6/4/25 Update: Construction has not yet stopped and it may not. It continues as City and County Authorities try to set up a meeting to review drainage plans with engineers.
6/2/25 – Construction has stopped, at least temporarily, at the Enclave, a new 11-acre residential development adjacent to the Northpark expansion project in Montgomery County.
Both Montgomery County and the City of Houston have asked engineers to review the drainage plans, which showed the development’s detention basin overflowing into the only evacuation route for 78,000 people during extreme weather events.
HNTB, the engineer for the Northpark Expansion project, is going to conduct a peer review of EHRA plans for the Enclave’s drainage. They need to hurry.
Detention Basin Already Dug Out
Photographs taken between 5/31 and 6/2/25 show that construction crews have already excavated the proposed detention basin. And they are starting to install pipes and junction boxes for drainage.
Looking E. Northpark on left. Detention Basin, partially filled with water from last week’s rains, is already excavated.
However, I have received word that both the City and Montgomery County have asked for construction to be paused for a new independent peer review of the development’s drainage plans.
Partial Update to Outdated Drainage Plans
The new development is technically part of Kings Mill, which had its drainage plans approved in 2012. But after Harvey in 2018, Montgomery County and the City of Houston both adopted Atlas 14 rainfall probability statistics, which are 33% higher than those used to design virtually all of Kings Mill’s infrastructure.
That means Kings Mill – which is 20 times larger than the Northpark Enclave – funnels much more stormwater toward the Kingwood Diversion Ditch than it was designed to handle.
Yet Enclave engineers designed its detention basin to hold only the difference between the old and new rainfall statistics. And only for 11 acres, not all 240.
Concerns about Capacity, Its Impact and Inconsistencies
Several other things have happened since approval of the 2012 drainage study.
The Northpark Expansion project started. A major goal: to create an all-weather evacuation route when Hamblen Road, Kingwood Drive and Mills Branch Road are cut off by high water.
The developer’s plans raised concerns about where Enclave overflow will go during an extreme event. (See construction diagram above.)
Construction plans showed inconsistencies between the initial drainage impact analysis and today, including the size of the Enclave.
The developer claims it can build ten homes to the acre with only 55% impervious cover, an extremely ambitious goal.
Photos Show Drainage Route to Kingwood Diversion Ditch
Photos below show the new Northpark Enclave development and the path that stormwater will take on its way to the Kingwood Diversion Ditch, which already has capacity problems of its own.
Hundreds of homes have flooded because of the ditch’s diminishing capacity as insufficiently mitigated new subdivisions began draining into it.
Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) has completed its preliminary engineering review of the Diversion Ditch. HCFCD is now in the process of selecting an engineering company to make final recommendations for improving the ditch. But it could take years to find the money to construct any recommendations that come out of the study.
So, MoCo and the City want to make sure they get this right. The photos below show how all the drainage will connect.
Looking SE over the intersection of Loop 494 and Northpark Drive at construction of the Northpark Enclave.Still looking SE. From the new development, stormwater will move to the giant detention basin in the upper center of frame.Contractors are already starting to install culverts that will carry runoff to the main Kings Mill Detention Basin.From the Kings Mill Detention Basin, stormwater will flow into the ditch that angles toward top and then makes a left turn toward Russell-Palmer Road in the upper left corner of the frame.Stormwater runoff goes a half mile east toward Russell-Palmer Road. Kings Mill’s drainage on left. Kings Manor’s on right.Looking S along Kingwood Diversion Ditch and Russell-Palmer Road. Kings Mill Ditch on lower right. Kings Manor Ditch above it. Both outfall under the road into the Diversion Ditch. Bridge at top of frame by water tower is Kingwood Drive.
Once contractors have drain pipes and culverts in the ground and start pouring concrete, it will be very difficult to make any changes. So, it’s good that construction has been paused now for peer review.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/2/2025
2834 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.
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5/14/25 – This morning, I gave a presentation that compared the pace of downstream flood mitigation with the pace of upstream development. Are we gaining or losing ground in the Lake Houston Area?
Presentation Connects Many Dots
Answering that question requires connecting many dots. Here are the slides from the presentation with my narrative.
As new upstream development adds impervious cover (roads and roofs) that can increase and accelerate runoff, building flood peaks higher and faster. And that can erode the safety of downstream residents. Managing flood risk becomes a struggle between competing forces.
