:45:332024-10-29 17:49:04Another Way to Look at Prop A: Maintenance Dollars Per Stream Mile
10/27/24 – Meritage Homes of Texas LLC has placed an estimated 5 feet of fill above street level in Phase 1 of its new development in Atascocita. The height has raised concerns among surrounding residents, who fear that runoff from the Meritage site could flood them.
Meritage Site Phase 1 fill bordering Texas Laurel Trail.Height of curb and silt fence = 2 feet.Top of fill is minimum 2.5X higheror 5 feet.Most surrounding homes are elevated about knee high above street level.
It’s hard to see the interior of the site from street level. That has fueled residents’ fears. Virtually all surrounding homes are knee high above street level, not head high, as here.
In February, I received preliminary construction plans and a drainage analysis from Harris County Engineering. But they had numerous problems and were not approved.
So, I can’t say for certain whether the fill is needed or whether it will raise flood risk in surrounding neighborhoods. Similar disparities have flooded homes elsewhere, so residents have cause for worry.
However, it appears that the developer is sloping the land toward a detention basin on the far side of the property (out of sight behind the car and ridge above).
Aerial photos taken today show distinct tiers in the landscape leading down to the detention basin. (See below.) So, runoff should be channeled away from Kings Park Way, Texas Laurel Trail and parts of Pinehurst Trail Drive.
Photo with car above was taken from other side of pipe in background of this photo.
Why So Much Fill?
Meritage, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, began clearing and grading 40.2 acres between Kings River and Pinehurst of Atascocita in February this year. Shortly, thereafter, it began excavating the detention basin for Phase 1, shown below.
Land on left slopes toward detention basin.Photo taken 10/27/24.
Meritage exceeds the minimum. But calculation shows that the amount of fill excavated would have only raised the rest of Phase 1 (the area outside of the detention basin) by approximately 1-2 feet, not 5. Plus multiple residents independently reported seeing trucks bringing fill into the location.
I could find no reference justifying the depth of fill in the preliminary plans supplied by Harris County Engineering.
=
Conceptual plans that Meritage shared with surrounding communities earlier this year. They show one detention basin in Phase One and three in Phase 2.
I have requested the final, approved plans from Harris County Engineering, but still have not received them.
Building Codes Also Require 2 Feet Above 500-Year Floodplain
Post-Harvey building codes also require new structures to be built two feet above the 500-year water-surface elevation. But the Meritage development is not close to a mapped floodplain. So that’s not the likely cause for the all the fill.
From FEMA Flood Hazard Layer viewer. Meritage development is about a half mile from the current mapped 500-year floodplain (tan color).
Protecting Neighbors
What should the developer do to ensure surrounding properties are not flooded by runoff?
As a rule, the engineer who prepares civil plans for the development must include drainage area maps and account for all runoff generated by the subdivision. This would include everything up to extreme 100-yr storms.
So, Meritage’s drainage plan should account for all that fill and capture flows before they impact adjacent properties.
In general, the size of the detention basin is a positive thing. But the height of the fill it generated during excavation has the potential to flood surrounding homes – if not handled properly.
More news to follow when/if Harris County reveals the construction plans and drainage analysis.
Excess fill may smother tree roots around perimeter of site.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/27/24
2616 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241027-DSC_1085.jpg?fit=1100%2C733&ssl=17331100adminadmin2024-10-27 22:25:402024-10-28 15:42:15Concerns About Fill Height in New Atascocita Development
10/26/24 – Say goodbye to the old Northpark Drive.
Construction crews were hard at work all along Northpark Drive on this beautiful fall Saturday afternoon. One group focused on replacing the Northpark median at Russell Palmer Road.
Another focused on breaking up and carrying away pavement from the old westbound lanes.
Old Northpark westbound lanes being demolished west of Sherwin Williams. Photo 10/26/24.
A third group focused on Loop 494 expansion where it crosses Northpark.
Looking N across Northpark at Loop 494 expansion.
All this had Northpark traffic backed up for more than a half mile in each direction.
A Crawl Down Memory Lane
As I inched along in traffic, I felt somewhat nostalgic. I’ve lived in Kingwood for more than 40 years and had offices near or on Northpark for more than half that time.
