Mike Eberle (owner of Lakeside Plumbing, Mike’s Hobby Shop, and Gulf Coast Raceway) and his son led the fight to have the Porter Dam removed. Mike’s son, a contractor, contacted TexDoT, showed them Mike’s pictures of the flooding, and TexDoT responded. By this afternoon, I found workmen with a backhoe and bulldozer removing blacktop and earth.
I could not tell whether the workers represented TexDoT or the owners of the property. They were not eager to talk to me while I had a camera. Their truck had no logo.
Backhoe begins removing the blockage that flooded several blocks of homes and businesses.
Regardless, the good news is that they are removing the Porter Dam. I will follow up again later if the job doesn’t get done.
But for now, it looks like Christmas has come early to the people of Porter, thanks to the efforts of Mike Eberle and his son. And this gift is so big, it won’t fit under the tree.
A much-happier Mike Eberle, in his hobby shop on East Knox Drive in Porter in front of his collection of miniature trains.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/21/2018
479 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Porter-DamPorterDam_5_01.jpg?fit=1500%2C1000&ssl=110001500adminadmin2018-12-21 15:38:182018-12-21 15:38:25Christmas Comes Early to Porter Dam Flood Victims
Mike Eberle, a local entrepreneur owns Lakeside Plumbing, Gulf Coast Raceway and Mike’s Hobby Shop in Porter just off 494 on Knox. He arrived at work on December 8th to find his plumbing business flooded and his other two businesses surrounded by water.
Ditch Backing Up
This time, the culprit wasn’t Harvey or the San Jacinto River; Eberle’s businesses lie more than 3.5 miles from the river. It was someone who built a needless road over a drainage ditch. Because the capacity of the culvert under the road did not match the capacity of culverts farther up the ditch, water backed up for blocks. It flooded surrounding properties including homes, businesses and a church.
Properties flooded by constriction of drainage ditch. Photo by Mike Eberle. Flooded lot at Gulf Coast Raceway. Mike’s Hobby Shop and Lakeview Plumbing are on same property in background. Photo by Mike Eberle. Nearly submerged mailboxes show depth of flooding. Photo by Mike Eberle.
The Ditch Constriction
According to Eberle’s son, TexDoT permitted the Road to Nowhere (see below), which Eberle dubbed “The Porter Dam.” Eberle’s son says TexDoT told him that the permit should never have been issued. Supposedly, TexDoT will rip the road out on Friday, December 21. This should make an early and welcome Christmas gift to the neighbors up-ditch who flooded.
The Road to Nowhere crosses a ditch only to end at a detention pond. Photo taken after flood.
On the Road to Nowhere, Eberle looked up the ditch toward his property during the flood. Below is what he saw – water everywhere.
Above the ditch, water backed up for blocks.
Below the ditch…he saw a much different story.
Below the ditch, looking south, the water level was much lower, proving that construction constricted the flow.
Several days after the floodwater receded, you could see why, Note the size of the culverts above the road. In contrast, here’s what the culvert under the Road to Nowhere looks like.
The new culvert has much less capacity.
Property Owner
According to the Montgomery County Appraisal District, the Road to Nowhere is on property owned by Randal A Tr Hendricks, 400 Randal Way in Spring. Hendricks Interests, LLC, also at that address, promotes itself as a developer of residential and commercial properties and has been doing business since 1978. Hendricks currently lists eleven pad sites for sale in the Kroger Center at North Park and 59, slightly south of the Road to Nowhere.
One can only speculate why someone would build a useless road that backed water up onto neighbor’s property.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/20/2018
478 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Eberle-Flood.jpg?fit=1500%2C1125&ssl=111251500adminadmin2018-12-20 16:26:312018-12-20 17:06:05The Porter Dam: Road to Nowhere (Except Flooding)