MoCo One of Fastest Growing Counties in Country
The Lake Houston Area lies downstream from one of the fastest growing counties in the country. Montgomery County (MoCo) grew 68% in the last 15 years and 4.8% in 12 months recently. MoCo is currently the seventh fastest growing county in the entire country.
Ryko Exemplifies Danger of Upstream Development
Let’s look at a proposed MoCo development in the headwaters of Lake Houston. A company named Ryko bought 5,500 acres about a quarter mile west of Kingwood. It’s in the southern part of a triangle formed by Spring Creek, the San Jacinto West Fork and the Grand Parkway.
US59 Bridge in foreground by the confluence of the Sand Jacinto West Fork and Spring Creek.
“Like Aiming a Firehose At Kingwood”
Ryko, which is a Syrian-owned company, is reportedly working with Wan Bridge, a Chinese company, to develop 7,000 homes on the property. One of the leading hydrologists in the area told me that developing this property would be “like aiming a firehose at Kingwood.”
Many “Guardrails” Being Removed
Government has established many guardrails over time to protect people from insufficiently mitigated upstream development. But many of the guardrails are being removed. Or people are trying to remove them.
In this case:
A change to the state property code in 2023 gave developers the right to opt out of a city’s extra territorial jurisdiction (ETJ). ETJs lay the groundwork for future annexation by ensuring new infrastructure meets the standards of areas that might annex them someday. But if developments are not in an ETJ, they could change plats without approval.
Two bills pending in the legislature, HB23 and its companion SB2354, would essentially let developers “self-permit” by hiring engineering firms that replace government oversight.
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) constrains development in areas inhabited by threatened or endangered species. But Executive Order 14192 could change that. The US Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed a change under the order that means Ryko would no longer have to work around endangered species on its property.
An ex-Senior VP of Ryko for 21 years is now chair of the Houston Planning Commission. She still reportedly represents the company as an independent consultant,
The Montgomery County Drainage Criteria Manual hasn’t had a serious update for 40 years. The County still allows controversial practices, such as hydrologic timing surveys, to “prove” that upstream developments have no adverse impact on downstream residents.
Let’s take a closer look at the Ryko property with these issues in mind.
Upstream Development Almost Entirely in Floodplains
With that as a backdrop, what’s going on with the Ryko land? The map in the background for this next slide comes from Ryko’s Drainage Impact Analysis. It shows that their property (outlined in red) lies at the confluence of four major streams. All that blue represents floodplains and floodways.
Property outline and stream names enhanced for readability.
How Bad Is Ryko’s Flood Risk?
FEMA’s base-flood-elevation viewer shows that at the southern end of Ryko’s property, any homes would be under 25 feet of water in a 500-year flood (18.7 feet in a 100-year flood). Even at the higher elevations farther north, homes would be under 7 feet of water in a major flood.
Frequent Bald Eagle Sightings
Homeowners father north report frequent sightings of bald eagles. They believe the eagles live on Ryko’s property which is currently wilderness. One resident sent me a video of two eagles that landed in a tree right outside her living room window.
The Texas Water Code contains a rule that states upstream development can have “No Adverse Impact” on downstream neighbors. To prove no adverse impact, engineers compare estimated pre- and post-development runoff.
If post-development estimates are less than or equal to pre-development, they satisfy the requirement.
Estimates Based on Hydrologic Timing Not Always Accurate
But how accurate are those estimates? Montgomery County’s antiquated drainage criteria manual still lets engineers use hydrologic timing surveys, a practice now prohibited by the City of Houston and Harris County for several reasons.
Timing studies let developers avoid building detention basins if they can show that their development’s stormwater “beats the peak” of a flood. The theory: they aren’t adding to the peak.
Not building detention basins saves developers money and adds to the number of salable lots. But “beat the peak” studies have serious limitations and can often mislead.
They assume, for instance, a uniform storm across an entire watershed. But that rarely happens. Imagine the case of a storm like Harvey, which approaches from the south as developers to the north rush to get their water to the river. God help the people caught in the middle.
Timing surveys, in the case of Montgomery County, are also based on decades old data that ignores the cumulative impacts of other developments over time.
How Avoiding Detention Can Add to Flood Peaks
What often happens in reality is that you get higher peaks than if you had built detention. This graph shows three lines. The two at the bottom show typical pre- and post-development runoff rates where/when hydrologic timing studies are prohibited.
Not building detention often leads to earlier, higher peaks.
The height difference could be the difference between flooding or not flooding.