Google Earth shows Northpark under construction back in 1978. It was a heavily wooded area back then. Google does not even have aerial imagery for the area west of the Diversion Ditch. And few homes existed beyond North Woodland Hills and Sherwood Trails.
Kingwood on 12/31/1977. Woodland Hills curves from bottom to near top of frame just left of center. Northpark intersects it at right angles near the top.
Kingwood Park high school didn’t exist. Neither did Kingwood High. And the Northpark Recreation Area had just been logged.
Northpark Drive served Kingwood well back then. It helped make Kingwood one of the finest master-planned communities in the Houston area, and one of the most unique in the country. To this day, Kingwood’s integration of homes and businesses with nature still astounds newcomers and sets a standard for the nation.
The vision appealed to so many, that now Northpark must expand from four lanes to six, with 10 at the widest point.
Photos Taken on 10/25/24
The gleaming, white, new concrete poured during the last three weeks stretches a half mile to where crews funneled westbound traffic onto the new lanes at the approximate location where they were tearing out the old westbound lanes.
Northpark Drive Expansion, looking west from Russell Palmer Road (bottom left).Lower shot shows concrete poured earlier this week is still drying.Saturday afternoon at 1:30 PM. Shot shows why we need more lanes.Father west, contractors are demolishing the old Westbound road.
This is the general area where a bridge will begin to carry traffic over Loop 494 and the UP Railroad Tracks. In addition to the three lanes of traffic in each direction going over the bridge, we will also have two surface lanes on each side of the bridge…in both directions. One of the lanes will be for left turns and the other for right turns.
Loop 494 Expansion
Contractors are also widening Loop 494 sound of Northpark. The extra lanes on 494 will help prevent traffic coming off Northpark from backing up into the new turn lanes.
Looking S across Northpark at where lanes will widen Loop 494.
The result of all this work: the first all-weather evacuation route from Kingwood. The widened road will also increase mobility, cut commute times, increase safety, and keep Kingwood a premier community for the next generation.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241026-DJI_20241026130233_0047_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2024-10-26 17:15:062024-10-26 17:22:03Say Goodbye to the Old Northpark Drive
U.S. Representative Dan Crenshaw helped secure another $3.2 million dollars for two crucial Kingwood flood-mitigation projects. The money is part of two EPA grants, each for $1.6 million. And they will cover final engineering for the Taylor Gully/Woodridge Village and Kingwood Diversion Ditch flood-mitigation projects.
U.S. Representative Dan Crenshaw addressing Kingwood Townhall Meeting on October 8, 2024.
80:20 Matching Grants from EPA
The EPA will pay 80% of each project’s costs and HCFCD will pay the remaining 20% ($400,000 each), according to transmittals to Harris County Commissioners Court for the 10/28/24 meeting.
Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) is asking Commissioners to approve acceptance of the grants, as they obligate the county to spend $800,000 from the 2018 Flood Bond.
Four years ago this week, the Kingwood Area Drainage Analysis identified these two projects as the two most important in the Kingwood Area. The projects will increase conveyance and reduce floodplains. In the meantime, HCFCD completed preliminary engineering plans on each project.
Projects’ Scope, Goals
Anticipated deliverables for both projects include final engineering plans and supporting documents for hydrologic and hydraulic (H&H) analyses.
The scope includes identification of proposed alternatives and recommendation of one for final design, based on a detailed alternative analysis.
The EPA says the plans should lead to:
Conveyance improvements
Budget refinements for future funding assistance requests
Reduction in floodplain impacts during severe weather events
Improved resilience.
Anticipated Taylor Gully Benefits
HCFCD expects the Taylor Gully improvements will reduce riverine flood risk for the residents of Elm Grove, Mills Branch, North Kingwood Forest and Woodstream Village. It could reduce the 100-year floodplain by 116 acres, remove 276 structures from the floodplain, and lower floodwaters for structures still in the floodplain.
Anticipated Diversion Ditch Benefits
HCFCD expects the project will benefit structures in the vicinity of Bens Branch with additional reduction in street flooding. The Flood Control District also expects that this project will reduce the 100-year floodplain by 223 acres, remove up to 69 structures from the floodplain, and lower flood levels for structures still in the floodplain.
