Tag Archive for: SJRA

Reservoir Coordination Still Elusive After 53 Years

4/6/26 – One of the biggest “lessons learned” from Harvey is that coordinated Joint Reservoir Operations are crucial. The San Jacinto River Basin has two reservoirs controlled by dams. But coordinating their operation to reduce flooding remains elusive after 53 years.

The San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) finished the Lake Conroe dam in 1973, but is still seeking public input on its Joint Reservoir Operations Study. They hope to have a first draft of the study by the end of 2026.

Benefits of Reservoir Coordination

Other authorities around the world have long recognized the benefits of coordinating the operations of multiple dams on their rivers. Benefits include:

  • Enhanced flood control and mitigation – By acting in tandem, dams can reduce flood peaks more efficiently than isolated dams.
  • Improved water security and drought resilience – Coordinated dam systems can manage water storage across a basin to alleviate water stress during dry seasons.
  • Reduced sediment transport –  Tandem operation can reduce peak flows that cause heavy erosion, clogging rivers and downstream lakes.
  • Increased hydropower generation – Although not a factor in the San Jacinto Basin, coordinated operations allow water to be used multiple times as it passes through a series of dams, exponentially increasing total energy output from the same water resource.
  • Environmental sustainability – Strategic releases of water can sustain downstream ecosystems, habitats, and species, as seen in the U.S. Sustainable Rivers Program.
  • Improved navigation and trade – A system of coordinated locks and dams can regulate river flow consistently, facilitating the transport of goods via barges and promoting regional economic development.
  • Water security – Upstream dams can supplement the water supply in downstream dams that may support major metropolitan areas. Lake Conroe, for instance, provides backup to the smaller Lake Houston, which is the primary water supply for more than 2 million people.

River Authorities that Manage Multiple Dams for Flood Control

Examples of coordinated management abound. Take for instance:

  • In Texas, the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) provides a textbook example of coordinated dam management for flood control through the Highland Lakes system. The LCRA manages a “staircase” of six dams northwest of Austin. All six assist with flood mitigation. They operate as an integrated unit to protect downstream communities.
  • Tennessee Valley Authority manages a network of 9 main-river dams and 22 tributary dams. The system is designed to catch heavy runoff in tributary reservoirs before it reaches the main river, significantly reducing flood risks for downstream cities like Chattanooga. The TVA operates these dams as a single unit. That way, they also ensure a consistent water depth of at least 11 feet along the entire 652-mile main channel. That lets 28,000 barges transport goods annually.
  • The Columbia River System (CRS) consists of 14 federal dam projects managed as a coordinated system for power, flood control, and fish protection.
  • California Department of Water Resources found that “weather-informed reservoir operations” at Lake Oroville and New Bullards Bar Reservoir can further reduce flood risk for communities along the Yuba and Feather rivers during extreme atmospheric river storm events and potentially benefit water supply during drier periods.
  • In the Delaware River Basin, a “flexible flow management program” mitigates flooding impacts immediately downstream of reservoirs.

Two Key Houston-Area Reservoirs Have Different Missions, Management

So, why can’t the SJRA manage two dams?

For one thing, SJRA only controls Lake Conroe. The Coastal Water Authority controls Lake Houston.

For another, the two dams have slightly different goals and radically different construction.

  • Lake Conroe was conceived as a water supply and flood control reservoir (even though SJRA now claims Lake Conroe is strictly for water supply). Lake Conroe’s tainter gates can release 150,000 CFS.
  • Lake Houston, on the other hand, is primarily for water supply. It has limited flood control capability because of its fixed height spillway. Lake Houston has only four small gates with a combined release capacity of 10,000 cubic feet per second (CFS).

Engineers are currently studying ways to add more and bigger tainter gates to Lake Houston. The current plan under study would boost the release rate to 78,000 CFS, thus matching the highest release rate ever from Lake Conroe (during Harvey). That would enable better coordination between the dams.

Why It Matters

Timing of releases can materially affect downstream flooding in a densely developed floodplain. During Harvey, a wall of water 11 feet high was going over the Lake Houston spillway. 16,000 homes and 3300 businesses behind the dam flooded. It backed water up for miles. Lake Houston’s Dam had 5X more water going over it than Niagra Falls usually does – enough to fill NRG Stadium in 3.5 minutes – 425,000 CFS.

Lake Houston Dam During Harvey. Can you even see the gates at the right end of the spillway?