MoCo Still Doesn’t Require More Reliable Method
In short, building stormwater detention is a sure thing. Hydrologic timing is not.
Banning hydrologic timing studies would force developers to design systems that TRULY detain and slow runoff. But Montgomery County still permits timing studies. The County’s new Drainage Criteria Manual that prohibits them has been sitting on the shelf for more than a year.
Downstream Mitigation Slowing
Now, let’s look at what downstream residents are doing to offset the impacts of upstream development.
More floodgates on Lake Houston to speed up output
Upstream detention to reduce input.
Dredging is Highlight to Date…
Dredging continues. We’ve spent approximately $200 million to date and that total is still increasing.
Images shot current West Fork dredging plan, location of dredge by FM1960, and spoils placement area by Luce Bayou.
…But More Sediment Keeps Coming
After the Army Corps finished its emergency West Fork Dredging Project, they recommended regular maintenance dredging to ensure our rivers had sufficient conveyance and our drainage ditches were not blocked. State Representative Charles Cunningham authored HB1532 to create a dredging district for the Lake Houston Area.
HB1532 passed overwhelmingly in the House and is now waiting to be heard by Senator Paul Bettencourt’s Local Government committee in the Senate.
But this legislative session ends in two weeks. Any bill not out of committee by this Friday is effectively dead. And Bettencourt has not yet scheduled Cunningham’s bill for a hearing.
Construction on More Floodgates Not Likely Before 2027
The additional floodgates on Lake Houston have been delayed repeatedly for various reasons. Simultaneously, the Coastal Water Authority (CWA) is looking at the costs of repairing the dam and replacing it altogether. The 70+ year old dam is near the end of its useful life.
CWA board member Dan Huberty stated that engineering for additional gates should be complete by 2027. At that time, the project will go out for bids.
The CWA won’t receive preliminary reports on dam repairs and replacement until at least July of this year.
No Progress on Upstream Detention, None Likely Anytime Soon
Meanwhile, virtually nothing has happened yet in terms of upstream detention. The San Jacinto River Authority identified 16 areas for upstream detention basins/lakes in its River Basin Master Drainage Study.
SJRA has no construction funds. So many of the projects were incorporated into the state flood plan. But the state’s Flood Infrastructure Fund does not have a committed revenue stream.
The Texas Water Development Board has about a billion dollars currently available to build $54 billion worth of requests in the flood plan.
So keep the pressure on elected representatives who can protect your family.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/14/25
2815 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/DOTS-Slide17.jpeg?fit=1100%2C619&ssl=16191100adminadmin2025-05-14 17:49:322025-05-14 17:49:33Is Downstream Flood Mitigation Keeping Pace with Upstream Development?
11/27/24 – Montgomery County is operating off a 1989 Drainage Criteria Manual that received minor updates in 2019. MoCo still has not finalized its new drainage criteria manual, a process it began in August 2022.
In February 2024, Montgomery County published a draft of a comprehensive new update to its drainage criteria manual. The draft brought the County’s standards up to date and made them more in line with surrounding areas’ standards.
In April, I discussed the major changes. They included, but were not limited to:
Use of industry-standard modeling software by engineering companies submitting plans
A requirement that new developments produce “no adverse impact” on downstream areas
Mandates to use certain “roughness coefficient standards” for different situations. These determine how models calculate flood peaks.
Stipulations that all projects shall mitigate and attenuate runoff for 5-, 10-, and 100-year storm events
Stormwater detention for all developments regardless of size
A discussion of flood mitigation measures
Identification of entities responsible for maintenance of stormwater detention facilities, channels, etc.
Adoption of Atlas-14 rainfall rates
A minimum detention rate of .55 acre-feet per acre (almost up to Harris County’s rate)
Prohibition of hydrologic-timing surveys (also known as flood-routing or beat-the-peak studies).
For a more complete discussion, see my April post which contains links to the relevant documents. Also see below. After publication of the draft, MoCo sought public comment.
Public Comment Period Remained Open for 10 Months
Since April, I have checked back periodically to see whether MoCo had finalized the new Drainage Criteria Manual after the public comment period.
Until earlier this week, the invitation to make public comments remained up on the county’s website. Most public-comment periods last a month or two. So this was highly unusual.
The MoCo engineering department has had some serious turnover recently. It was caused in part by retirements and the sudden, unexpected death of a County Engineer.
So, I emailed the County Engineer’s office to ask why the public comment period was remaining open so long.