The alternative to not applying for grant funding? Flood risks will remain in place or the project will need to be funded locally.
Supporting documents do not address deadlines, which could come into play here unless HCFCD makes changes in other grant applications.
The Woodridge Village project includes the creation of two detention basins to reduce floodwater entering Taylor Gully.
However, the Woodridge detention basins are currently part of a disaster relief (DR) application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. If they remain in the group of DR applications, there may not be time to complete the engineering study and construction before the construction deadline.
Rumor has it that HCFCD may be working on moving the Woodridge Project into the flood-mitigation category which has more time before construction must be completed.
Crenshaw’s Critical Role in Numerous Lake Houston Area Flood Projects
In the meantime, hats off to Congressman Dan Crenshaw. He has consistently succeeded in advocating for Kingwood and Lake Houston Area flood-mitigation projects. Among his other successes:
$8 million for Taylor Gully improvements
$8 million for Lake Houston Dam gates
$10 million for Woodridge Stormwater Improvements
$4 million for Walnut Lane Bridge Improvements over the Diversion Ditch
$12 million for Ford Road Improvements
$900 thousand for I-69 Southbound Frontage Road Drainage Improvements
$3.6 million for Highland, Huffman and Crosby roadway and drainage improvements
$1.12 million for FM1488 area street rehab and drainage improvements
$10 million for Cedar Bayou stormwater detention basin
$1.673 million for Huffman (Forest Manor) drainage improvements
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/25/24
2614 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008-DSC_0923-1.jpg?fit=1100%2C733&ssl=17331100adminadmin2024-10-25 20:51:372024-10-25 23:08:42Crenshaw Secures $3.2 Million for Final Engineering of Two Kingwood Flood-Mitigation Projects
10/24/24 – It may seem counterintuitive, but there is a well-recognized relationship between wildfires and floods. What is it?
Simple. Wildfires create conditions that increase the risk of future flooding. Specifically, they affect infiltration; runoff volume and speed; erosion; sedimentation; and more.
How Wildfires Increase Future Flood Risk
Here’s an outline of the the relationship between wildfires and floods:
Loss of Vegetation: Forest fires burn vegetation, which normally helps to hold soil in place and absorb rainfall. Fires leave soil exposed and unprotected.
Water-Repellent Soil: Intense fires can cause soil to repel water. This increases the amount of water running off the surface during rainstorms, rather than soaking into the ground.
Increased Runoff: Without vegetation, rainwater flows more quickly and in greater volumes over the landscape. This runoff can lead to flash flooding, particularly after heavy rains in areas recently affected by wildfires.
Erosion and Sediment: Post-fire floods tend to carry a lot of sediment and debris since the soil is no longer stabilized by plant roots. This sediment can settle downstream, reduce the carrying capacity of streams and worsen flooding.
In short, forest fires can create conditions that increase the likelihood of flooding and make flood events more severe in the affected areas. This relationship is particularly common in the period immediately following a wildfire when the landscape is most vulnerable to erosion and rapid runoff.
What the Experts Says
According to FEMA, “While some floods develop over time, flash floods—particularly common after wildfires—can occur within minutes after the onset of a rainstorm. Even areas that are not traditionally flood-prone are at risk, due to changes to the landscape caused by fire. … Flood risk remains significantly higher until vegetation is restored – up to 5 years after a wildfire.”
The National Weather Service says, “Locations that are downhill and downstream from burned areas are highly susceptible to Flash Flooding and Debris Flows.”
The Army Corps of Engineers also warns of the relationship between vegetation loss and flash flooding. They say the risk of debris flows lasts two to five years.
The Corps, FEMA and Weather Service all recommend purchasing flood insurance within their discussions of wildfires.
Current Conditions in Southeast Texas: Growing Fire Risk
So how bad are current conditions?
I already have received an email from one reader who was seriously injured fighting a pasture fire in Liberty County.
No weather monitoring site in southeast Texas has recorded ANY rainfall for the month of October. “That’s impressive because October is usually our second wettest month behind May,” says Jeff Lindner, Harris County’s meteorologist.