Twenty percent of all homes and forty percent of all businesses in the area were affected.

Lake Houston Area Flood Task Force

Getting the water out faster is crucial. But it must be done safely. In a way that doesn’t hurt downstream interests.

While Coastal Water Authority figures out how to add more gates, SJRA is building a forecasting tool for the entire watershed that has the potential to:

  • Improve coordination between the dams
  • Inform decisions about pre-releases and gate operations
  • Enhance emergency management

For More Information

See SJRA’s presentation at the Humble Civic Center on 3/5/26 for more on Joint Reservoir Operations.

See ReduceFlooding’s new Lessons page for more “lessons learned” about flooding. It’s my attempt to distill my most important findings from more than 3000 posts since Harvey.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 4/6/26

3142 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.

SJRA Joint-Reservoir Operations Study Meeting: A Wake-up Call

3/7/26 – On 3/5/26 at the Humble Civic Center, the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) held the first of three meetings to discuss its Joint Reservoir Operations Study. In several respects, the meeting was a wake-up call:

  • During Q&A, SJRA learned how impatient the downstream public is for flood-mitigation solutions – 8.5 years after Hurricane Harvey.
  • Public comments showed that PTSD from flooding still lingers.
  • The average age of attendees appeared to be in their sixties. Younger homeowners and newcomers to the region who have no memory of flooding were largely absent.
  • Several comments by speakers suggested upstream residents around Lake Conroe are still resistant to the idea of any “pre-release.”
  • SJRA has no formal pre-release program anymore. As one speaker said, “There are no designated dates or amounts or anything like that. But we work very closely with City of Houston. They make decisions on what we’d like to do.”

Theory of Pre-Release

The idea behind “pre-release” is to release water ahead of a storm, so a reservoir, such as Lake Conroe or Lake Houston, has additional capacity to absorb incoming floodwater. That can shave flood peaks by spreading out releases over longer periods.

SJRA’s Water Resources and Flood Management Division Manager Matt Barrett, PE, said…

“One of the main objectives of the study is to determine if there are any benefits to pre-releases from Lake Conroe and Lake Houston.”

Matt Barrett

Findings in Other River Basins

Studies around the world have proven that pre-releases do have benefits … in certain conditions.

California Department of Water Resources found that “weather-informed reservoir operations” at Lake Oroville and New Bullards Bar Reservoir can further reduce flood risk for communities along the Yuba and Feather rivers during extreme atmospheric river storm events and potentially benefit water supply during drier periods.

Also in California, the Army Corps of Engineers found that “forecast-informed reservoir operations” could increase water supply without increasing flood risk.

In the Delaware River Basin, a “flexible flow management program” mitigates flooding impacts immediately downstream of reservoirs.

A peer-reviewed Journal of Hydrology case study on the Bavarian Danube concluded that coordinated operation of reservoirs in river basins has great potential to improve flood mitigation.

City of Houston Experience

And experience in the San Jacinto River Basin since Harvey has also proven pre-releases have benefits. The City of Houston Public Works Department has documented numerous instances when pre-releases helped prevent downstream flooding, according to Dave Martin, former Houston Mayor Pro Tem.

Pushback from Lake Conroe Association

But pre-release is politically unpopular with Lake Conroe residents. The Lake Conroe Association (LCA) constantly speaks out against it in SJRA board meetings, lawsuits, community meetings, and complaints to the TCEQ. While LCA articulates its concerns as a loss of valuable water, the concerns stem from perceived impacts on recreation and property values.

Iterations of Lake Conroe Pre-Release Strategies

As a result, SJRA has modified its pre-release protocol several times since Harvey.

  • At first, SJRA lowered Lake Conroe during the two wettest seasons of the year: Spring and Hurricane Season.
  • SJRA then restricted the amounts and durations of the lowering.
  • Currently, SJRA lowers Lake Conroe on an as-needed basis – days or hours before major storms. They call the strategy “Active Storm Management.”

The City of Houston owns two-thirds of the water in Lake Conroe and can call for as much as it wants, any time it wants. SJRA reportedly would prefer the City continues calling for the water, so that it doesn’t have to take the heat from the Lake Conroe Association.

Clearly, Active Storm Management is a compromise between upstream and downstream interests. But how does SJRA know when and how much to release before a storm. That depends on weather and the certainty of forecasts. How much rain will fall where? How fast? And how much will run off?

