1/11/25 – On July 15, 2020, Neel-Schaffer Engineering delivered the Kingwood Area Drainage Study to sponsors Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD), City of Houston and Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10.
HCFCD held a community meeting to discuss the results. The District delivered a 24-page high-level summary to the community at the time. However, I have now obtained the full two-volume, 620-page report and posted it on the Reports Page of ReduceFlooding.com under the Harris County Flood Control District Tab.
There were so many graphics in Volume 1, that I had to split it up into three parts to avoid the 32-meg file-size limitation of my web server. Warning: all parts comprise more than 50 megs.
But those maps contain a wealth of detail not available in the high level summary. For instance, they show floodplains down to the individual house level, the level of service for different stream segments, and which structures would flood in different mitigation scenarios and rainfall intensities.
The report focused on areas where structures would flood in less than a 100-year rainfall.
Full Reports of Follow-Up Studies Still Not Available
I posted about the high-level findings back in 2020. To refresh your memory, the report studied a large number of drainage features in Kingwood and concluded that mitigation of the Taylor Gully and the Kingwood Diversion Ditch were the two most important.
HCFCD recommended that the two projects: G103-38-00 (Kingwood Diversion Ditch) and G103-80-03.1B (Taylor Gully) move to the next phase: engineering design. Additionally, HCFCD recommended the Taylor Gully project be reanalyzed to determine how the use of Woodridge Village for detention could modify the recommended plan.
However, HCFCD has not released the full report on either. The District says it intends to present the full report on the Diversion Ditch to Commissioners Court on February 6th and may release it after that.
In the meantime, the maps in the Kingwood Area Drainage Study may be the best guide to flood risk in the area for realtors and those considering buying a home.
MAAPnext and FEMA still haven’t released the preliminary results of a massive floodplain update they have been working on since Harvey.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/11/25
2692 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/KW-Area-Drainage-Sudy-Map-Kingwood-Center.jpg?fit=1100%2C594&ssl=15941100adminadmin2025-01-11 19:16:032025-01-11 19:27:17Full Kingwood Area Drainage Study Now Available Online
12/15/24 – Houston District E City Council Member Fred Flickinger issued a newsletter on 12/11/24. It contains updates on Lake Houston dredging and additional floodgates for the Lake Houston Dam.
Dredging Details
According to Flickinger, the City’s dredging contractor will begin south of the West Fork-Mouth Bar this week. DRC will remove approximately 800,000 cubic yards of silt and sediment.
“The removal will take two years.”
District E Council Member Fred Flickinger
DRC will use a combination of mechanical and hydraulic dredging.
FEMA is providing funds the additional dredging in this area. The funds came from tireless efforts in protesting the initial volume that FEMA approved for dredging back in 2019. Congressman Dan Crenshaw, previous Council Member Dave Martin, and former Chief Recovery Officer Stephen Costello protested FEMA’s ruling tirelessly.
Photo taken December 8 of DRC/Callan Marine Dredge anchored off Royal Shores as it prepares for new dredging program.
Council Member Martin strongly disagreed with the USACE’s original four-page tabletop study. He continued to push for the volume he knew the Lake Houston Area deserved.
Said Flickinger, “We are excited to see this additional dredging finally get going. We are working to find funding for continued dredging throughout Lake Houston and its tributaries.”
Floodgates Timeline
Phase II for the Lake Houston Dam Spillway Improvement Project is underway. Phase II includes the final design engineering and construction of eleven new floodgates. They will be built in the existing embankment on the east side of the Lake Houston Dam Spillway.
New gates will go in the sunlit area in the embankment to the right of the existing gates and channel.
Building the new gate structure in the east embankment removes the high-construction risk of modifying the existing gate structure or spillway. The old plan, which involved shaving down the existing spillway and adding crest gates was abandoned when the City could not find bidders willing to assume the risk.
The new plan also allows continued use of the existing gate structure during construction.
Each gate will be 20 ft x 20 ft and release approximately 7,100 cubic feet of water per second (cfs) per gate when fully open. The combined total water release of all 11 gates will be approximately 79,000 cfs.
