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
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/20230812-RJR_2234-copy.jpg?fit=1100%2C733&ssl=17331100adminadmin2024-08-28 21:17:342024-09-02 13:04:57Harvey’s Seventh Anniversary Update on Lake Houston Floodgates Project
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
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2024-08-22-CFRTF-General-Meeting-Slide-Deck-_FINAL_Page_07.jpg?fit=2000%2C1125&ssl=111252000adminadmin2024-08-26 17:39:182024-08-26 18:49:08Harris County’s New Definition of Equity
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.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/20210505-DJI_0724.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=19001200adminadmin2024-08-23 19:45:082024-08-23 19:48:42How Abandoned Sand Mines Can Become Community Assets
8/22/24 – If you still have storm debris from Hurricane Beryl, what you do by when depends on where you live and what you need picked up. Procedures and deadlines differ for:
Harris County Precinct 3 Unincorporated Areas
City of Houston
Montgomery County
This post describes what people in those areas need to do to ensure their debris gets removed. Read thoroughly and act swiftly. Some deadlines are only days away.
Beryl debris. Scenes like this were reported throughout the Houston Areaand not all have been removed.
The City of Humble has completed its cleanup effort and so is not included in this post.
Harris County Precinct 3 Unincorporated Areas
The final deadline for reporting storm debris is Monday, September 2. If you still have storm debris in your yard, please be sure to place it at the curb and report it for final pickup. You can do so online or by phone.
Select “Road & Bridge Maintenance” in the service menu
Type “Hurricane Beryl Debris” in the comments section
To report by phone:
Call 713-274-3100 during business hours, Monday – Friday, 7 AM – 4:30 PM.
Instructions:
Please remember to separate your debris for efficient pickup! Visit www.pct3.com or see below for separation guidelines.
From Harris County Precinct 3 Newsletteron 8/22/24.
City of Houston
The City’s Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) collected more than 2.1 million cubic yards of Beryl-related storm debris by August 15. The Department expects to conclude the first pass of storm collections by Saturday, August 31.
In preparation for the next phase of debris collections, SWMD requests residents to place all remaining storm debris at the curbside no later than Sunday, August 25. The department will begin the second pass in earnest on Monday, September 2.
“Residents do not need to report their storm debris to 3-1-1.”
“Storm debris contractors will drive down every street and collect storm debris piles in all public rights of way,” explained this Solid Waste webpage.
SWMD urges residents to:
Separate storm debris from bulk waste, and demolition and construction debris at the curbside. Contaminated debris piles might delay collection until the next bulk waste month.
Ensure that tree trunks are 3 feet or less in diameter and 3 feet or less in length and tree branches are 6 feet or less in length.
Place debris piles within 10 feet onto private property lines as crews cannot encroach beyond that limit.
Beryl struck before the Derecho cleanup finished. Beryl alone created an estimated 4 million cubic yards of storm debris – enough to fill NRG Stadium. So please be patient.
Montgomery County
To have Beryl storm debris picked up, Montgomery County residents must register by August 30. Click this link to begin registration.
If you are still waiting on the first or second passes, make sure you RE-REGISTER and upload a debris photo.
Property owners must fill out a debris removal survey to ensure your vegetative debris will be picked up— tree branches, trees stumps, tree trunks, and branches.
Place vegetative debris as close to road/curb as possible. But do not block ditches or the roadway.
Montgomery County is only picking up vegetative debris. The county is not removing appliances, demolition debris or construction waste.
DO:
Ensure debris is easily accessible
Place it away from obstacles like trees, poles, fire hydrants, meters, mailboxes, or any other structure that could hinder removal
Place it in a county or city right of way.
DON’T:
Block roadways or ditches. Avoid blocking water flow.
Include non-storm-related debris: Only storm-related vegetative debris will be collected.
Use trash bags for tree debris.
Place debris on private property: Collection is limited to the County/City right-of-way.
Place debris in gated communities: Collection does not occur in gated communities.
Obstruct traffic: Avoid placing debris in a way that could pose hazards for drivers.
Residents who live on cul-de-sacs or dead end streets require special equipment to maneuver in tighter areas. That may take longer, so please have patience.
Montgomery County’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (OHSEM) is handling the Beryl response. The information provided when you register will enhance their ability to allocate resources appropriately and expedite the debris removal process.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/22/2024
2550 Days since Hurricane Harvey and 45 since Beryl
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240806-RJR_3763.jpg?fit=1100%2C733&ssl=17331100adminadmin2024-08-22 14:38:132024-08-22 20:12:08Still Have Storm Debris?
For everyone else, I’ve posted a brief summary below. It covers key provisions, including those that affect lake lowering to help reduce flood risk. Spoiler alert: I made a startling discovery at the end of the contract doc.
