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Save the Date: SJRA Joint Reservoir Operations Meeting March 5

2/20/2026 – The San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) will hold a public input meeting at the Humble Civic Center on March 5 from 6-8 PM to discuss its Joint Reservoir Operations Study. According to Matt Barrett PE, SJRA’s Water Resources and Flood Management Division Manager, “one of the main objectives of the study is to determine if there are any benefits to pre-releases from Lake Conroe and Lake Houston.”

Timing Affected by Lake Houston Gates Engineering

SJRA first applied for a grant to study synchronizing releases from the two dams back in 2020. However, the project to add crest gates to the Lake Houston Dam hit a setback when the City could not find any contractors willing to bid on the project. The issue had to do with the potential liability associated with working on a 70-year-old concrete structure already badly in need of repair.

gates for Lake Houston and Conroe — Old Lake Houston gates (l) are being replaced by new gates in the earthen eastern portion of the dam (not shown here), so that Lake Houston releases can keep up with what Lake Conroe Gates (r) released during Harvey – 79,000 CFS.

With the crest-gate proposal dead, the City went to Plan B. They are now studying tainter gates for the earthen eastern portion of the dam.

Lake Houston Dam — *Gates like Conroe’s will now go in the bottom portion of the image above.*

The second study recently reached a milestone. Engineering is now 30% complete. That’s widely regarded as the point where a project becomes real enough to make valid estimates about feasibility, costs, timelines and more.

Said Barrett, “We wanted to make sure we understood the future condition at Lake Houston before we pulled the trigger on our analysis.”

Main Objective of Joint Operations Study

Now that engineers have a better idea of what the new gates on Lake Houston’s Dam can do, it’s possible to see whether any benefits accrue from trying to synchronize pre-releases with Lake Conroe. A pre-release from Lake Conroe only makes sense when storms reach there first, i.e., from the north. A pre-release from Conroe when a storm approaches from the south could doubly flood the Lake Houston Area.

The major goal of this study is to determine how effective pre-releases really are. Barrett must also ensure pre-releases don’t negatively impact water supply.

Second Objective: Flow-Forecasting Tool

The study will also develop a flow-forecasting tool for Lake Houston. Barrett says it will help provide more information on anticipated volumes of stormwater coming into Lake Houston during storm events. “We will look at the entire basin,” he said, “to predict flows. So, that could be a very helpful tool.”

Results Will Inform Lake Houston Gate-Operations Policy

Barrett added, “Our intention was originally to develop the gate operations policy for Lake Houston – for the new gates that they’re looking to install. But that’s now being done as part of their gates project. So, in this study, we’re just supporting them with relevant data that comes out of our study. We’ll support development of their gate policy. But it will not be dictated by this project.”

“The study will also consider the travel time of water between Lake Conroe and Lake Houston, a factor that’s crucial in evaluation of pre-releases,” said Barrett. That’s crucial to understand if coordination of pre-releases is necessary.

Benefit Area

The study will potentially benefit the area between Lake Conroe and Lake Houston as well as the people around each lake.

Will pre-releases lower flood risk? “That’s what we want to find out,” said Barrett.

“I hope whatever the results are that they’ll be trusted. And that people will accept what the engineering says, whichever direction it happens to go,” said Barrett.

Meet the Experts

On March 5, Lake Houston Area Residents will have an opportunity to meet representatives from the SJRA, Coastal Water Authority, City of Houston, Humble, and the consultant, Black & Veatch Engineering.

“Pre-release has had a lot of interest over the years,” said Barrett. “So, I think it’s good for us to answer the question once and for all. Is it effective and is it something that provides benefits?”

Mark Your Calendar

Humble Civic Center
March 5 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
8233 Will Clayton Pkwy, Humble, TX 77338

Experience of Other River Basins

This is not an unusual problem. Most rivers have multiple dams. For instance, multiple dams on the lower Colorado River help keep Austin from flooding.

There’s a well-established body of work showing that coordinating operations across multiple reservoirs can produce measurable flood-mitigation benefits. However, hydrology, travel times, and downstream constraints must align.

The big win is usually shaving peak flow by avoiding “release stacking” (upstream releases arriving downstream at the same time as local inflows, i.e., from the East Fork or Spring and Cypress Creeks).

Other engineers in other watersheds have seen flood-mitigation benefits when their studies identified operating rules that:

Prevented release “coincidence” – We must avoid upstream releases arriving at the same time as peak local inflows from other uncontrolled tributaries
Used forecasts intelligently – Pre-release only works when forecast confidence and downstream capacity justify it
Respected downstream constraints – Don’t exceed channel limits.

Make-or-break technical questions for the San Jacinto Watershed will likely include:

Travel time for water between Lake Conroe and Lake Houston and how that changes with different base flows.
Downstream constraints such as local rainfall in the Lake Houston watershed
Forecast confidence and decision triggers – When will forecasts be reliable enough to justify pre-release without wasting water supply or making flooding worse.
What will the study optimize for? Peak flood stage at specific gages? Total damages? Avoiding emergency spillway use? Protecting evacuation routes? Something else?

Bring your questions to the Civic Center. The engineers will have a presentation at 6:30 but be available to talk before and after that.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/20/26

3097 Days since Hurricane Harvey

Need for Watershed-Wide Solutions to Ensure Flood Resilience

2/19/26 – Texas 2036 and the American Flood Coalition hosted an informative seminar on 2/17/26. It emphasized lessons learned from other states that help ensure flood resilience. One of the dominant themes of the day was the need for watershed-wide flood solutions. Without watershed-wide solutions, upstream communities can create the conditions of their own future flooding while putting downstream communities on an expensive flood-mitigation treadmill.

About the Sponsors

The mission of Texas 2036 is to enable Texans to make policy decisions through accessible data, long-term planning and statewide engagement. Its goal is to make Texas the best place to live and work. 2036 refers to Texas’ upcoming bicentennial year.

The American Flood Coalition (AFC) is a bipartisan, member-driven coalition working at all levels of government to scale innovative solutions to the country’s toughest flood-adaptation challenges.