October 2024 Rainfall and Departures from Normal
You can see the lack of recent rain in the statistics below:
College Station: 0.00, -3.49
BUSH IAH: 0.00, -3.82
Hobby: 0.00, -4.12
Galveston: 0.00, -3.66
Conroe: 0.00, -3.67
Sugarland: 0.00, -3.29
Drought Worsening
Moderate drought now covers more than half of Texas and severe drought covers more than a quarter of the state. All of Harris and surrounding counties are in moderate or severe drought, except for those along the coast.
Says Lindner, “While the recent dryness has been relatively short thus far compared to other dry spells, it has been intense – accompanied by much warmer than normal late summer and early fall temperatures. This has quickly resulted in drought degradation across the entire region and vegetation health quickly declining.”
Fire Activity Increasing
“The result has also been an increase in wildland fire activity in recent weeks – especially when drier air masses move over the region along with gusty winds,” Lindner continued.
“As the area moves deeper into the fall and winter months, more frequent and stronger cold fronts will bring stronger winds and much drier air masses across the area. Without any significant wetting rainfall, fire-weather conditions will quickly elevate,” he said.
Wildfire Risk Soaring
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KDBI) values indicate wildland fire risk. Currently, they show significant risk across the area. The scale is from 0 (completely saturated) to 800 (completely void of moisture to 8 inches deep). Values above 650 indicate an increased risk of wildland fire and values over 700 indicate a significant risk.
Current average KBDI values are:
Austin: 735
Brazoria: 630
Brazos: 744
Chambers: 693
Colorado: 705
Fort Bend: 706
Galveston: 620
Grimes: 730
Harris: 727
Liberty: 739
Matagorda: 615
Montgomery: 715
San Jacinto: 717
Walker: 691
Washington: 738
Wharton: 689
Looking Ahead: Higher than Average Temps/Lower Than Normal Rainfall
We are currently heading into La Niña conditions. “Such global oscillations tend to support southern plains drought,” says Lindner.
The National Weather Service indicates drought development and persistence across all of Texas into early 2025. See below:
Source: National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center
Be Careful with Outdoor Burning
Beryl left a lot of dead vegetative debris lying around last summer. It’s now turning into fuel. So be extremely careful with outdoor fires. It’s probably best not to burn those leaves you rake up this fall.
The fire you prevent now could help prevent flooding next spring.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/24/24
2613 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Wildland-Fire-Risk.png?fit=769%2C839&ssl=1839769adminadmin2024-10-24 20:29:282024-10-24 20:31:57Relationship Between Wildfires and Floods
10/23/24 – Starting Friday 10/25/24 at 8 PM through Monday 10/28/24 at 5AM, contractors will close the Northpark crossover at Russell Palmer Road to pour new concrete in the median. See location of the X in the diagram below.
That means northbound traffic on Russell Palmer will not be able to turn west (left) toward 59. Nor will westbound traffic on Northpark be able to turn south onto Russell Palmer. In each case, traffic must detour by looping around to another open crossover then doubling back.
Eastbound and westbound traffic on Northpark drive will not be affected.
Only area within boundaries of red box will be closed.Picture taken on 10/11 for previous post.
To minimize inconvenience caused by the crossover closure, crews will place rebar and pour concrete directly on compacted dirt, rather than putting asphalt down first.
Utility Conflicts Almost Eliminated
Elsewhere on Northpark, CenterPoint was working to remove the last of its power poles. That means the last of the utility obstacles should soon be out of the way for road construction crews.
Exact Dates of Total Closure, Bridge Construction Still Not Determined
Work is expected to begin on the frontage roads over the UPRR tacks in January. Motorists can expect a 3-day closure of Northpark Drive in either January or February as UPRR crews remove and replace more than 200 feet of railroad tracks.
The exact date of the closure depends on how quickly the railroad crew completes other work. They will also be reconstructing the crossing farther north on the tracks at Knox road. Union Pacific is trying to schedule both projects back to back.
Construction on the bridge structure itself is still a year away.
Phase-2 Preparations Underway
TxDOT approved the proposed schematics for Phase 2 earlier this year. Phase 2 will:
Expand Northpark Drive from Russell Palmer Road to east of Woodland Hills Drive from four to six lanes
Replace both bridges at the Kingwood Diversion Ditch
Replace the roadway crossing at Ben’s Branch.
Add a 90-acre foot detention basin for more stormwater mitigation and to control flow into the Diversion Ditch.