Another Study Objective: Forecasting Tool

That’s where another objective of the Joint Reservoir Operations Study comes in: development of a forecasting tool.

Joint Reservoir Operations Study
Objectives of Joint Reservoir Operations Study

See more details about the forecasting tool below.

The question in my mind is not IF pre-lease is feasible, but WHEN. Clearly, there are some cases where pre-release from Lake Conroe alone does not make sense, i.e., when a storm approaches from the south, as Harvey did and Lake Houston (without its new flood gates) could not release water fast enough to keep up with any release from Conroe. That would just make flooding worse.

But in other situations, i.e., when a storm approaches from the north or northwest, it might make sense – especially after Lake Houston receives its new floodgates. Then you would not be stacking floodwaters from different directions on top of each other.

Scope of Work Associated with Study

The Joint Reservoir Operations Study will also look at past releases from both Lake Houston and Lake Conroe, and use lessons learned to help inform the Lake Houston Gate Operations Policy.

With the data collected, SJRA will develop models that reflect the addition of new gates for the Lake Houston Dam. Then they will evaluate 20 different pre-release scenarios, such as the possibilities mentioned above.

As of this meeting, SJRA had not yet determined which scenarios they would evaluate. However, they will evaluate the consequences on water supply in both lakes.

The worry: if the forecast is wrong and a storm veers away, pre-releases could negatively impact water supply.

Finally, the study will determine the best ways to communicate pre-releases to stakeholders.

The Flow-Forecasting Tool mentioned above will incorporate data from multiple sources, including rainfall, a network of more than 70 stream gages, outflow from Lake Conroe and a model of the watershed. It will inform both gate operations and local officials.

To see the entire presentation, click here. It will help you understand some of the constraints on dam operations including:

  • Governance of the reservoirs.
  • Components of Lake Houston Water Supply Operations
  • Historical floods
  • Proposed improvements to the Lake Houston Dam
  • Runoff from sub-watersheds
  • Differences between water-supply and flood-control reservoirs; Lakes Conroe and Houston are both water-supply reservoirs
  • Construction differences between the two dams

Next Meetings and More Information

As the study progresses throughout the year, SJRA will hold two more public meetings. A mid-year meeting will be held at Lake Conroe to review progress. And SJRA hopes to reveal the results of the study in The Woodlands before the end of the year.

For more information, see LCLHJointOps.com.

Even if you can’t make the meetings, SJRA welcomes public comments on the study, flood-risk locations and flood impacts.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/7/26

3112 Days since Harvey

Reminder: SJRA Joint-Reservoir-Operations Meeting in Humble

3/4/26 – The San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) will hold a meeting at the Humble Civic Center to solicit public input on its Joint-Reservoir-Operations Study. Please come:

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

Representatives from the SJRA, Coastal Water Authority, City of Houston, Humble, and the study consultant, Black & Veatch Engineering, will explain the study and field your questions. The meeting will feature informational tables where residents can talk with engineers one on one, plus a presentation.

According to Matt Barrett, PE, SJRA’s Water Resources and Flood Management Division Manager, “one of the main objectives of the study is to determine if there are any benefits to pre-releases from Lake Conroe and Lake Houston.”

Not an Easy Question

While that may seem obvious to flood victims, the question can get complicated. In involves an almost infinite number of weather scenarios, engineering variables and water-supply considerations. For instance:

  • How much rain will fall and how fast? Which direction will the storm come from? Where will the most rain fall in the river basin?
  • How many gates can the budget support? Will they be able to keep up with Lake Conroe’s discharges?
  • What happens if a storm veers away at the last minute? How can we make sure pre-releases don’t waste water or flood downstream neighbors?

In my mind, the question is not “if” pre-releases have a benefit, but “when.”

And that relates to a second objective of the study: to develop a flow forecasting tool for the entire river basin.

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

Experience of Other River Basins

Coordinating pre-releases from multiple dams is not an unusual problem. Most rivers have more than one. For instance, multiple dams on the lower Colorado River help keep Austin from flooding.

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

The big win is usually shaving peak flows. Engineers in other watersheds have seen flood-mitigation benefits when their studies identified operating rules that:

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

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

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

Bring your questions to the Civic Center.

Why is This Study Taking So Long?

The project was delayed by a change in plans in adding gates to the Lake Houston Dam. SJRA first applied for a grant to study synchronizing releases from the two dams back in 2020. However, after crest gates to the spillway portion of the dam proved infeasible, the City of Houston decided to study adding tainter gates to the earthen eastern portion of the dam.

site of proposed gates for Lake Houston on east side of dam
Tainter gates like Lake Conroe’s will now go in the earthen portion of the dam above, not the concrete spillway in distance.