A Watershed-Based Approach to Flooding

Dr. Ruth Akintoye kicked off the first presentation with a reminder that the new Texas State Flood Plan is organized along watershed boundaries. And not just sub-watersheds, but entire river basins. That’s because floodwater does not respect jurisdictional boundaries.

“This requires communities to collaborate regionally and also to coordinate with the state,” said Akintoya.

Akintoya gave a shout-out to more than 50 Texans for their leadership on flooding issues and securing more than $4 billion to fund flood and water projects across the state. She singled out Congressman Dan Crenshaw by name.

Crenshaw AFC slide — *Texas Members of the American Flood Coalition*. *(Crenshaw Top Row/Middle)*

As a group, they’re trying to bring a 360-degree view of flooding to everyone in the state. “Texas is already a leader in how states approach flood resilience,” said Akintoya. “Yet we all know that resilience is not static and it never fully gets checked off.”

Benefits of a Watershed-Wide Approach

Throughout the seminar, speakers kept referring to the benefits of a watershed-wide approach to flood resilience. They include:

Comprehensive solutions where the pieces work better together
Saving money through various techniques
Better flood prediction
Increased coordination when pursuing funding from partners at various levels of government.

*High-level benefits of a watershed wide flood-mitigation approach*

Florida’s Always-Ready Long-Range Plan

Former speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, Chris Sprowls, amplified those thoughts. He talked about the passage of Florida’s landmark “Always Ready” legislation. AFC called it “the nation’s most comprehensive state-level flood resilience and adaptation initiative.”

The initiative positioned Florida as a leader in preparing communities for rising flood risks. The Florida Plan looks 30 years into the future. Sprowls talked about similarities between Texas and Florida. Namely, both are hubs for domestic migration.

“People are coming to find a better life for their families and a pathway to prosperity. But the downside of that is that we have to plan further into the future,” said Sprowls.

“In Florida,” said Sprowls, “we think about water from a watershed perspective.” In the past, “we weren’t doing the planning and making the investments really needed to keep our communities safe.”

New Texas Flood Plan Based on River-Basin-Wide Approach

Former executive director of the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), Jeff walker, talked about the river-basin-wide approach in the first Texas State Flood Plan. The total cost of recommendations was $51 billion. “But to give some perspective, the losses associated with Hurricane Harvey were over $125 billion. That’s from one storm,” he said.

One of the first things Texas learned, said Walker, was that “a large, large majority of the flood maps were out of date.”

“The FEMA maps did not give a full picture of the risk or pinpoint mitigation measures,” he added.”Except for the larger metropolitan areas, most cities and counties do not have a good picture of flood risks. As you can imagine, many cities need technical assistance to help them identify such risk.”

Even worse, Walker said, “Many entities cannot access funds because they do not have a good plan for how to use them. And there is not a good mechanism for flood funding at the city level – especially small cities – because they do not have a source of [matching] funds for such projects.”

Walker believes one of the biggest impacts of the State Flood Plan is that state, local, and watershed-level districts are finally engaging with one another about projects. “It’s not happening in little silos anymore,” he said. He believes that “gives one dollar the power of two.”

“There are more than 1,200 flood managers in Texas, and some of them hold 3 or 4 hats.”
Jeff Walker, Former Exec. Dir., TWDB

He referred to mayors and city managers responsible for flood projects “they don’t know how to do.” A river-basin-wide flood-control district would put that expertise at their disposal.

Fast Growth Argues For Wider Outlook

Florida’s Sprowls fielded many of the questions during Q&A. Several questions addressed fast growth. “It’s really important to fold vulnerabilities into future development plans,” he said. “As population grows and economic development booms in new areas, you need to understand how risk scales relevant to that development. And you can make smart choices to mitigate that risk.”

Texas State Rep. Dennis Paul sponsored such a bill in 2025 to expand Harris County Flood Control District’s geographic scope, but it never made it out of the Natural Resources Committee. Rep. Paul reportedly plans to introduce it again in 2027.

As awareness grows about the benefits of flood-control districts that cover entire river basins, he may have better luck next time. It’s important. The state flood plan shows that the San Jacinto Basin (Region 6) has the largest flood-mitigation needs in the state…by a wide margin.

*From Jeff Walker’s presentation. San Jacinto needs (Region 6 in center) approach $8 billion.*

See the entire hour-long seminar on the Texas 2036 website.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/19/26

3096 Days since Hurricane Harvey

Endorsing Marty Lancton for County Judge in Republican Primary

2/18/26 – In the Republican primary for Harris County Judge, I’m endorsing Marty Lancton. There are many good candidates on the Republican slate. I’ve been to several forums and heard them all speak. And I’ve talked personally with most.

I first met Lancton at Amadeus over lunch five months ago. And I’ve had numerous meetings and communications with him ever since. I endorse him for many reasons.

Proven Leadership Experience in a Political Environment

Lancton is head of the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association and VP of the Texas State Association of Fire Fighters. As such, he has represented more than 20,000 fire fighters and paramedics statewide in Austin for many years, as well as 4,000 of those working in Houston.

*Lancton lobbied for seven years to reach a deal with the City on firefighter pay.*

If elected, Lancton would have to represent the County when dealing with Austin and Houston City Hall. He already knows the players and political landscape well. He has lobbied in both places for years and understands how to get things done.

In forging consensus, he listens and seeks common ground. I’ve already seen it firsthand.

In my opinion…

He’s sorely needed in today’s polarized, name-calling, overheated, burn-your-opponent-to-the-ground, and stomp-on-their-ashes political environment.

Already Helping Lake Houston Area

Lancton also stands out when it comes to understanding the needs of the Lake Houston Area – especially the flood-mitigation needs.

Lancton Rescue Boat During Harvey — *Rescue boat piloted by Lancton during Hurricane Harvey evacuation*

Before retirement, I owned a business. And I quickly learned to promote people who were already doing the job they wanted to get. Lancton has impressed me in that regard. He has already reached out to his Austin contacts to help with flooding issues in the Lake Houston Area.

Saving Lives During Shock and Awe of Mother Nature

Moreover, as a first responder, he has witnessed firsthand how winds, rain and floods can destroy homes and lives.