Thomas E. Woolley Jr., Director of Engineering Services, wrote, “Thanks for pointing this out. With all the reshufflings in the department, this was overlooked. We will remove the Drainage Criteria Manual Draft from our website until we are ready to move forward.”
I next asked when they would move forward. Woolley replied that he hoped to get it passed by May 2025. He says that he’s currently focused on a related project – updating development regulations.
Developers Reportedly Recommending Which Changes to Adopt
Reportedly, MoCo is having or will soon have a committee incorporate public comments into the draft Drainage Criteria Manual. Before it could be adopted, the revised document would likely have to go back out for another round of public comment. However, it could also depend on the extent and nature of public comments made on the first draft, which still have not been published to my knowledge.
Most Important Recommendations Likely At Risk
I am told (not by Woolley) that developers comprise the committee. While they are certainly important constituents and their opinions should count as much as anyone else’s, reportedly they are pushing back on the most important recommendations in the first draft.
Those include:
The stormwater detention requirement for all new developments
Elimination of hydrologic-timing surveys.
New developments without sufficient mitigation typically increase the amount and speed of runoff during storms. One hundred percent of the water hitting concrete runs off quickly, rather than soaking into forest floors and wetlands.
To compensate, stormwater detention basins hold back water during a flood. But they cost money to build and they reduce the number of lots developers can sell. They increase developer’s expenses and reduce their income.
Hydrologic-timing surveys are a way some engineers use to exempt their clients from requirements to build detention basins.
In theory, if they show a developer can get runoff to a stream or river faster than the peak of a flood arrives, then the development won’t add to the flood peak…so no detention is required. Hence their nickname, “beat the peak” surveys.
Don’t consider the cumulative effects of other developments.
Almost always rely on outdated hydrologic models
Assume “ideal” storm conditions.
Such surveys encourage developers to get their floodwater to rivers as quickly as possible. That’s exactly the opposite of what you need to reduce flooding.
MoCo commissioners already rejected the elimination of hydrologic timing surveys and mandatory detention requirements in 2019 when they did a minor update to drainage regs developed in the 1980s.
Will they do so again now that more and more of their own residents are flooding? We won’t know for certain until May at the earliest. But it’s pretty easy to see which way the political currents are flowing.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/27/2024
2647 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/2020/12/20201212-Screen-Shot-2020-12-12-at-7.38.15-PM.jpg?fit=1200%2C768&ssl=17681200adminadmin2024-11-27 14:32:322024-11-27 15:03:40New MoCo Drainage Criteria Manual Still Not Finalized
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?
5/23/24 – The past may be catching up with Montgomery County. Heavy rains earlier this month may have flooded more homes in Montgomery County than Harris.
For decades, many Montgomery County leaders refused to acknowledge that they had a flooding problem. Neither, for that matter, did they seem exceptionally concerned about the downstream impact that lax regulations and enforcement had on flooding in Harris County.
For instance, they failed to:
Establish a flood control district.
Keep drainage channels clear and well maintained.
Update floodplain data from the 1980s.
Update their subdivision and drainage criteria regulations.
Close loopholes that let developers avoid building stormwater detention basins.
Fund the inspection of new infrastructure to ensure it complied with regulations.
Adequately regulate sand mining.
In fact, they encouraged exponential growth of sand mining by giving miners ag and timber exemptions on their real estate taxes, which the Texas Comptroller says they are not entitled to.
Flooded subdivision near West Fork San Jacinto in Montgomery County. Photo 5/22/24.
Floodplains as a Shifting Target
As a result of all these issues, flooding problems got worse over time. People who had built homes and even entire developments too close to rivers and streams flooded repeatedly. Homes deteriorated and lost value.
Young first-time homebuyers and other low-income people snapped them up, hoping they wouldn’t flood. In some cases, the homeowners didn’t even think they needed flood insurance because of the out-of-date flood maps. Many lost life savings and lived in deplorable conditions until they could scrimp together enough savings to fix their homes.
Many also sought buyouts and disaster relief. But such expenses usually fall on the federal government. So Montgomery County had little incentive to change on that count.
As a result of shortsighted policies and willful blindness, some MoCo leaders presided over the decay of once-proud homes into flood-ravaged housing stock.
And now, that damaged housing stock has created festering eyesores that may tarnish the image of the county as a destination for those trying to flee Harris County’s problems.
Flooded street one mile from West Fork San Jacinto in Montgomery County. Photo 5/22/24.