That new study is now 30% complete. That’s far enough along to start making engineering decisions. But to complicate things even further, costs have escalated because of inflation. That raises some additional questions…and scenarios. How many gates can the City afford? Will they be able to keep up with releases from Lake Conroe? And will Black & Veatch even examine scenarios involving additional gates?

If history is any indication, you can bet that members from the Lake Conroe Association will be there to talk against pre-release. If you want your interests represented in this study, make sure you come tomorrow night. And make sure they include the scenarios in their study that represent your biggest concerns.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/4/26

3109 Days since Hurricane Harvey

Save the Date: SJRA Joint Reservoir Operations Meeting March 5

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

Timing Affected by Lake Houston Gates Engineering

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

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

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

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

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

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

Main Objective of Joint Operations Study

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

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

Second Objective: Flow-Forecasting Tool

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

Results Will Inform Lake Houston Gate-Operations Policy

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

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

Benefit Area

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

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

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

Meet the Experts

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

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

Mark Your Calendar

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

Experience of Other River Basins

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/20/26

3097 Days since Hurricane Harvey

SJRA Update on Status of Four Flood-Mitigation Projects

1/11/2026 – At the end of 2025, the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) issued an update on the status of four flood-mitigation projects. During Hurricane Harvey and again in May 2024, SJRA came under withering criticism for releases from Lake Conroe exceeding 70,000 cubic feet per second that flooded downstream residents.

The four projects represent different ways to offset similar releases in the future and their adverse effects. They include:

Joint-Reservoir-Operations Study

The City of Houston is currently performing a project to add new spillway gates to increase the controlled release capacity of the Lake Houston dam. The goal of this Joint Reservoir Operations Study is to determine the most efficient and safe operation of Lake Conroe in series with Lake Houston once the new gates are installed.

The study will evaluate the feasibility of prereleases including impacts on water supply. The study will also develop a forecasting tool for Lake Houston and support development of the gate operations policy for the proposed Lake Houston dam gates.

Black & Veatch is handling the million-dollar study for SJRA, City of Houston, City of Humble and the Texas Water Development Board. The engineering company received a notice to proceed in August 2025 and expects to complete the project by December 2027.

Black & Veatch is also handling the engineering for the City of Houston on the project to add more flood gates to the Lake Houston Dam. The company has completed preliminary engineering. Mayor Whitmire expects them to finish detailed engineering by the end of this year.

For more on the Joint Reservoir Operations Study, see:

Flood Infrastructure Fund (FIF) Abridged Application
FIF Final Application
Joint Ops Project Benefit Area Map

Spring Creek Flood Control Dams Feasibility Study

This project explored multiple alternative sites for dams along Spring Creek with the potential to reduce flooding. The two most cost effective alternatives were on Birch and Walnut Creeks. SJRA released its draft report to the Texas Water Development Board in June 2025. Its final report is due next month.

For more on the Spring Creek Dams Site Study, see:

FIF Abridged Application
FIF Final Application
Spring Creek Project Benefit Area Map
www.SpringCreekStudy.com

Upper San Jacinto River Basin Regional Sedimentation Study

According to the Army Corps, conveyance of the San Jacinto West Fork between Humble and Kingwood was reduced 90% due to sedimentation. That exacerbated flooding. Since then, SJRA has evaluated sedimentation throughout the river basin to learn:

  • Where the most sediment comes from
  • How to prioritize watersheds for improvements
  • Conceptual solutions

The goal: reduce loss of floodway conveyance in the basin.

SJRA started the project in May 2022. It hopes to deliver a draft report to the TWDB by October 2026 and the final report by June 2027.

For more information, see:

sanjacintosedimentationstudy.com
FIF Abridged Application
FIF Final Application
Sedimentation Study Project Benefit Area Map

Sand-Trap Project

The sand trap project is one potential way to remove material from the river in order to improve conveyance and reduce the risk of flooding.

SJRA is working with HCFCD and City of Houston to plan, design, and construct one or more “sand traps” along the West Fork.

 A major component of the project is coordinating with Aggregate Production Operations (APOs) along the river. A public/private partnership would provide for operation and maintenance of the proposed sand trap(s). A conceptual design effort to select the most feasible site(s) for installation of sand trap(s) has been completed, and preliminary design is scheduled for completion in early 2026.