Lancton's squad during derecho — *Lancton’s squad rescuing residents whose home was crushed by giant tree during the 2024 derecho*

He has evacuated victims on his back and in lifeboats. It’s one thing to understand problems intellectually and another to feel the shock-and-awe of Mother Nature for days on end as you repeatedly put your own life on the line to help fellow human beings you never met.

Lancton accepting flag for family of fallen firefighter — *Lancton accepting flag to convey to family of fallen firefighter.*

In a similar vein, candidate Lancton has waded neck deep into the political fray. It takes extraordinary courage and character to expose oneself to that these days…again to help fellow human beings he has never met.

Electable

If elected Harris County Judge, Lancton would be accountable to all county residents, whether they identify as Democrats or Republicans. In that regard, Lancton has a history of working across the aisle to build consensus and get results.

Among Republican candidates, he uniquely stands out on that score. He is a lifelong Republican, endorsed by Governor Greg Abbott. Yet the firefighters union also elected him as its leader.

While that may raise questions for some, I see it as a plus.

He can draw support from both sides of the aisle in a way that perhaps other candidates cannot. And that makes him electable in the general election still nine months away.

Meeting The Challenges Ahead

Harris County has enormous challenges ahead. Flood mitigation. Improving public safety. Fixing infrastructure. Cutting wasteful spending to reduce property taxes. Improving service delivery. And restoring trust in government … to name just a few.

Lancton has the experience, temperament, and energy to take on these tasks. I already voted for him and hope you do, too.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/18/26

3095 Days since Hurricane Harvey

How to Recognize Political Deception from Trolls, Bots and Engagement Farms

2/17/26 – Early voting starts today. I hope everyone votes. Electing people who address the problems of their constituents is essential. But sometimes, it’s hard to recognize who those people are because of political deception using trolls, bots and “engagement farms.” These invisible influencers can:

Undermine our understanding of issues
Alter our perception of reality, much like a drug would
Rob us of the power to make informed decisions
Trick us into voting against our own self-interest.

How? By flooding social media with false information disguised as comments from legitimate users, they make it appear as though there is a groundswell of opposition to a particular candidate.

My First Clue

Several weeks ago, I posted what I thought was an innocent story about Congressman Dan Crenshaw. It detailed how a Federal grant he secured for improvements to the Kingwood Diversion Ditch kept the project from being killed by Democrats in Harris County Commissioners Court.

Out of nowhere, the post was flooded with off-topic comments criticizing Crenshaw and promoting Steve Toth. Toth is running against Crenshaw in the new Texas Congressional District 2.

My post never mentioned Toth. But comments on the post ripped apart Crenshaw, a war hero who has dedicated his life to public service and improving public safety.

Toth’s trolls were as relentless as a pack of rabid jackals. I spent hours trying to respond to their inane comments before I gave up … exhausted. Since then, I’ve been investigating what happened. It goes way beyond the childish defacing of an opponents election signs … which Toth also does.

*Photo taken today outside polling location. In Texas, this is criminal, with fines up to $2,000 and up to 30 days in jail.*

Online, bots and trolls can be programmed to bomb posts and pages with scripted comments that wear down humans and crowd out legitimate discussion. They often work together to create the impression of widespread discontent about political opponents. This can influence people who may not follow politics closely. They sense the majority has concerns about a candidate. So, they vote for his/her opponent.

Engagement Farms

I also learned about “engagement farms.” Engagement farms coordinate employees who control multiple accounts and are directed to:

Comment
Dislike
Share
Gang up on others
Attack opponents
Artificially inflate visibility.

They are often paid by the volume of interactions. ChatGPT cites publicly advertised engagement-farm service rates ranging from $50 to $300 per 1000 comments. Now you know why trolls often use one word comments such as “Hogwash”!

Unlike bots, engagement farms generate authentic human interaction. That makes detecting them harder. But they all use similar techniques to slime an opponent’s reputation.

How to Recognize When You’re Arguing with a Troll, Bot or Engagement Farm

Below, I use the word “troll” to apply to all three categories. Their tactics and goals are similar. Their hallmarks include:

Intentional provocation (not just disagreement):
- They post inflammatory, extreme or deliberately offensive claims to trigger outrage
- When others try to respond constructively, they steer toward conflict
- They seek antagonism
- Comments amplify conflict rather than resolve it
- Trolls label someone as corrupt, inept, or bad without evidence.
Bad-faith argumentation:
- Ignoring responses
- Misrepresenting others’ positions to make them easier to attack
- Moving the goal posts once counter-evidence appears
- Trying to muddy the analysis
- Nitpicking technicalities to derail substantive discussion
- No amount of evidence ever convinces a troll.
Circular discussions
Anonymity and disposable identities:
- Trolls often operate from new accounts with no or little history in them
- The accounts have no or minimal personal information
- These allow lying without jeopardizing the reputation of the troll
- If blocked, new fake accounts quickly replace old fake accounts.
Derailing topic threads into unrelated controversies
Hijacking legitimate discussion with ideological provocation
Repeating previously debunked claims to restart conflict
Rapid “pile on” behavior indicates coordinated activity
Minimal debate among those piling on
Unlike someone who simply vents, trolls typically:
- Re-engage repeatedly after pushback
- Continue, even when ignored, to escalate intensity and reignite arguments
- Seek visibility, not persuasion
- Take extreme, minority positions to provoke conflict
- Cast doubt without proving allegations
- Spew misinformation
- Cite obscure blogs or misleading statistics
- Present partial truths without context
- Mix legitimate data with distortions.
Claiming false affiliations (I’m a lifelong Republican, but that guy…)
Pretending to be local when they may be overseas
Selective skepticism:
- They apply high evidentiary standards to opponents, but…
- Accept vague, anecdotal evidence that supports their side
- Ignore contradictory facts.
Coordinated behavior:
- Multiple accounts repeat similar phrases
- Synchronized messaging
- Identical sentence structures
- Specific rhetorical constructions, such as:
  - Unusual word choices
  - Semantic duplication, even when wording changes slightly
  - Copy-pasted paragraphs with minor edits
  - The same metaphors, accusations and claims without citations or context (He’s a RINO!)
  - Reused rhetoric
  - Name-calling
High outward aggression, low inward disagreement.