But let’s start from the top of the Lake Conroe contract.
Key Definition
The first few pages lay out the customary recitals and definitions found in all contracts. The key definition is that of a 1987 Certificate of Adjudication (Number 10-4963, shown in Appendix A) that governs the impoundment, use, diversion, and priorities of water in Lake Conroe.
Ownership Interests
The meat of the contract starts in Article II on page 5: Interests of the Parties. Key points:
SJRA owns the land that constitutes the Lake.
The City owns two-thirds of the water in it.
SJRA owns the remaining one-third.
Each party has the right to sell its share of the water.
Other revenues from the operation of Lake Conroe, such as income from marina leases, go toward operating and maintaining the lake.
Operational Responsibilities
Article III on Page 6 of the Lake Conroe contract lays out operational responsibilities.
SJRA:
Operates and maintains the lake and dam.
Handles all the accounting and reporting for water impounded and released.
Maintains metering devices and monitors withdrawals (must be accurate within ±5% or better)
Lets lakefront homeowners pump water directly from the lake for $150/year to water their lawns
Joint Responsibilities:
Annual reports to public and TCEQ of withdrawals.
Annual withdrawals by their respective customers.
Release of Water and Reservoir Levels (Section 3.04, )age 8)
SJRA must release water when requested by City (subject to restrictions in the Certificate). But it must do so in a way that maximizes the operational yield of the lake.
Liability and Indemnification (Section 3.05, Page 9)
Both parties are jointly liable for damages when the lake is operated according to established procedures.
If one side is negligent, that party assumes sole responsibility for any damages.
Other sections in Article III cover:
Defense of claims
Regulatory compliance
Water Quality
Annual budget and what happens if City Council fails to approve the annual budget
Monthly payments by the City to SJRA for capital, operations and maintenance expenses
Flood mitigation (Section 3.16 (c), Page 17)
Reports and Inspections; Incidental Matters
Article IV, starting on Page 17 covers:
Annual audits
Inspection of records
Disposal of surplus property
Length of Contract
This contract replaces the original 1968 Lake Conroe contract between the City and SJRA. It will remain in effect until terminated by mutual agreement during the useful life of Lake Conroe.
Default and Notice; Remedies; Mediation
Article V covers how the parties will handle disputes. It starts on page 18 and goes through page 23. Basically, it covers procedures leading up to mediation in the event of disagreements.
Force Majeure
Article VII covers force-majeure events. In law, “Force Majeure” means “unforeseeable circumstances that prevent someone from fulfilling a contract.” This section defines what happens during Acts of God, such as hurricanes, storms, floods, droughts, etc.
This Article allows the temporary suspension of normal rules, except those regarding payments. However, it requires resumption of the normal rules after the event.
Other Provisions
Article VIII contains addresses and contact information for each party and approval procedures.
Article IX includes provisions concerning applicable law (State of Texas), procedures for amendments, etc.
Exhibit A
The Certificate of Adjudication from the Texas Water Commission, dated February 25, 1987, limits total withdrawals from Lake Conroe to 100,000 acre feet per year. It lists the maximum withdrawal rate as 700 cubic feet per second.
Note: Some at the SJRA and City have chafed at this limitation. It restricts pre-release rates that could lower Lake Conroe in advance of approaching storms. Some want to raise the limit so that more water could be released earlier and reduce flood peaks.
The TCEQ amended the Certificate in 2010. It keeps the total withdrawals and max withdrawal rate above constant. But it added an additional use for the water. To the original municipal, industrial and mining categories, they added agriculture. It says they did that because they had not received any complaints about the previous limits within each category.
This is, in essence, a permit to release/sell water. And the permit comes with an obligation – to implement water conservation plans, which the TCEQ letter also spells out.
Exhibit B
This 2016 letter from SJRA’s management to the City explains a residential-lawn-watering permit program for lakefront homeowners. The program lets them pump water directly from the lake for a permit fee of $150 per year (as of 2016). That’s 41 cents per day.
They saved the best part for last. This was a real eye opener.
The permits mandate a “drought contingency plan” that impose watering restrictions when the level of the lake gets to 199 feet above mean sea level. Astute readers may remember that SJRA’s seasonal lake lowering plan took the lake down to 199 for large parts of the year.
Editorial Comment
Hmmmmm. Could that be why the Lake Conroe Association (LCA) fought seasonal lake lowering so vigorously?
People protesting the seasonal lake lowering policy wore red shirts saying “Stop the Drop,” and packed SJRA board meetings.