For more information, see:

Sand Trap Conceptual Design Report Comments Received
Sand Trap Summary Document for Stakeholders (11-08-22)
SJR and Tributaries Sediment Removal and Sand Trap Development Conceptual Design Report
Sediment Trap Pilot Project Preliminary Design Scope

The Studies are Only Step One

It’s important to recognize that more than eight years after Harvey, not one of these studies is complete yet. And the studies are just the first step in a multi-step process that includes final engineering, funding, land acquisition, and construction for most of these.

At this rate, it could take decades before we see actual flood-mitigation benefits. We really need to find ways to speed up this process.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 1/11/26

3057 Days since Hurricane Harvey

SJRA Wins Appeal Against Downstream Homeowners

October 20, 2025 – On October 16, 2025, the Fourteenth Court of Appeals ruled that the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) enjoyed governmental immunity in one set of “takings” claims arising out of Hurricane Harvey. The three-judge panel reversed a ruling by the 152nd District Court in Harris County.

The new ruling said that the SJRA acted reasonably and that the property owners failed to prove their case. The property owners had accused the SJRA of causing or worsening their flooding during Hurricane Harvey as a result of releases from Lake Conroe.

SJRA Lawsuit win on appeal

Case Specifics

The case in question – SJRA v. Thomas E. and Beth F. Ross, Et Al. included 295 appellees.

When the three judge panel ruled that SJRA enjoyed governmental immunity, all of plaintiffs’ other claims became moot.

Justice Kevin Jewell, Conclusion on Page 31

Even so, the ruling runs to 33 pages. Every paragraph represents a Tylenol moment for the plaintiffs. From discussions of applicable law to standards of proof, expert witness testimony and more.

The justices relied heavily on the gravity and immediacy of the threat posed by Hurricane Harvey (page 18) in determining that SJRA deserved immunity. Harvey was “significantly serious” and “likely to produce great harm or danger,” they said (page 20).

Key Factors in Finding

The judges believed that SJRA acted “reasonably,” a pivotal word they applied. “SJRA created a Gate Policy that was intended to minimize threats to life and property and to comply with applicable rules and legal authority. Adhering to that policy during a storm emergency is objectively reasonable,” they added on Page 21.

Further they found (page 25) that the downstream property owners failed to prove that “the threat to life or property posed by Harvey [did] not qualify as grave and immediate.”

And they agreed with the SJRA (page 29) that releasing the stormwater from Lake Conroe was “necessary,” even though:

  • Some buffer existed before SJRA would have flooded upstream residents
  • The dam could have withstood higher levels.

In the end, they said (page 31), “The decision of whether, when, and how much, water to release was discretionary and the Property Owners have not presented evidence that the amount released was so extreme as to be objectively unreasonable.”

Conclusion: Reversal With Prejudice

Thus, they concluded, “We reverse the trial court’s order and render judgment dismissing with prejudice [emphasis added] the Property Owners’ statutory takings claims.”

A dismissal “with prejudice” means the case is over. Plaintiffs cannot refile the claim ever again. This final judgment permanently ends the lawsuit and prevents the same issues from relitigation in the future. Except through a successful appeal to a higher court.

It’s unclear how this case differs from several other similar takings cases arising out of Harvey. It’s also unclear at this point whether the plaintiffs will appeal the case.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 10/20/2025

2974 Days since Hurricane Harvey

SJRA, Conroe Settle Lawsuit after Nine Years

8/15/25 – The San Jacinto River Authority and City of Conroe issued a joint press release about the settlement this morning of their nine-year legal battle over water rates. This press release just came in. I’ve added subheads to help highlight key points. Otherwise, the text between the lines is verbatim:

SJRA Directors Unanimously Approve

Conroe, Texas—Today the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) Board of Directors unanimously approved the execution of a Mutual Release and Settlement Agreement with the City of Conroe to end current litigation related to the SJRA Groundwater Reduction Plan (GRP). The City of Conroe considered and approved the Mutual Release and Settlement Agreement at a City Council meeting on Thursday.

End to Legal Squabbles is Mutually Beneficial

SJRA General Manager, Aubrey Spear, said “We appreciate the City of Conroe’s efforts in working with SJRA in reaching this settlement agreement. Putting this litigation behind us is best for all GRP participants and their rate payers. With Conroe’s payment and savings on legal fees, the wholesale water rates will go down. Ending the litigation also strengthens our partnership with Conroe to continue supplying water to its growing population.” 