Why It Matters

Trolls use intentional, bad-faith provocation to disrupt legitimate discourse or elicit emotional reactions. Trolls want to mislead. Their disruption denies people the information they need to make voting decisions based on facts.

Political trolling also increases polarization and creates public distrust of government. People begin to think, “All politicians are corrupt.”

Taking Trolling to Next Level

“Engagement Farms” pay people to perform online tasks that influence your behavior. They began a decade or so ago by paying people to submit fake product reviews. In politics today, they are used to:

Damage and harass opponents
Simulate grassroots outrage
Influence undecideds.

Engagement farm attacks:

Feel personal
Appear socially validated
Create a strong perception of widespread consensus.

They seek to make you doubt. In the end, unless you really know the contestants first hand, you may follow an imaginary crowd. They make it hard to discern fact from fiction. And that is happening in the Crenshaw/Toth race.

Exploiting a Regulatory Gap

Social media comment-based attacks often avoid regulations on traditional advertising. For instance, they don’t require disclosure of the sponsor. This regulatory gap is significant.

Super PACs can often legally spend unlimited, untraceable amounts on engagement farm services.

While hiding behind the First Amendment, they wear down and exhaust humans trying to interact legitimately.
Bob Rehak

In the digital age, they amplify digital discontent like hecklers at a political rally. Enforcement actions against them are rare, difficult to prove and occur long after the election is over…if ever.

I personally believe nothing coming from the Toth camp. I’ve caught them in too many lies. I have endorsed Crenshaw, a man I have known for eight years and who has delivered hundreds of millions of flood-mitigation dollars for the Lake Houston Area.

Caution: Disclaimer

Campaign supporters acting individually may use some of the tactics outlined above. Some may even support Steve Toth without pay.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/17/26

3094 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.

Vote for Crenshaw in Congressional District 2 Republican Primary

2/14/26 – The Republican primary in the newly redrawn Congressional District 2 (CD2) pits U.S. Congressman Dan Crenshaw against State Rep. Steve Toth.

Crenshaw is running for his fifth term in Washington. Toth is running for his first, although Toth has served five terms in the Texas House representing a portion of southern Montgomery County.

I endorse Crenshaw for several reasons, not the least of which is his experience and seniority in Washington. That has enabled him to bring home hundreds of millions of dollars in flood-mitigation funds for CD-2.

From a flood-mitigation perspective, Crenshaw equals “proven results.”
Bob Rehak

Dan Crenshaw (center) reviewing flood damage along Harris/MoCo line.

Crenshaw (black shirt) saw first hand why Elm Grove flooded. Then he got mitigation dollars to help the victims.

Crenshaw Delivers Results, Not Spin

Crenshaw isn’t just saying flood-mitigation is important to get your vote. He has repeatedly delivered dollars to reduce flood risk. He has authored and passed legislation that has funded upstream detention, dredging and additional gates for the Lake Houston Dam – exactly what he promised in 2018.

Upstream detention reduces stormwater coming into the Lake Houston Area during floods
Dredging increases the conveyance of rivers and streams so they don’t overflow into your living room
More floodgates will allow faster lowering of lake levels before storms to create more storage capacity in the lake. They will also lower lake levels faster during storms to help keep floodwaters at manageable levels.

Flood mitigation requires doing the hard work of crafting support for such measures among colleagues in the legislature..

Saying you’re FOR something is simple. Delivering results is much harder.

And Crenshaw has delivered consistently. Seniority and relationships count for something in Congress. Crenshaw’s opponent has neither.

Crenshaw’s Opponent Consistently Voted Against Flood Mitigation

Even worse, Crenshaw’s opponent consistently voted AGAINST measures that would have helped protect the Lake Houston Area.

Mr. Toth voted AGAINST:

The Lake Houston Dredging and Maintenance District
Warning systems for high-flood-risk areas
Prohibiting construction of assisted-living centers for seniors in floodplains
A river-basin-wide flood-control district
Reducing sedimentation from upstream sand mines.

Toth Doesn’t Study Issues

Mr. Toth has tried to justify his vote on the dredging district by spreading misinformation. He claims that flood control is the sole reason the Legislature established the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) and that SJRA should be responsible for dredging.

Actually, the SJRA’s enabling legislation listed 19 reasons for its creation. Most have to do with water supply. In fact, flood control is mentioned only within the context of building dams for water supply. The enabling legislation never mentions dredging.

Toth’s Voting Record and Tactics

If you really want to see what Toth stands FOR, see what he voted AGAINST. Toth voted against free speech, food banks, cybersecurity, conservation, grid reliability, open meetings, transparency, ethics, border security, fraud protections, and disclosure of campaign finance information. He even voted AGAINST bills to protect victims of family abuse and sex trafficking. His voting records in 2021 and 2023 were shocking. And in 2025, he reached new lows.

He even called me dishonest for simply reporting his official voting record from the Texas Legislature Online website. Watch out. Disagree with him and he’ll sic his rabid pack of paid trolls on you, too!

Reasonable Republicans Must Vote in Primary

Toth leads a group of Montgomery County extremists who are so far right they border on anarchists. But they all vote in primaries. And that’s precisely why it’s important for reasonable Republicans who care about public safety to vote in this primary.

Given the composition of the new CD2, the real election starts this week. I’m voting for Crenshaw and I hope you do, too, with your friends, neighbors and relatives. Before it’s too late.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/15/26

3092 Days since 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.

Quick Action by Resident Halts Spring Creek Environmental Abuse

2/13/26 – Three days ago, Jennifer Stewart, one of my readers, was riding her bike up the Spring Creek Greenway when she witnessed a river of sludge pouring out of a construction site. It was going straight into the creek at a high rate of speed. She immediately contacted me and within the hour I had taken dozens of drone photos documenting the environmental abuse.

Within a couple more hours, I notified Harris County Flood Control. The next morning, I posted about the illegal discharge and how to report it to the proper authorities. Many readers complained to the TCEQ, Harris County Flood Control, Harris County Engineering, and Harris County Pollution Control.