Now, that TxDOT has approved schematics for Phase 2, LHRA is conducting land surveys, obtaining rights of entry, and preparing documents needed to acquire roadway right-of-way and drainage easements.
Ralph De Leon, TIRZ manager, explained the primary reason for extending the extra lanes east past Woodland Hills. It has to do with drainage, specifically eliminating a huge depression in the roadbed. The road dips from west of the Diversion Ditch almost to Woodland Hills. He said engineers want to establish a consistent elevation between high points.
The purpose of the expansion project is to accommodate growth and create an all-weather evacuation route for 78,000 Kingwood residents.
“All the work we’re doing in Phase 1 would do no good in an evacuation if people couldn’t get to it,” he said.
Red X on left at Bens Branch corresponds to X in elevation profile on right. Source: USGS National Map Viewer.
Construction of Phase 2, however, is still several years away.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241011-DJI_20241011100947_0985_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2024-10-23 21:12:572024-10-24 10:22:22Northpark Crossover at Russell Palmer Closed Friday through Sunday
10/22/24 – The New York Times ran a story today about a radical English experiment to reduce flooding. The gist: giving land back to the sea by turning farm land into salt marsh.
The subhead claims, “When a huge tract of land on the Somerset coast was deliberately flooded, the project was slammed as ‘ridiculous’ by a local lawmaker. But the results have been transformative.”
The experiment is ten years old this year. And the area had record rains. Even after they received a month’s worth of rain in a day in September, no one flooded. Experts believe that England’s traditional defenses – seawalls, barriers and sandbanks – will be insufficient to hold back the sea in the face of climate change.
History of Project
The radical English experiment cost about $20 million pounds ($26 million). “Rather than attempting to resist the sea, the land was given back to it,” says author Rory Smith. He claims that, “A decade on, its results might offer a blueprint for how some parts of Britain — and the rest of the world — might adapt to the reality of climate change.”
“The idea was to turn what had been farmland into salt marsh, an ancient ecosystem that soaks up water as the tide comes in and releases it as the sea retreats.”
The project encountered considerable pushback from displaced farmers. One called it “environmental vandalism.” And a member of parliament called it an “extravagant, ridiculous scheme.”
The NYT points out that since 1860, Britain has lost 85 percent of its salt marshes, according to the U.K. Center for Ecology and Hydrology, a research institute. The article continues, “Returning Steart [the area where the experiment took place] to swampy wilderness was, in part, an acknowledgment that the overdevelopment of coastal land had made flooding more likely, not less.”
Benefits of Experiment
The return to nature began in 2014. After digging a series of canals that look like the veins of a leaf, they let water flow in. It wasn’t pretty at first. But ten years later, “The marsh acts as a natural and hugely effective bulwark against flooding, absorbing and slowing tides before they can encroach inland,” says the leader of a local conservation group.
The man-made swamp has become a haven for wildlife and birdwatching. It is now a source of immense local pride. Cows can even graze within it, eating natural grasses, which allows farmers to sell their leaner beef at a premium. Scientists have even documented the ability of the swamp to act as a carbon sink.
The alliance between the conservationists and the local population has helped to overcome initial objections to the project, which some describe as “rewilding.”
Could It Work Here?
The conservationists in charge of the radical English experiment believe it has great applicability for America and Australia.
Hurricane Ike devastated developed areas along the Bolivar Peninsula in 2008 that still haven’t fully recovered today. But the swamps behind them recovered immediately. Areas still flooded, but flood damage was greatly reduced.
The Times story reminded me of exploring salt marshes near High Island and Anahuac with my Nikon. I’m constantly reminded of the beauty of nature and how the marshes buffer us from flooding. Even more, I’m dazzled by the abundant wildlife.
I took the shot below in December several years ago during the fall migration near Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge. The geese were so thick you could barely see the ground. Or the sky!
Tens of thousands of snow geese taking wing over salt marsh near Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge.
Sometimes the solution may not be to fight nature, but to enjoy it more.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/22/24
2611 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20081214-Snow-Geese-2972.jpg?fit=1100%2C731&ssl=17311100adminadmin2024-10-22 21:25:512024-10-22 21:45:33Radical English Experiment Reduces Flooding