Conroe City Administrator, Gary Scott, said “After months of negotiations, I am pleased with an outcome that is truly beneficial to both parties. Securing additional water is critical to Conroe’s economic growth and long-term vitality. We recognize and appreciate the efforts of the San Jacinto River Authority in working with us. This agreement represents a shared commitment to the betterment of us all. This is a historic decision that sets Conroe on the path to the future.”  

The agreement settles legal disputes between the parties dating back to 2016 when the City of Conroe disputed increases in wholesale water rates related to SJRA’s 2010 Groundwater Reduction Plan contract. 

Conroe Agrees to Pay Full Amount

In the settlement, the City of Conroe agrees to pay the full amount that it has short-paid SJRA since 2017 to the present that it has been holding in escrow. Conroe also agrees to begin paying the current rate for treated surface water from Lake Conroe and the groundwater pumpage fee going forward. 

SJRA Agrees to Provide More Surface Water and More

On the other hand, SJRA agrees to provide Conroe with additional surface water, reduce the term of Conroe’s GRP contract from 80 years to 40 years, forgive penalties and fees on past due amounts, and clarify in the contract that there is no obligation by the City of Conroe to participate in future GRP phases or expansion of the GRP water treatment plant.

Documents Not Yet Available 

Agreement documents are in the process of being fully executed.

 Reliance on Groundwater Has Contributed to Subsidence

This is good news for both parties. It will reduce the amount they spend on legal fees that rate- and taxpayers have funded.

However, the press release did not address how it will affect the amount of groundwater that Conroe pumps aside from saying that SJRA will provide Conroe with “additional surface water.”

Subsidence in southern Montgomery County including Conroe and the Woodlands is among the most severe in the region. SJRA’s Water Treatment Plant and the Groundwater Reduction Plan were at the heart of the lawsuit. Both were intended to reduce subsidence. And they did briefly when the plant first came online in 2015. Then the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District (LSGCD) started pumping huge amounts of groundwater, claiming there was no connection between the loss of groundwater and subsidence.

LSGCD says on their Resources Page under the subsidence tab that, “…the rate at which [their] compaction occurs is 10 times (10x) slower than the rate at which compaction occurs in Harris County.”

Regardless, a huge area is still sinking 8 to 12 millimeters per year. And most of Montgomery County is sinking at least 6 according to this subsidence map recently published by the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District.

Subsidence Has Triggered Faults

The subsidence has triggered faults in the area. That in turn has damaged homes, streets and drainage infrastructure. I spent a whole day last week taking a fault tour of the Woodlands with area residents. Below are three of dozens of pictures I took at day.

Fault line under the foundation cracked this Woodland’s home’s slab and walls.
Front steps are now twice their original height because the front yard sank relative to the front door.
Faulting damage in parking lot of Woodland’s High School.

Millimeters may not sound like much. But 12 millimeters per year is half an inch per year. During the life of a 30-year mortgage, that’s 15 inches…plus a lot of home and street repairs, and a lot of foundation leveling.

Inland subsidence has also been linked to flooding. It can change the gradient of streams and rivers, so water moves more slowly and builds higher during floods.

And differential subsidence (between two areas) can reduce the height of structures above floodplains. For instance, the subsidence rate in Conroe is far higher than subsidence at the Lake Houston Dam. That means homes north of the dam have less freeboard (height above expected floods). Said another way, it’s like tilting Lake Houston toward the homes north of the dam.

SJRA has not yet responded to questions about how the settlement will affect Conroe’s groundwater pumping.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/15/25

2908 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.

SJRA Unveils 10-Year Flood-Mitigation Plan

8/4/2025 – The San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) has unveiled a ten-year flood-mitigation plan for the river basin. For the most part, it’s built around continuations of previous efforts. Regardless, it’s interesting to see what SJRA hopes to focus on in the future.

The plan contains eight main elements:

  1. Spring Creek Watershed Flood-Control Dams Feasibility Study
  2. Upper San Jacinto River Basin Sedimentation Study
  3. Lake Conroe/Lake Houston Joint Reservoir Operations Study
  4. San Jacinto River and Tributaries Sediment Removal and Sand Trap Development
  5. Waller County Flood Mapping Updates
  6. Upper Basin Dual Purpose Reservoir (Flood/Water Supply)
  7. Rain and Stream Gage Installation
  8. Miscellaneous Flood Management Projects

Let’s look at each.