Self-Destructive Policies Hit Home
The self-destructive policies listed above have become…well…self destructive.
Leaders of decades past could explain away Harvey. “A 1000 year storm!”
But what about the no-name storm of May 2024? Ten-year rains produced so-called “50-year flooding” that rose higher than floodwaters from Tropical Storm Imelda – a greater than 500-year storm. MoCo math strikes again.
I drove for six hours through Montgomery County yesterday, visiting one flooded neighborhood after another. As victims continued to drag waterlogged drywall, carpet, insulation and furniture to the curb, they did not have good things to say about some elected officials.
FEMA Disaster Recovery officials swarmed neighborhoods like this today(5/22/24).
Downriver from the scene above, the main drainage channel through a new development called Evergreen has turned into a river of mud because of rampant erosion. It appears to have no:
Silt fences.
Backslope interceptor swales.
Grass on the sides of ditches.
Evergreen in Montgomery County at SH242 and FM1314 drains into West Fork below the flooded homes above.Did the erosion here reduce the conveyance of the river, back water up and contribute to flooding?
Will Change Come Anytime Soon?
Yes, the past may be catching up with Montgomery County. But change must come from within the county. Harris County can’t dictate it.
The final figures are not yet in. But based on an unscientific “driving around” survey, it appears that Montgomery County suffered as much flooding as Harris County did this May – if not more.
This should be a wake-up call for a course correction by Montgomery County leaders before it’s too late.
Since taking office a short while ago, newly elected MoCo Precinct 4 Commissioner Matt Gray has fought hard to upgrade MoCo standards. The rest of Montgomery County drains through his precinct. Perhaps this event will open the eyes of his fellow Commissioners and County Judge.
We’re all in this together. Even the people north of Lake Conroe will live downstream from others in fast-growing, surrounding counties someday as the region expands relentlessly outward.
The sand mines will follow that growth. Get ready. They’re coming.
San Jacinto River, blocked by sand, now flows through abandoned West Fork sand mine, sending even more sediment downriver.
Dozens of Montgomery County homes flooded downstream from the fiasco in the photo above. Sedimentation may have played a role as it has in the past. It’s just too early to tell.
The time to reach out and work together is now. Not after MoCo math and stuck-in-the-past policies start to look attractive to commissioners and judges in surrounding Liberty, Waller, Grimes, Walker and San Jacinto Counties.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 5/23/24
2359 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.
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Note: This story was updated on 7/26/23 to include more information about phasing of the Northpark Drive expansion project.
After what turned out to be a ceremonialgroundbreaking on 4/13/23, the Northpark Drive expansion project appears to have started in earnest on 7/25/2023. Northpark is a vital evacuation route for tens of thousands of Kingwood and Porter residents during floods.
Cones and Culvert Line Northpark Center Ditch
Traffic cones line the center ditch between Russell-Palmer and the Kingwood Diversion Ditch.
Looking west toward Russell-Palmer Road
Contractors have also stacked what looks like six-foot reinforced-concrete pipe on the edge of the Northpark Drive ditch where it enters the Kingwood Diversion Ditch.
Looking SE across Northpark from Fireworks Stand parking lot to Flowers of Kingwood.
They have also begun excavating the Northpark center ditch.
Looking E to Kingwood and City Limit (Green sign).
Project Partners
Project partners include:
Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority
City of Houston District E
Montgomery County Precinct 4
Texas Dept. of Transportation
Harris County Flood Control
Plan Vs. Execution
In general, the project partners plan to widen Northpark by a lane in each direction (toward the middle). But instead of taking land and parking from merchants, the project partners plan to replace the center ditch with culvert then pave over it.
Early plans indicated that the area between US59 and Russell-Palmer would be Phase One and that Russell-Palmer to the Diversion Ditch and eventually beyond Woodland Hills would follow.
However, Ralph Deleon, a TIRZ engineer/project manager indicated that contractors are taking pieces of the phases out of order. Why? Contractors are ready to go. But not all the right-of-way and utility issues have been resolved.
So they’re approaching drainage first and starting at the downstream end – a best practice. In coming days, we should see additional activity on other portions of Northpark Drive. But Deleon emphasized that the public should have two lanes of traffic in both directions at all times.
The first thing that popped into my mind when I looked at the size of the culvert and the size of the ditch was that the culvert could not possibly convey all the water that the ditch used to.
Google Earth shows width of v-shaped ditch is 50 feet. Circular pipe is 6 feet.