79,000 CFS equals the volume of water released each second from Lake Conroe by the SJRA during the peak of Hurricane Harvey.
The current timeline is to have the final design and construction plans completed by December 2025.
The City will bid and award the contract for construction in 2026.
Finally construction will begin by Q4 2026 or Q1 2027, almost ten years after the storm that made people realize the need for the project.
The existing Lake Houston floodgates have one-fifteenth of Lake Conroe’s release capacity. That makes any kind of coordinated release strategy virtually impossible. It also means that people both up- and downstream may get slammed with higher floods than if the City had a meaningful pre-release capability.
According to Flickinger, the District E office continues to sit in on bi-weekly coordination meetings for this project.
11/23/24 – Callan Marine now has a dredge in place to begin the City of Houston’s latest dredging operation. Last month, the City said it hoped its latest Lake Houston dredging program would start in December and now it looks like it will.
Callan’s dredge, the General Pershing, is currently anchored on the West Fork San Jacinto south of where the previous Mouth Bar dredging program ended. And this morning, I spotted a tug pulling lengths of dredge pipe into position.
Program First Announced in 2023
The City of Houston first announced its new Lake Houston dredging program last year. The focus: between Kings Point and FM1960 where the East and West Forks of the San Jacinto come together.
For months, Callan’s General Pershing dredge, was anchored south of the Forest Cove Pool on the West Fork San Jacinto at the old Army Corps mobilization site. Yesterday, Callan moved the General Pershing and its dredge pipe downriver to the starting point of the dredging program.
See the photos below taken this morning with the exception of the last one, which I shot last night.
Start of 2024 dredging between Kings Point (right) and Atascocita Point (left). Looking upstream toward West Lake Houston Parkway Bridge in far upper left.Looking downstream toward FM1960 bridge and Lake Houston Dam in distance.Tug pulling sections of dredge pipe into positionfor use.Reverse angle showing pipe and dredge.Only two or three sections of pipe remained upstream last night at the mobilization site south of the Forest Cove Pool.Area between FM1960 and Kings Point currently has one of the largest sediment build-upson the lake.
The dredge program was first announced in October 2023 at former City Council Member Dave Martin’s last town hall meeting.
Former City Flood Czar Stephen Costello outlined the program at that time. East of Atascocita and south of the convergence of the East and West Forks, the City plans to spend another $34 million to remove almost 900,000 cubic yards of sediment.
At the time, Costello said the City hoped to recoup some of its costs by reselling sand that it recovers from “hilltops” in the lake. Dredging will target areas that have sand which can be used for concrete, agriculture and other beneficial uses. At one point, the City reportedly also considered using spoils in the Ike Dike.
Costello showed the heat map above. Notice the heavy sediment concentrations in the lake’s headwaters. This is because sediment drops out of suspension where rivers slow down as they meet standing bodies of water.
Increasing Water Supply Capacity, Reducing Flood Risk
In addition to reducing the water storage capacity of Lake Houston, the sediment increases flood risk. It reduces conveyance of the rivers and lake forcing water up and out during floods.
According to a City of Houston source, the contractor will reportedly pipe the spoils south and east to an area near Spanish Cove. See map below.
The new disposal site (bottom right) is closer to the dredging than another site south of River Grove Park previously used for disposing of the spoils. That should reduce pumping costs.Location is approximate.
Since its construction in the mid-1950s, Lake Houston has lost nearly 20% of its capacity due to sedimentation. The City estimates it currently loses another 360 to 460 acre-feet per year.
This dredging program will help restore some of that capacity and create more room for floodwaters.
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
8/22/24 – 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
The San Jacinto River Authority and City of Houston have abandoned their automatic “seasonal” lake lowering policy. The seasonal program lowered Lake Conroe automatically to fixed levels during the rainiest parts of the year (April/May and August/September, i.e., the peak of hurricane season).
They have replaced seasonal lowering with a new program called “active storm management” that gives the City and Lake Conroe dam operators more flexibility to respond to actual weather conditions.