We may never know with certainty whether the loss of lawn watering was the sole or a contributing reason. But either way, unlimited watering of giant lawns for only 41 cents per day certainly helps explain at least some of the pushback from the LCA.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/21/24
2549 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/2019/04/LC-Dam-e1719277556742.jpg?fit=1200%2C549&ssl=15491200adminadmin2024-08-21 20:00:532024-08-22 10:37:16Details of Lake Conroe Contract between SJRA, City
Improving building codes to mandate higher home elevations
Requiring greater setbacks from rivers, streams and bayous
De-snagging to prevent log-jams from backing water up
Preserving wetlands, grasslands and forests to absorb and slow runoff, and to create recreational opportunities for nearby homeowners
Bio-swales and ditches to create more stormwater storage and positive drainage around homes
Buying out flood-prone homes and converting the property to recreational or flood-mitigation space.
I’m sure more techniques exist. But those represent the big categories.
Complex Decisions Involving Many Factors
No one tool works for all situations. And many of the tools that reduce flood risk fly in the face of other human values. They may conflict with other values beyond safety, that we hold dear. Consider, for instance, property rights, individual freedom, job formation, expanding the tax base, a desire to live near water, and risk-taking.
So how do professionals decide which tools to apply where and when?
Again, it depends on a number of factors. To name a few:
Is State or Federal disaster-mitigation aid available?
Is Disaster Relief aid available?
Homeowner Inquiry Prompted Exploration
A homeowner reacted to one of my posts today. She lives in a low-lying area near FM1485 and the San Jacinto East Fork. It flooded badly on May2, 2024. She was certain that dredging and tree removal from the East Fork would help. But after investigating the area online, then from the ground and air, I wasn’t sure.
The normal river elevation in that area is 47.25 feet.
But on May 2, the river rose to 77.4 feet – 17 feet above the top of the river banks and 30 feet above normal!
Jeff Lindner, Harris County Meteorologist, had this to say about the May flood. “Since 1994, this was the second highest crest of the river at FM 1485. It exceeded Tropical Storm Imelda by 4.0 ft and the October 1994 flood by 1.0 ft.”
Lindner continued, “The flood of record remains Harvey which was 4.0 ft higher than the May 2024 event. The river exceeded the .2% (500-yr) exceedance probability elevation at the FM 1485 bridge by 1.5 ft. The table below shows the top five highest peaks on the East Fork of the San Jacinto River since 1994 at that location.”
Residents in this neighborhood experienced five 100-year-or-greater floods in 20 years. That’s one every four years. Is the risk 1% or 25% per year?
See the FEMA floodplain map below for the area in question.
It shows you how difficult flood prediction can be. It also shows you why even nature lovers should give water in Texas a wide berth unless they are prepared to lose everything. The May flood wasn’t even related to a tropical event!
Yellow/green diagonal line is the Harris/Montgomery County line. Image shows neighborhood S of FM1485 near East Fork. Crosshatch=floodway, Aqua=100-year and Tan=500 year floodplain.
Unfortunately, most of the homes in this neighborhood didn’t look like people could afford to lose everything. And I saw several that had been totally obliterated along with two roads that washed out.
I’m not sure what this was. But it was the only structure semi-standing for blocks around.
Professionals Say Buyouts Best Option In This Case, But…
In an area like this, flood-mitigation professionals have few good options. Given the depth of flooding, three professionals told me that intervention would have to be on a massive and costly scale to make a difference. As a result, each suggested buyouts as the best, most cost-effective alternative in this area.
Shortly after the May event, I interviewed a young couple named Daniel and Kathleen Moore. They lived on some of the highest land in the subdivision, but had flooded three times in the seven years that they owned their home (Harvey, Imelda, and May 2024).
They were hoping for a buyout. I called again today to see if they succeeded, but they were selling their property and moving out of state with their new baby. Why?
While Daniel was restoring the home, someone burned it to the ground on July 28th. Nothing stands there now but a charred chimney.
This was a heartbreaking story that deeply affected me personally. I once lived in a home near a creek that flooded frequently when I had two young babies.
While buyouts may sometimes be the most cost-effective option, they are not easy, according to a County Emergency Management Director that I interviewed. Counties must apply for FEMA buyout money and then it can take years to evaluate and rank all the applications and distribute the money.
Forest Cove buyouts took five years after Harvey to complete.
Ironically, the fact that the Moore’s were in a 500-year floodplain may have hurt their buyout chances. FEMA likes money to go to homes that are insured but which flood frequently.
So What About Dredging and Tree Removal?
The Moore’s lived in Montgomery County. But the other family that contacted me lived on the Harris side of the county line in the same neighborhood.
Typical scene in East Fork south of FM1485Area has trees down everywhere.
Experts I talked to suggested dredging wouldn’t make an appreciable difference given the narrow width of the river channel and the height of flooding. Plus, it could undermine more trees along the heavily wooded banks.