Then I read this letter from Harris County Flood Control to the engineering company. It states, “The proposed improvement includes enlarging the proposed storm sewer system to provide inline detention and modeling the restrictors needed to meet allowable outflow requirements for both outfalls.”
The pipes shown above would definitely act as restrictors. I sure hope they don’t back water up into the street.
Having worked near Northpark for 22 years, I’ve seen the ditch overflow on multiple occasions. I’ve seen cars plunge to the bottom, emergency rescues, and stalled vehicles.
New Montgomery County Precinct 4 Commissioner Matt Gray addressed a breakfast meeting of the Kingwood Executive Group today. Gray, who comes from the oil-and-gas industry, has a background in managing large maintenance/construction projects. Just six months into his new job, he has wasted no time in applying that expertise to Montgomery County.
The no-nonsense, get-it-done commissioner emphasized both service to constituents and action.
Balancing Development and Drainage
EPA research suggests that highly urbanized areas can increase stormwater runoff by 45% while reducing infiltration by 50%. And Matt Gray’s precinct is rapidly becoming urbanized. He began his talk with some alarming statistics about growth in his Precinct 4 which borders the Lake Houston Area.
Entergy, a worldwide power provider which also services Montgomery County, says the average growth rate for its network is 1.7%. But during the last three years, MoCo Precinct 4 has had an average growth rate between 5% and 7%.
Entergy claims they have installed more meters in Precinct 4 than they have in the states of Mississippi and Arkansas combined.
Matt Gray, MoCo Precinct 4 Commissioner
All that development is happening upstream from the Lake Houston Area. Moreover, the rest of Montgomery County drains through Precinct 4. So, simultaneously managing growth and drainage have become two of Matt Gray’s key concerns.
Gray talked about working with engineers revising/updating the Montgomery County drainage criteria manual and subdivision rules. He affirmed the need for stormwater detention requirements that will protect not only his own residents but those downstream as well.
Another huge issue: siltation that affects both roadside ditches and local streams. Gray has mobilized crews to make sure water can drain efficiently.
Since assuming office in January, Gray has launched an aggressive effort to clear ditches of accumulated sediment.
Road Improvements, Evacuation Routes
Mindful that many people in both Harris and Montgomery Counties use his roads as evacuation routes, Gray also addressed at length road improvement projects in southeast Montgomery County.
He’s focusing on arterial improvements.
Crews are already widening Ford Road.
He’s working with TxDoT to improve access between Highway 99 and other major arteries.
Northpark Drive widening and the construction of a Loop 494/Railroad overpass should begin any day now.
Such projects will improve key evacuation routes during storms as well as the everyday quality of life for residents and commerce for business owners.
Other Priorities, Wish List
Gray’s other priorities include:
Cleanup and beautification
Repaving/restriping roads
Improving park maintenance
Mosquito control
Construction of a recycling center which would include the handling of old appliances
This presentation catalogs Gray’s impressive list of accomplishments during his first six months as well as his wish list for the future.
Gray in the tan blazer, front row, surrounded by members of the Kingwood Executive Group.
Importance of Working Together
An interesting side note that underscores the importance of working across the county line! The meeting room this morning flooded to the top of the photo above. It cost the Kingwood Country Club more than $50 million to renovate the facility after Harvey. The renovation took almost exactly two years.
The club was just one of 3,300 businesses in the Lake Houston Area that flooded in that storm, which also damaged 16,000 homes.
I’ve written several stories recently about cut-throat politicians pursuing self-interest. So, it’s refreshing to see someone in Gray’s position, willing to work across jurisdictional boundaries for the benefit of all. Good luck, Matt Gray.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 7/12/2023
2173 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/20230712-Group-Shot-Screen-Res.jpg?fit=1100%2C351&ssl=13511100adminadmin2023-07-12 16:20:322023-07-12 17:09:09New MoCo Commissioner Matt Gray Discusses Development, Drainage Plans with Kingwood Group
Phases One and Two of two new developments on FM2090, Townsend Reserve and Presswoods, appear to have finished clearcutting and building stormwater retention basins. They are now building streets and homes along Gully Branch, which has been channelized through the developments in Splendora.
More than 1,000 Acres at Buildout
Together, the developments eventually comprise more than 1,000 acres at buildout.
Knock on deadwood. I’ve heard no complaints yet about neighbors being flooded. Please contact me, however, if you have information to the contrary.
Photos Taken on 4/2/2023
The photos below show the first 600 acres. Assuming six houses to the acre, the land you see below could soon hold approximately 3,600 homes.