Basically, they can keep water levels up when no storms are expected. But they can lower the lake in advance of major rain…any time of the year…by amounts that will keep the lake level as stable as possible and downstream residents as safe as possible.
It’s a compromise that can be summed up in the words “as needed vs. automatic.”
Below, you can see the exact wording of the new protocols. Below that, you can see my simplified summary/interpretation. I also provide a link to the actual contract between the City and SJRA.
Active Storm Management Protocols for Lake Conroe and Lake Houston – 2024
Spring
Beginning April 1 through June 1, the City of Houston may request diversions to lower Lake Conroe from normal pool of 201’ msl to create up to six inches of storage capacity for forecasted storm event inflows (to 200.5’ msl). The decision of when, how, and whether to initiate diversions will be guided by climate conditions, weather patterns, and available water supply.
Resume normal recapturing after each storm event that triggered any diversion between April 1 and June 1.
In the event a major rainfall is forecasted to impact our region, active storm management protocols of the City of Houston could initiate a diversion to create up to an additional six inches of storage capacity for storm inflows (to 200.0’ msl). It is acknowledged that under extraordinary weather circumstances, additional diversions to create capacity below 200.0’ msl could occur.
Fall
Beginning August 1 through October 1, the City of Houston may request diversions to lower Lake Conroe if actual lake levels are at normal pool of 201 msl to create up to six inches of storage capacity for storm inflows (to 200.5’ msl). After Labor Day, storage capacity may be increased an additional six inches (to 200.0’ msl). Diversion volumes requested to reach intended levels will be dependent on the actual lake levels. The decision of when, how, and whether to initiate diversions will be guided by climate conditions, weather patterns, and available water supply.
Resume normal recapturing after each storm event that triggered any diversion between August 1 and October 1.
If a named storm is predicted to impact our region, active storm management protocols of the City of Houston could initiate a diversion to create up to an additional six inches of storage capacity for storm inflows (to 199.5’ msl). It is acknowledged that under extraordinary weather circumstances, additional diversions to create capacity below 199.5’ msl could occur.
Protocol – Lake Houston
Year Round
City of Houston will initiate releases to lower Lake Houston prior to major rainfall events.
Conservation Pool Elevation is 42.4’ msl.
Lake Houston level reduced to 41.4’ msl if a 24-hour rainfall forecast of 3 inches or more is expected. within the Lake Houston watershed.
Under extraordinary weather circumstances, Lake Houston level may be reduced below 41.4’.
Duration
The Protocols above will extend to the end of 2024 but will be reviewed by the stakeholders in October/November of 2024. During the review, the stakeholders will discuss strategies that extend beyond 2024.
Advocacy and Education
All stakeholders will work to support flood mitigation projects and efforts across the upper watershed, including improvement of land use regulations to reduce runoff from new development in counties that contribute flow to Lake Houston.
Because public education regarding completed and ongoing downstream mitigation efforts is critical to generating upstream support for continued active storm management at Lake Conroe, all stakeholders agree to educate their constituents regarding: active storm management protocols being implemented at Lake Houston, completed and ongoing sediment removal projects in the San Jacinto River basin and Lake Houston, and continued progress on the Lake Houston spillway modifications.
Because of its impact on effective active storm management, all stakeholders will support City of Houston and SJRA efforts to amend the Certificate of Adjudication for Lake Conroe to increase the maximum diversion rate.
All stakeholders agree to support efforts to limit further construction of habitable structures around Lake Conroe below elevation 207’ msl.
Important Notes
All water released from Lake Conroe as part of active storm management is being accounted for from the City of Houston’s 2/3 share and reported to TCEQ by the City of Houston. Therefore, all final decisions on diversions are ultimately the City’s and must be communicated to the SJRA in writing. This includes defining active storm management protocols.
All flood mitigation protocols could be limited due to drought conditions.
Rehak’s Summary
Note the words “MAY REQUEST” in the first sentences under Spring and Fall. Lowering is now on an “as needed” basis, not automatic.
Note also the words “RESUME NORMAL RECAPTURING” in the second bullet points under Spring and Fall. Operators will attempt to return the lake to its normal level after the storm threat has passed. The lake will not automatically be kept lower for the rest of the season.