Today, I returned to the site to see if the contractors were still pumping sludge into the creek. I’m happy to say that they were NOT. County environmental investigators had quickly issued citations to Spring ISD, its contractors and environmental consultant.. The County gave them until 2/14/26 to bring their site into compliance with federal, state and county environmental regulations – or else they will receive more citations.

Today, instead of pumping more sludge into Spring Creek, the contractors were installing pollution-prevention measures that should have been in place all along. For instance:

Riprap (rock used to protect channel embankments) that reduces erosion
Silt fences that filter sediment out of water escaping from construction sites
Rock gabions (baskets filled with rocks), also designed to filter runoff.

Who knows how long the contractors would have continued circumventing best management practices had it not been for Stewart who: a) recognized the violations, b) documented them, and c) reported them quickly? Thank you, Jennifer!

Magnitude of Sediment-Pollution Problem

Sediment pollution is widely regarded by hydrologists and water-quality regulators as the single largest pollutant by volume in U.S. surface waters. It is not always toxic, but it is often the most structurally damaging because it alters channel geometry, reduces floodwater storage, and transports contaminants.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has repeatedly identified sediment as the most common cause of water-quality impairment in the rivers and streams it has studied.
USGS studies indicate that construction activities are a major source of sediment in small streams.
Roughly 25–45% of assessed U.S. streams show impairment linked directly to suspended sediment or siltation.

Sediment Discharges Amplify Other Threats

Sediment discharges contribute to the loss of hydraulic conveyance of rivers and streams. When that happens, channel cross-sections shrink and floodwaters rise.

According to ChatGPT, a 10–20% loss of conveyance area can raise flood elevations dramatically. Some estimate the increase could exceed Atlas-14 rainfall increases of about 30% in this area. Also…

Rainfall is episodic. But sediment is cumulative.

Sediment ranks at the top of long-term flood threats for the Lake Houston Area because it:

Increases dredging dependence
Is difficult to regulate retroactively.

It also buries spawning beds for fish and kills aquatic vegetation that filters water.

Importance of Reporting Violations

Regulatory agencies depend on the help of an educated public to report problems promptly when they see them.

Emily Woodell, a spokesperson for Harris County Flood Control District, had this to say about the Spring Creek construction site. “We sent our teams out there and they are working with the Harris County Engineering Department (HCED) on the effort. HCED is actually the entity with regulatory authority, and they issued a citation to the developer.”

“We always want to hear about these kinds of issues. The best way to submit them is via our Citizen Service Center on our website. The requests go straight to our Fast Action Service Teams to investigate and take the appropriate action. It takes all of us being the eyes and ears on the ground, and we truly appreciate every report.”

Pictures Taken February 10, 2026

Compare the pictures taken on February 10 to the ones farther below (taken today). Today’s show installation of pollution-prevention measures and a dramatic improvement in water quality. But first the “problem” shots.

Construction site sediment pollution — *Construction site of Spring ISD’s new high school emptying sludge straight into Spring Creek*

Photos Taken 2/13/26

Note the dramatic changes in pictures taken today.

*After investigation and citation, discharge stopped*.

*Sediment remains from previous discharge, but water is running much clearer.*

Pump remains by bulldozer in foreground, but is not pumping. Note the riprap at the top of frame to the right of the dump truck where pumped water will discharge into the small channel leading to the creek. The riprap will reduce headward erosion.

*Beyond the riprap, note the silt fences and what appear to be gabions in the channel leading to the creek to further filter discharged water.*

*They still have a lot of muck to pump.* *We’ll all be watching to see what happens next.*

ABC13’s Brianna Willis also covered this story. Spring ISD told her (not on camera) that they take environmental compliance seriously.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/13/2026

3090 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.

FEMA Releases New Draft Flood Maps for Harris County and Houston

Update 3/10/26: To compare old and new flood maps, see New 2026 DRAFT Floodplain Maps for Harris County. See how floodplains and floodways have changed since Tropical Storm Allison. Mapping Change Comparison checkbox in lower left activates a slider that lets you see changes between old and new maps.

2/12/26 – FEMA has released new draft flood maps for Harris County and Houston. Houston spills over the county line in some places, including near Kingwood. And the new maps show floodplains where the City limits exceed the County’s.

The new maps reflect Atlas 14 data acquired after Harvey. The old maps use data acquired after Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 and were released in 2007. So, the new ones reflect the current best available data.

But understand several things about the new maps. While they are important, they aren’t final yet. And they’re visually confusing compared to previous maps. But help is on the way. See more below.

Important Background

These maps reflect changing conditions in Harris County, including a more than 30% increase in rainfall rates, updated topography and advanced modeling.

After major storms between 2015 and 2017, including Hurricane Harvey, it became clear that existing floodplain maps were not fully reflecting flood risk.

Thousands of families flooded outside of mapped high-risk areas. Updated maps help residents, businesses, emergency managers, and local governments better understand risk and make more informed decisions.

Not Yet Final

Emily Woodell, a spokesperson for Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) emphasized, “It is important to emphasize that, at this stage, these are DRAFT maps from FEMA intended for technical review by floodplain administrators. They are not final, not regulatory, and not part of FEMA’s formal public appeal and comment process.”

“Nothing changes right now related to flood insurance requirements or development regulations.”

Emily Woodell, HCFCD Spokesperson

It will take another year or two to finalize the new maps. They must go through several stages of comment and revision, each with different names.

After floodplain managers comment on the “DRAFT” maps, FEMA will make revisions and release “PRELIMINARY” flood maps for the general public. The public (including developers) will then have a chance to comment or protest. But at that stage, FEMA will require an engineering study before making changes.

After making revisions from the public comment period, FEMA will release “EFFECTIVE” flood maps, aka, the new gold standard for flood risk. That’s what flood insurance will be based on.

*New flood map of Kingwood Area using satellite view.* From FEMA.

FEMA’s DRAFT Map Visually Confusing

FEMA’s new flood maps are visually confusing at this time – especially if you’re used to the old flood maps. Unfortunately, FEMA uses one viewer for the entire country – cities and rural areas alike. The viewer may work well for some areas, but not for Harris County with its thickets of tree-lined, winding streets.

To see FEMA’s new maps, click here.