But according to the Census Bureau, Splendora currently has a population of 1,780 people. And this real estate site says the city has 737 housing units.
So get ready for some change. These two developments could bring 10,000 new residents to Splendora, increasing the population more than 5X.
Looking SE from the midpoint of the two developments across the entry to Presswoods.Looking S from the same point.Gully Branch is now a drainage ditch that parallels the tree line that bisects the frame from L to R.Looking SW toward Townsend Reserve along FM2090.Looking E from over Townsend Reserve toward Presswoods. Note how Gully Branch has been channelizedand framed by stormwater retention basins.Farther east, still looking east toward US59 from over Presswoods.
For People with a Passion for Rural Living
The developments are all south of FM2090 opposite Splendora High School, Junior High and Piney Woods Elementary.
Presswoods seems to be developing faster than Townsend Reserve. DR Horton, the nation’s largest homebuilder is already selling homes in Presswoods. They range in size from 1.400 to 2.300 SF and in price from $220,000 to $300,000.
As I flew over this area today, I couldn’t help but wonder where all these new residents would shop. Splendora has several dollar stores, a small grocery store and some fast food. And growth will inevitably attract more retail. But the nearest major retail center is Valley Ranch, 10+ miles to the south.
Moving to areas like this requires a passion for rural life, a tolerance for long commutes, and a desire to stretch your housing dollar.
New Rainfall Estimates, Old Flood Maps
The drainage impact analyses for these developments are based on Atlas-14, but old flood maps. It’s not clear yet whether Montgomery County intends to update its flood maps for this area or when. The latest drainage criteria manual on the County’s Engineering website is dated 2019.
Before I bought a home here, I would want to make sure my house was elevated far above street level.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 4/2/2023
2042 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/2023/04/20230402-DJI_0410.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=17991200adminadmin2023-04-02 20:24:492023-04-03 08:14:35Homes Going Up on 600 Acres Along Gully Branch in Splendora
After Hurricane Harvey, Harris County Engineering examined regulations throughout the region and recommended minimum drainage standards to reduce future flooding in the region’s cities and counties. Harris County even offered to pay the cost of inventorying existing standards and having an engineering firm draft recommended revisions. But almost 2000 days after Harvey, only half of the area’s cities and counties have taken action. Among those not acting: Montgomery and Liberty Counties. Here’s a breakdown of who has done what as of January 18, 2023, according to Harris County.
Already Upgraded
Twenty took Harris County up on its offer. They have already successfully updated their drainage regulations. They include:
Cities of
Baytown
Bellaire
Bunker Hill Village
Deer Park
El Lago
Friendswood
Galena Park
Hilshire Village
Houston
Humble
Jersey Village
Katy
La Porte
Pasadena
Piney Point Village
Seabrook
Southside Place
Taylor Lake Village
Tomball
Waller County
Considered Updates But Haven’t Acted
Twelve had requested and received an analysis, but had not yet implemented recommendations. They include:
Cities of:
Hedwig Village
Jacinto City
League City
Missouri City
Nassau Bay
Pearland
Shoreacres
South Houston
Spring Valley
Webster
West University
Fort Bend County
Not Acting
Eight have not updated ordinances and regulations. These include communities that did not respond to and those that refused Harris County’s offer. They include:
Cities:
Hunter’s Creek Village
Morgan’s Point
Stafford
Waller
Counties:
Brazoria
Galveston
Liberty
Montgomery
In fairness, Montgomery County did hire a firm in August 2022 to update/revise its drainage criteria manual and subdivision rules. The scope of work included examining some of the recommendations below made by Harris County. But work was expected to take at least a year.
Recommendations for Minimum Drainage Standards
The minimum drainage standards recommended by Harris County included:
Use Atlas 14 rainfall rates for sizing storm water conveyance and detention systems.
Require a minimum detention rate of 0.55 acre feet per acre for any new development on tracts one acre or larger. However, single-family residential structures and accessory buildings on existing lots would be exempt.
Prohibit the use of hydrographic timing as a substitute for detention on any project, unless it directly outfalls into Galveston Bay.
Require “no net fill” in the current mapped 500-year flood plain, except in areas identified as coastal zones only.
Require minimum Finished Floor Elevation (FFE) of new habitable structures be established at or waterproofed to the 500-year flood elevation as shown on the effective Flood Insurance Study.