All stakeholders have agreed to review the policy at the end of this year and modify it as necessary.
All stakeholders have also agreed to support mitigation projects including:
Land use regulations that reduce runoff
Education of residents re:
Active storm management protocols at Lake Houston
Construction progress of more Lake Houston gates
Sediment removal projects
An increase in the maximum pre-release rate for Lake Conroe
Limiting future construction around Lake Conroe to a safe level (207 feet above sea level).
The City of Houston must initiate lake lowering IN WRITING.
Water released from Lake Conroe at the City’s request will be reported to the TCEQ.
The City makes all decisions on releases.
Its decisions are final.
The City may redefine “active storm management” protocols, but should consider drought conditions when making decisions.
Decisions to Lower Lake Outside of Spring/Fall Dates
However, during the April SJRA Board meeting at which Active Storm Management was approved unanimously, the official minutes note that all parties agreed that the City could order the release of water from Lake Conroe at any time – regardless of the season.
For ease of future reference, you can also find the details above on this site’s Lake Lowering page.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/25/24
2492 Days since Hurricane Harvey
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Harris County and the Houston area are receiving $863 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) via the Texas General Land Office (GLO) for disaster relief and flood mitigation. So, on Thursday, April 25, 2024, GLO Commissioner Dr. Dawn Buckingham met with a group of Lake-Houston-Area leaders to discuss the area’s flood mitigation needs.
The meeting, arranged by State Representative Charles Cunningham, also included Director Tina Petersen of the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD); Director Thao Costis of Harris County Community Services (CSD); Humble Mayor Norman Funderburk; and Dustin Hodges, Chief of Staff for City of Houston Council Member Fred Flickinger.
(L to R) Dustin Hodges; Tina Petersen; Thao Costis; Dr. Dawn Buckingham; Rep. Charles Cunningham; Norman Funderburk; Alice Rekeweg; Scott Elmer, HCFCD; and Kathleen Jordan.
Projects Vie for Funding
As reported on 4/23, Buckingham was in Houston to discuss Disaster Relief and Mitigation projects totaling $863 million. But there are more deserving projects than money to fund them all. So Buckingham, her team, HCFCD and CSD met with area leaders to discuss needs.
The GLO administers the distribution of HUD funds in Texas. Among Lake Houston Area projects discussed for funding were:
No commitments were made at the meeting, but the mood was positive and everyone left smiling.
Buckingham is still collecting information. She listened attentively, asked probing questions and left with a better understanding of the area’s needs.
Splitting the Woodridge Basin into two phases helps ensure that at least one compartment will get funded and provide enough mitigation to let the Taylor Gully Channel Improvements move forward.
Other Topics
Several other topics came up toward the end of the hour-long meeting. They included sedimentation, dredging, and the need for sand to nourish beaches along the Texas coast. The GLO needs sand to replace eroding beaches…and this area needs to remove sand collecting in streams and Lake Houston.
That raised the tantalizing possibility of collaboration for mutual benefit and solving two problems at once.
More news to follow.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 4/26/24
2432 Days since Hurricane Harvey
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This morning, City of Houston contractors began clearing access points for the Tree Lane Bridge repairs in Kingwood next to Bear Branch Elementary where more than 600 students attend classes.
The City announced the kickoff of the project on February 21, 2024, but work actually started today.
Photo on 4/9/2024. Step one: lumberjacks clearing access for Tree Lane bridge repair work.
Extent of Damage
This is actually the second round of repairs. The City made some rudimentary efforts in 2020 that ultimately proved ineffective. Four years later, erosion under the bridge is more extensive now than then.
I took all the pictures below on 4/7/24.
Tree Lane Bridge before start of Round 2 repairs. Collapse of East retaining wall.
The forensic report blames the damage on “failure of riprap.” Riprap is boulders placed in the stream designed to reduce erosion by slowing the flow of water, breaking it up, and providing a protective barrier.
However, the forensic analysis indicates that water flow in Bens Branch undermined the rip rap.