Some hints:

In the left column at the bottom, select “Draft Database for Community Review.”
From the base map gallery, select “Street View.”
Click the magnifying glass and enter your address or area of interest. You can also scroll to your location.
You may have to zoom in to display the floodplains. Use the +/- keys in the lower right.
The map doesn’t work on cell phones. You must use a desktop or laptop.

You can compare the new and old maps by toggling between the “Draft Database Maps for Community Review” and the “Effective Flood Hazard” Maps. The Effective Maps are the current ones. Draft Maps will eventually replace them.

Compared to the old multi-colored maps, these are monochromatic. Different zones are represented by shades and dots, not colors.

No dots means you’re outside of any defined flood zone.
A light colored area with dots (inside the first line) means “500-year flood plain/.2% annual chance.”
The darker colored area with dots (inside a second line) means you’re in the “100-year floodplain/1% annual chance.”

The news maps are amazingly detailed. And that’s part of what makes them confusing. Instead of a line cutting through a neighborhood or farm, these maps outline flood zones just a foot or two wide. For instance, although my house and yard are above the 500-year floodplain, my drainage ditch is in it. But only part of the ditch!

More User-Friendly HCFCD Versions of Maps

Woodell said, “We recognize these maps can be difficult to navigate. To make FEMA’s information more accessible, the Flood Control District is launching a more user-friendly online map viewer that displays the same draft data in a clearer, easier-to-understand format.”

HCFCD Director Dr. Tina Petersen announced in Commissioners Court today, that Flood Control is posting the maps for public review this afternoon, instead of next week as previously announced..

The more user-friendly DRAFT maps can also be found here on the MAAPnext site. They even include a slider that lets you compare the currently EFFECTIVE maps developed after Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 with the new DRAFT maps based on data collected after Harvey. To activate the slider, check the “Mapping Change Comparison” box at the bottom of the legend on the left.

“We will also host informational webinars and continue working closely with floodplain administrators, local partners, and community stakeholders to help residents understand what this means and what comes next,” she said.

DRAFT FEMA Maps Reflect Mitigation Progress

According to Woodell, the draft FEMA maps reflect much of the mitigation progress already made since Harvey.

They reflect the benefits of flood-mitigation projects completed or under construction through 2020. And early results show areas where flood risk has decreased because of those investments. That includes projects made possible through the 2018 Bond Program. It also includes the detention basins that Perry Homes eventually added to Woodridge Village before selling their property to Harris County Flood Control. Elm Grove and Mills Branch floodplains shrank considerably.

“That means in some neighborhoods, families who once faced repeated flooding are now seeing measurable reductions in risk,” said Woodell. “There is more work to do, but we know these projects are making a difference.”

HCFCD expects to bid four new projects, for instance, after Commissioners Court today. One of them is in Kingwood. See item 250: Woodridge Village/Taylor Gully.

Impact of New Maps on Development

The new maps will eventually raise the bar for developers such as Romerica and Ron Holley. Some areas formerly classified as floodplain are now classified as floodway. All of Holley’s property on the East Fork is now floodway. Similarly, the floodway expanded in the property Signorelli is trying to develop as The Crossing at the Commons of Lake Houston.

You may see a rush to develop floodplain properties as FEMA moves toward finalizing the new EFFECTIVE flood maps, which should take two to three years. So stay alert.

The new DRAFT maps can also be used by home buyers to check the flood risk of properties they are considering.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/12/2026

3089 Days since Harvey

Construction Site Pumping Sludge Straight into Spring Creek

2/11/26 – Based on a tip from a reader, I learned that a large construction site along Spring Creek near the Hardy Toll Road and State Highway 99 was pumping muddy stormwater directly into Spring Creek.

Images Sent By Reader

The reader sent me pictures taken along the Spring Creek Greenway that suggested this was no accidental overflow. The images show neatly cut and stacked underbrush along a ditch cut between the construction site and the creek.

*Photo taken by reader on 2/10/26. Reader wishes to remain anonymous.*

Another photo taken from a greenway bridge shows the speed of the discharge.

*Note that the discharge appears to have been much higher at one point judging by the grass laying down.*

Aerial Images Taken on 2/10/2026

So, I grabbed my drone and headed over to nearby Harris County Precinct 3 Dennis Johnston Park. From the air, you could clearly see where the sediment-laden sludge was coming from.

*Construction site emptying detention basin straight into Spring Creek*

*Someone had cut channels to drain silty stormwater from a drainage ditch and detention basin.*

*The path to Spring Creek took the sludge under the greenway in the forest.*

*Opposite angle shows muck flowing straight into Spring Creek.*

*Silt migrating downstream* *toward Harmony, Benders Landing Estates, Humble, Kingwood and Lake Houston.*

*They were actually pumping the sediment from the stormwater detention basin.*

…*And those silt fences don’t do much good when you tear them down.*

The Human Toll: Ruining a Community Asset

The reader who sent me the ground level images told me how she felt she had had a pleasant experience stolen from her. She was out for a fun bike ride during spring break. The Spring Creek Greenway is one of the longest urban trails in North America. It is supposed to be a refuge. But instead of clear water and a healthy ecosystem, she found this appalling sight.

She said the plume was migrating downstream toward Jesse Jones Park where she saw “tons of kids fishing today.”

An avid environmentalist, she says, “Siltation kills the fishing experience. The cloudy water makes it impossible for sight-feeding fish to hunt for insects. And the heavy sediment smothers the ‘honey holes’ where fish congregate.”

Silt Contributes to Flooding

When a developer pumps mud into the creek, that sediment eventually settles and raises the creek bed. That means the channel holds less water.

Spring Creek is a major tributary to the San Jacinto West Fork. Every ton of mud pumped into the Spring Creek eventually migrates downstream to the San Jacinto, exacerbating flood risks in Humble, Kingwood and the Lake Houston Area.

Pumping silt like this also creates a burden on taxpayers. Developers profit by taking “shortcuts” on-site. But the public pays the price. When the river fills with silt and flood risk increases, taxpayers bear the burden of multi-million dollar dredging projects to restore the river’s capacity.

Since Harvey, taxpayers have spent hundreds of millions of dollars dredging area rivers.