I would add one more to the list:
No clearing or grading before environmental and drainage studies are completed, and during grading, measures are taken to protect neighbors from runoff.
This seems to be particularly troublesome issue for those surrounding new developments.
Self Interest
Harris County Engineering originally positioned adoption of the minimum drainage standards as a condition for receiving partnership money from the 2018 flood bond.
Clearly, not everyone sees that has a powerful incentive. Those outside Harris County likely see little benefit, especially since the Equity Prioritization Framework has delayed funding in those areas.
Perhaps Harris County should have emphasized how adoption of the minimum standards could help reduce flooding for ALL people in the region – including those within Montgomery and Liberty Counties.
During heavy rains in late January, I received dozens of reports of flooding in Montgomery and Liberty Counties. As growth in surrounding areas explodes, lax regulations are starting to inflict suffering on those area’s own citizens.
They should adopt higher standards for their own benefit, not just Harris County’s.
Photo taken January 30, 2023 along Harris/MoCo border near San Jacinto West Fork after 1.32 inches of rain.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/5/23
1986 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/2023/02/20230130-DJI_0926.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&ssl=17991200adminadmin2023-02-05 12:25:022023-02-05 12:32:31Montgomery, Liberty Counties Still Have Not Adopted Minimum Drainage Recommendations
On October 28, Royal Pines flooded a neighbor on less than an inch of rain. Two months later, on December 29th, the same thing happened again. The video below provided by the homeowner shows the volume of water funneled across her property by the developer.
Video from NW corner of Royal Pines
This video and the previous one from October demonstrate the dangers of clearcutting and redirecting drainage without first constructing sufficient stormwater detention capacity.
The homeowner who shot the video lives adjacent to the left border in the photo below. Royal Pines has apparently sloped its property toward that corner where contractors will eventually build a stormwater detention basin.
Looking N across Royal Pines. This and other photos below taken on 1/3/23.
Land now slopes toward where video was filmed at left corner. But that area used to slope in the opposite direction. See details below from the USGS NATIONAL MAP and the developer’s plans.
Green arrow on left shows location of homeowner’s property. Red X within V-shaped contour shows exact location of low point (graph on right) before clearing and grading the land.
There used to be an 8-foot drop east of the homeowner’s property. But now, instead of water flowing directly north to White Oak Creek, it flows northwest.
The general plan for Royal Pines (below) shows the same V-shape in the proposed detention basin (upper left). The line represents the edge of the floodplain and confirms that the developer A) knew about the slope and B) changed it.
Royal Pines General Plan.
Silt Fence, Trench Ineffective Against That Much Water
The video above and the photos below show that silt fence makes a terrible dam against even small rains funneling toward a point from such a large area.
Exercise in futility. A series of silt fences have done little to catch and slow the water...or the silt. Note erosion deposited in woods.Looking south. The developer apparently tried to divert runoff racing toward the homeowner with a trench. But erosion from the barren land rapidly filled it in. Runoff also collects at the entrance to Royal Pines. Looking ENE from the entrance at the northern end of West Lake Houston Parkway.
Unfortunately, the developer plans to build homes there, not another detention basin.
0.88 Inches of Rain Fell in Two Hours
The graph below from the Harris County Flood Warning System shows that .88 inches of rain fell in the two afternoon hours before the homeowner shot the video.
Homeowner shot video after first two bars on left.
The table below shows that that much rain in two hours constitutes less than a 1-year rainfall event.
Atlas 14 rainfall probabilities for this area.
That’s consistent with actual observed events and climate records. According to the National Weather Service, on average, we can expect rainfalls greater than 1 inch 14 times per year in Houston. That’s about once per month.
Woodridge Village Revisited
The Montgomery County Engineer’s Office has reportedly asked the developer’s engineering company to revise its plans. The homeowner says that according to the engineer’s office, not even a 6-7 foot tall berm around that portion of the property would be enough to stop all the water flowing in that direction.
So, what lessons can we learn from this example? As with Woodridge Village, don’t clear and grade this much land before constructing detention basins!
The first sentence of Section 11.086 of the Texas Water Code states that “No person may divert … the natural flow of surface waters in the state, or permit a diversion … to continue, in a manner that damages the property of another…”
Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/13/2023
1963 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/2023/01/Keyframe-Royal-Pines-Flood-2.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=16751200adminadmin2023-01-13 10:01:062023-01-13 10:38:08Royal Pines Floods Neighbor on Less Than 1″ of Rain … AGAIN