Soil beneath riprap can be eroded if the rock was just placed on top without any buffer between the layers such as a geotextile fabric or smaller riprap (crushed stone).
In this case, erosion removed more than a foot of soil behind the concrete walls, under the base, and under the existing riprap.
Tree Lane Bridge before start of Round 2 repairs. Downcutting under bridge.
You can see from the exposed utilities that the creek has downcut. This downcutting extends several hundred feet upstream of the bridge. And that’s part of the problem. It allowed water to get behind and under the existing channel linings.
Headward erosion downstream on west side and exposed utilities.
Construction plans call for:
Removing all the existing material under the bridge and on the sides of the banks
Installing a new concrete channel (bottom and sides) that will maintain the flow line of the stream.
Repairing outfalls.
The engineer’s report claims the proposed U-shaped channel will hold the current side slopes of the bridge and allow for the drop in the flow line.
For pictures of how the bridge looked after the last round of repairs, see this post from 3/31/2020.
For pictures of a flood responsible for much of the damage, see this post from 1/29/23.
A Silver Lining
The damage to the Tree Lane bridge has been so rapid, that it occurred twice within the time many Bear Branch students attended the adjacent elementary school. Perhaps it will inspire curiosity about flooding among some of these students, spur them to pursue engineering careers, and perhaps prevent such dangers in the future.
Safety Precaution
The City hopes to complete the Tree Lane bridge project sometime this summer, weather permitting. Please observe traffic warning signs, cones and flags for the duration. And keep curious children away from heavy equipment which will be maneuvering in tight spaces with limited visibility.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 4/9/2024with help from Chris Bloch of the Bear Branch Trail Association
2415 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/20240407-DJI_20240407104551_0170_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2024-04-09 14:08:162024-04-09 14:16:48City Begins Tree Lane Bridge Repairs
Mobilization for the next phase of San Jacinto West Fork dredging is underway. The City of Houston and its contractor DRC (a subsidiary of Callan Marine) are already staging equipment in two places on the West Fork.
The program, funded by FEMA, will remove an estimated 800,000 cubic yards of silt and sediment between the original location of the West Fork Mouth Bar and FM1960. The contractor will use primarily hydraulic dredging and the program will take approximately two years, according to District E City Council Member Fred Flickinger.
West Fork Dredging Project Dates Back to Dave Martin Era
Flickinger credits his predecessor, former Council Member Dave Martin, and Chief Recovery Officer Stephen Costello’s tireless efforts in protesting the initial amount proposed for dredging by FEMA back in 2019. FEMA’s initial proposal, based on a four-page, table-top study produced by the Army Corps, called for dredging 283,000 cubic yards.
Martin strongly disagreed with the Corps’ report and appealed it while the City produced its own 94-page technical report. It showed a much higher volume deposited by Harvey. Remember: Harvey funds could not be used to address sediment deposited before Harvey. The City report produced by Tetra Tech relied extensively on core samples. Tetra Tech proved that Harvey laid down the sand in the mouth bar and that the dredging volume should be closer to a million cubic yards.
The new West Fork dredging program should be ready to go within weeks. DRC is currently bringing in the equipment that they will need.
DRC plans to use primarily hydraulic dredging. They will attack the area between where the mouth bar was (south of Scenic Shores in Kings Point) and the FM1960 Bridge. See map below.
Map from City study showing area of focus.Hydraulic dredge being assembled at old Army Corps mobilization site south of Forest Cove pool. Photo taken 4/1/24.DRC is also starting to stockpile mechanical dredging equipment such as these pontoons on Berry Madden’s property south of River Grove Park (top center).
This is good news. The new West Fork dredging will help ensure that water doesn’t back up like it did before. It’s not a guarantee against flooding. Dredging is only one part of a multi-faceted mitigation program that also includes more upstream detention and new floodgates on the Lake Houston dam. More news on those topics to follow.
Posted by Bob Rehak
2407 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/20240401-DJI_20240401153614_0090_D.jpg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2024-04-01 19:21:112024-04-01 21:31:29City Mobilizing for More West Fork Dredging