Ecological Suffocation

My source, who wishes to remain anonymous, talked about “gill clogging.” High concentrations of suspended solids can literally suffocate fish.

Silt settling into the gravel and woody debris on the creek floor also smothers the macro-invertebrates (bugs) that form the base of the food chain.

Just as bad, such activities kill the filtering mechanism that keeps creeks healthy. Oranizations, such as the Bayou Land Conservancy, work to protect the wetlands that filter our water. Dumping raw silt bypasses this natural filtration and destroys the very plants that help stabilize the banks.

Silt isn’t just dirt. Construction runoff often carries other pollutants attached to the soil particles, including fertilizers, heavy metals, or chemical residues from the site, which are now being “injected” into the local water supply.

That’s why pumping sediment-laden water directly into a creek is a flagrant violation of sediment-control protocols. Not preserving floodplains has many costs that most people don’t realize.

How to Report Such Violations

Readers who share my concerns should report such violations to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Harris County Flood Control District. You may also want to notify Harris County Precinct 3 and Montgomery County MUDs, as Spring Creek serves as the border between the two counties. Both have a vested interest in keeping that channel clear. Readers report that this is the site of the new Spring ISD High School.

I couldn’t find an entrance to the site with an address, sign, or stormwater pollution prevention plan. But for reporting purposes, the GPS coordinates are: 30°05’16.3″N 95°24’07.6″W.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/11/26

3088 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.

Colony Ridge Settles Lawsuit with U.S., State of Texas

2/10/2026 – On 2/9/2026, Colony Ridge and its owners settled a lawsuit with the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and State of Texas. The 30-page settlement includes:

Comprehensive reforms of the developer’s sales, marketing, and financing practices
A three-year moratorium on expansion
Public safety improvements
Establishment and enforcement of deed restrictions
Compliance with consumer protection laws
$20 million to beef up law enforcement
A $48 million plan to address deficiences in existing infrastructure.

The latter includes $18 million to address flooding and drainage issues. It also includes $30 million to address other infrastructure needs such as potable water, sewage, roads, and waste management.

The sprawling Colony Ridge in Liberty County grew 50% larger than Manhattan in just 15 years. It was accused of being a foreclosure mill with predatory, deceptive lending practices.

At least nine TCEQ investigations reprimanded Colony Ridge construction practices. The TCEQ even accused Colony Ridge of endangering human life.

Merry Christmas from Colony Ridge — *Colony Ridge Parade of Homes*

In 2023, the entire Texas Republican Congressional Delegation urged Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton to investigate Colony Ridge.

I wrote more than 75 posts about the development beginning in 2020. For more background see: History of Heartbreak: A Colony Ridge Chronicle. Below, I’ll summarize the major elements of the settlement.

While this settlement should vastly improve future development, it contains nothing to compensate past victims

Moratorium on Development

In exchange for resolving all the claims against it in 2023 lawsuits by the Department of Justice and State of Texas, Colony Ridge, its owners, employees and all affiliated entities have agreed to a moratorium on development. That means:

For two years, they will not seek new plats for direct-to-consumer sales.
After that, they may seek approval of new plats if they require new deed-restricted homes to be built prior to sale.
Colony Ridge will not seek platting of new subdivisions for three years unless the lots have deed restrictions. Further, newly platted subdivisions will require:
- Compliance with all county permitting and construction requirements
- New dwellings to be approved by an architectural control committee.

ILSA and Texas Property Code Compliance

The settlement requires Colony Ridge to comply with the Interstate Land Sales Act and the Texas Property Code. That means requiring purchasers to present:

An unexpired Texas driver’s license
A Texas-issued ID card, or
An unexpired passport and valid visa.

It also requires Colony Ridge to work with law enforcement to confirm buyers are not cartel members or on a terrorism watch list.

Finally, Colony Ridge must confirm that purchasers do not have a prohibited relationship with any ‘designated country’ including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. That’s to comply with the Texas Property Code.

Prohibition Against Discrimination

Colony Ridge has agreed to comply with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act for all sales or rentals.

Hire A Compliance Specialist

At its own expense, Colony Ridge must hire a compliance specialist to ensure the owners, their corporate entities and their employees comply with all terms of the settlement.

Increasing Housing Affordability and Availability

Colony Ridge has agreed to reform its underwriting standards by:

Making sure buyers can repay their loans
Notifying buyers of ways to avoid default and rescind their sales agreements
Developing a default-avoidance plan including credit assessments, relief and remission options.
Addressing harm to borrowers credit, including removing negative credit reports
Developing a foreclosure policy that meaningfully reduces the number and frequency of foreclosures

Addressing Misrepresentations to Consumers

Colony Ridge has also agreed to truthfully and accurately describe the properties it has for sale and applicable loan terms. It will not advertise that all properties are “move in ready” or currently have “all city services.” The company will add appropriate limiting language or disclaimers to its advertisements.

Colony Ridge has also agreed to disclose loan terms, utility connections, flooding, wetlands, and readiness for use.

The flooding provision requires all plats to receive pre-development drainage and flood-control approval by the appropriate Federal, State, and local authorities.

Colony Ridge must disclose whether property is in the 100-year flood plain. The company must also disclose whether the buyer is responsible for leveling, grading, or otherwise filling the lot to provide proper drainage to culverts.

Re: cost, Colony Ridge must disclose the true total cost of the property to buyers including interest, closing costs, taxes, POA fees, etc. The company must also mail monthly statements.

Infrastructure Improvements

Within three months, Colony Ridge must develop and begin implementing a $48 million infrastructure improvement plan. Its goals: to reduce and prevent flooding, improve roads, provide for proper management of sewage and other waste, and invest in other projects designed to improve the habitability and public safety.

The company must develop a road drainage system capable of handling 10-year rains based on new Atlas 14 data. It must also build a 100-year-storm flood-control system.

The plan must prioritize fixing existing problems before developing new infrastructure.
Settlement Agreement, Page 12

Increased Law Enforcement Presence

The defendants must spend at least $20 million to increase a law enforcement presence in Colony Ridge. That includes building a DPS and County Constable sub-station, funding full-time law enforcement officers, supplying them with vehicles, and ensuring compliance with immigration laws.