Removing trees that have already fallen, they say, is a good idea. They could float downstream, form log dams that flood other homes, and/or harm boaters in Lake Houston. But who is responsible for removing them?
I asked Matt Barrett, head of SJRA’s Flood Management Division. Said Barrett, “SJRA’s jurisdiction does not include Harris County, so projects constructed in Harris County would have to be led by HCFCD.”
Distant Chances for Other Flood Mitigation
That said, Barrett also volunteered that SJRA has partnerships with both HCFCD and the City of Houston. The entities work together on multiple projects from the San Jacinto River Basin Master Drainage Plan. But finding funding remains a challenge. And large scale projects are not quick to implement.
That brings us full circle to the original question in the headline. What was or is the best thing(s) homeowners can do to reduce their flooding chances? In my opinion:
Avoid buying property near water if you have a flooding concern
I’m not a professional engineer and I do not render professional engineering opinions. But I have interviewed a lot of flood victims who wish they could turn back the hands of time and build on higher ground.
Foundation being endangered by riverbank erosion.
If you have the slightest qualms about flooding when purchasing property, make sure you consult a professional engineer to evaluate your risk and mitigation options.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/20/24
2548 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/2024/08/20240820-DJI_20240820122419_0652_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2024-08-20 19:27:412024-08-20 20:02:13What Can Be Done to Reduce Flood Risk?
8/18/24 – The sequence and timing of upcoming construction steps for the Northpark Drive Expansion Project is changing. Project Manager Ralph De Leon wants the public to know what will change, why and when between now and the end of the year.
All parties involved in the construction met last week and agreed to the plan outlined below. However, De Leon warned that it could still change. The new plan will start within the next two to three weeks. The steps outlined below should be substantially completed by December.
Unfortunately, they could involve fewer lanes for a period a time and will cause a total closure of Northpark for three days. The original plan kept two lanes of traffic open in both directions at all times. But that is no longer possible.
Reason for Changes
Due to highly publicized delays caused by utility conflicts, project planners started building pieces of the project out of sequence to keep crews busy.
“We are now out of sequence globally,” said De Leon. “That will never change. So throw out everything you knew in the past. We will publish a new schedule this week or next.”
A complex series of signal changes for traffic, railroad and pedestrian crossings also contributes to the schedule changes. And they will need to be built twice: once for temporary traffic and again for permanent traffic.
Electronics are driving the new Northpark construction sequence more than concrete at this point, according to De Leon. “Boring and installing communication cables to temporary, then permanent signals is the difficult part,” he said.
The schedule changes will not affect what is being built, just when. Nothing has changed regarding the goals. Additional lanes and the planned bridge over 494 and the railroad will still be built.
New Sequence Affects Planned West- and Eastbound Feeder Roads
This new Northpark construction sequence affects how and when the west- and eastbound feeder roads will be constructed. The old plan called for both to be constructed at the same time.
Then traffic was to have been rerouted to the new feeders while contractors demolished the middle. However, that is no longer viable as you can see from photos below.
Instead, Harper Brothers will construct eastbound feeder roads on the south side as they place culverts west to east along the north side. They will start at the Shell station on the northwest corner of Loop 494 and Northpark and work their way down to the area by the Quick Quack Car Wash.
De Leon’s goal is to keep the existing at-grade railroad crossing intact and use that for west bound traffic. The new feeder road on the south side will handle eastbound traffic.
However, that could still change. “We could have to switch everybody (both directions) to the new feeder road. That would mean a single lane for both east- and westbound traffic until the second westbound feeder road is constructed on the north side.”
Pictures Taken Friday 8/17/24
Looking W at Northpark Expansion Project. Previously, planners hoped to install drainage east to west. Now they will move west to east to accommodate UnionPacific which must reroute traffic during its busy season. Still looking west over 494. Contractors are already beginning to work on drainage that will go under 494 and the railroad tracks. Looking east. Two more feeder lanes will be built for east bound traffic south of Northpark.
UPRR will construct a crane on top of the rail tracks needed to install 200 feet of track panel. For that to happen they must rip out the existing rail tracks and reroute all traffic to rail lines that parallel the Hardy Tollroad.
The panel is in a single section that will stretch across ten lanes. UPRR needs that for track stability. However, its length will mean totally closing Northpark for three days.
Still looking east toward Russell Palmer and Kingwood Diversion Ditch. Crews have finished installing culvert and are now building up the center. To see how high, look at the height of manhole covers already installed.
While painful now, when finished, this project will give Kingwood its first all-weather evacuation route. It could save lives in the future.
For More Information
For more information about Northpark Drive expansion and a history of the project, see these posts on ReduceFlooding.