Property Owners Association

The Property Owners Association (POA) must report to owners how their dues are expended. Previously, the dues were used to finance new development, not provide services to the people paying the dues.

Training and Complaint Procedures

Colony Ridge must now train its staff on how to comply with federal and state regulations. The company must explain how Colony Ridge previously fell short and also develop a “Nondiscrimination Policy and Complaint Procedure.”

Law Enforcement Support

Colony Ridge must develop a discount program that encourages law-enforcement officers to take up residence there.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Noncompliance with any of these provisions will land the owners back in court.

Not All Residents Happy

An activist named Maria Acevedo who bought property in Colony Ridge and was victimized by the company’s business practices was unhappy with the settlement. Her concern: It will protect people in the future, but doesn’t provide any compensation to people victimized in the past.

Said Acevedo, “The money used to pay penalties came from the very families who were scammed — it was our money, not Colony Ridge’s. We were victims.”

Another lady, Jennifer Stewart, a Huffman resident who has many friends living in and around Colony Ridge said, “I’m glad a settlement was reached, but the people who were truly harmed have not been made whole. That’s unconscionable.”

Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/10/25

3087 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.

Easy Way to Make Your Community More Resilient to Flooding

2/9/2026 – The Harris County Infrastructure Resilience Team wants public input on ideas to make the area more resilient to flooding. As someone who believes that all of us are smarter than one of us, I’m passing the request on to ReduceFlooding.com readers.

Do you see a situation that could lead to flooding? On your street? In your neighborhood? In your city or county?
What would reduce the potential for flooding in your opinion?
What would help us recover from flooding faster?

Please email your thoughts to the contact page on this website and I will forward them to the people who can do something about them.

As thought starters, here are several ideas I see that could make living here safer.

Create a River-Basin-Wide Flood Control District

Much flooding originates in cities and counties that let development happen in floodplains. Sometimes they let development happen with insufficient mitigation. This problem is exacerbated by the dozens of municipalities, counties, MUDs, PUDs, and drainage districts each of which have their own regulations and few of which of effective enforcement.

*Entire San Jacinto River Basin by SJRA. Note: the area draining past Kingwood is larger than all of Harris County.*

A flood control district that covers the entire river basin could solve flooding due to this fragmentation and a patchwork quilt of regulations across the region. There is no central coordinating body.

In the last legislation, Rep. Dennis Paul introduced HB204. It would have let other counties join Harris County to create an expanded flood control district. However, the bill never made it out of committee.

Senator Bettancourt and Representative Paul introduced similar bills in the previous legislative session. Perhaps next year, they will succeed with your support.

Control Erosion Better

Erosion can reduce the carrying capacity of our rivers and streams. It displaces water that may end up in your living room during a flood event because the stream can no longer hold it. Fighting erosion is two-front war. We need to reduce it at its source. And we need to remove sediment that makes its way downstream, blocking our rivers and channels.

Colony Ridge ditch erosion — *Uncontrolled erosion in Colony Ridge, Liberty County, in East Fork Watershed.*

This means addressing the main sources of sediment, such as sand mining and insufficiently mitigated upstream development. It also means removing any sediment that makes its way downstream by scrupulous adherence to maintenance intervals.

We’ve seen numerous examples of blocked drainage ditches and even rivers such as the mouth bars on the East and West Forks, the Kingwood Diversion Ditch, Rogers Gully.

Reduce Subsidence Across a Wider Area

Subsidence, caused by excessive groundwater withdrawals, can alter the gradient of rivers and create bowls in the landscape. The Harris Galveston Subsidence District has put regulations in place to reduce it. And they’ve worked where they have been in effect the longest.

But newly regulated areas are still subsiding at alarming rates. And that subsidence can erase the safety margin of your home above the floodplain (usually one or two feet above the 100-year floodplain, depending on the age of your home and where you live).

Houston area subsidence map from satellite data. — *From Subsidence District 2024 Annual Report*

The way to solve this problem is to get rapidly subsiding areas on surface water. But that’s more expensive. So, we also need educational campaigns that explain the benefits of surface water. People may not argue about paying a few dollars more each month if they know it could save them hundreds of thousands in a high water event.

Locate Assisted-Living Centers Outside of Floodplains

Twelve people, aged 75-95, died at Kingwood Village Estates as a result of Harvey. That’s one third of all the people who died in Harris County. Evacuating them by life boats put their lives and the lives of first responders at risk. They weren’t warned in time to make a safe, orderly evacuation by cars or buses.

Residents trying to escape as Harvey's floodwaters rose — *Residents trying to escape Kingwood Village Estates as Harvey’s floodwaters rose*

Warning Sirens

Install warning sirens in areas that flood frequently to give people time to evacuate. Floods frequently knock out communications or happen in the middle of the night. The chain of communication can be disrupted. But wailing sirens can wake up even the soundest sleepers in the middle of the night.

With sirens, many lives could have been saved in Kingwood and along the Guadalupe last July.

Flood Education in High Schools

We have drivers’ ed. Why not flood ed? Greater awareness of the causes and dangers of flooding could eventually shift housing demand to safer locations.

Perhaps the State Board of Education could create course materials that they distribute to school districts. They might educate young people how to research flood risk before buying a home. Or where to find information about projected flood crests in an emergency.

Better to learn before you buy a home than after!

Create County/City Parks in Flood-Prone Areas

It’s hard to tell people that they can’t build on their land. So why not buy dangerous flood-prone land and convert it into parks or recreational space?

The Houston Parks Board has been doing this for decades. Texas Parks and Wildlife did it with Lake Houston Wilderness Park (which they gave to the City.)

If people don’t live where it floods, they can’t flood. No buyouts. And no demand for expensive flood-mitigation projects. Prevention is always much cheaper than correction in the long run.

What Are Your Ideas?

Please send me your thoughts on how to make your community more resilient to flooding. Just write a paragraph or two. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. Then email your thoughts through the contact page of this website.

I’ll make sure the Harris County Infrastructure Resilience Team sees them.

The deadline for submissions is February 12, 2026. Thanks in advance for your help!

Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/9/26

3086 Days since Hurricane Harvey