Spring Creek Watershed Flood-Control Dams

Previously, the SJRA identified two potential sites for flood-control dams in the upper Spring Creek watershed. The sites included properties along Birch and Walnut Creeks. One of the sites subsequently was sold for a solar farm. However, SJRA believes it only needs a small portion of that property. It has budgeted money to buy that property and relocate some of the solar panels. 

Matt Barrett, SJRA Flood Management Division Manager said, “We believe it is still a feasible site if we can identify a project sponsor to own and maintain the dam/reservoir.”

Currently, SJRA is seeking partners who could help fund land acquisition, construction and maintenance.

As with many of these items, SJRA emphasizes that it only has money for planning, coordination and project leadership, but not actual execution. For that, it must rely on grants.

Upper Basin Sedimentation Study

SJRA started this project several years ago also. The presentation shows them wrapping up their sedimentation study next year. They intend to rank order and develop an implementation plan for all projects that they have identified to date.

Joint Reservoir Operations Study

The goal of this project is to determine the most efficient and safe way to coordinate the operations of Lake Conroe and Lake Houston during floods. However, construction delays on Lake Houston’s new floodgates have delayed the completion of the study. That’s because engineers must understand the total release capacity of Lake Houston’s gates to make plans.

When last I checked, the City planned to adjust the number of gates to fit available funding. Once the release capacity has been locked down, engineers can develop:

  • An inflow forecasting tool for Lake Houston
  • Gate operations policies
  • Feasibility of pre-releases at either or both reservoirs
  • Risk evaluations in different weather scenarios.

SJRA hopes to complete this project by 2028.

Sediment Removal and Sand Trap Development

This project started in 2020 and identified a test site near the Hallett mine on the San Jacinto West Fork. SJRA wanted the site to be near a mine so miners could remove accumulated sediment from the sand trap once it filled up.

However, after the site was identified, the recommended site was subsequently cut off by a “pit capture.” The river is now flowing through the Hallett pit rather than around it.

The question in my mind is whether the pit walls can be hardened or vegetated somehow to let the exposed pit function as the sand trap.

SJRA hopes to work with a consultant to simplify the design and reduce costs for all involved. They see project completion in 2028.

Waller County Flood Mapping

SJRA hopes to obtain a grant from the Texas Flood Infrastructure Fund to update Waller County’s flood maps to Atlas 14 standards. This project could go through 2029 and cost $7 million.

Upper-Basin Dual-Purpose Reservoir

This is one of the most exciting elements of the 10-year plan. This feasibility study would determine the most viable location for a new lake/reservoir in the upper river basin that could mitigate flooding and supply water.

The study will look at a number of constraints and work with stakeholders, such as the US Forest Service.

Depending on the feasibility of the ultimate recommendation, it could replace a number of preliminary recommendations from the River Basin Master Drainage Plan developed several years ago. The study would go through 2029.

Upper San Jacinto River Basin
A new dual-purpose reservoir could be sited north of Lake Conroe or in the East Fork Watershed.

Rain/Stream Gage Installation

SJRA, working with counties, precincts, and other local governments, has identified 48 locations for rain/stream gages across the upper river basin. SJRA has incorporated all of them in the Regional Flood Plan.

As funding becomes available, they would be constructed. SJRA projects this project could last through 2032.

Miscellaneous

In the latter phases of the 10-year plan, SJRA is reserving some money for miscellaneous projects that arise through 2035. They might be small scale follow-up studies or facilitation of major construction projects – when/if they come to pass.

For More Information

See the full document presented to the SJRA board or visit SJRA.net.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/4/25

2897 Days since Hurricane Harvey

Wastelands to Wetlands, Part III: Turning Ideas into Action

3/31/25 – In the first two parts of this “Wastelands to Wetlands” series, I presented a vision for restoration of the San Jacinto West Fork and listed all the various parties who have an interest in the effort and could help. But how do you coordinate them? Who would take responsibility/authority for ensuring restoration? And how would you measure their success? That is the focus of this post.

My purpose is to start a dialogue that gets people moving in the direction of a solution. I don’t claim to have all the answers. Nor do I believe that this is the only way to get to a solution.

Need for Leader to Guide Restoration

Right now, no group or leader exists for such an effort. But restoration will never happen unless someone takes the initiative (or has the responsibility) to turn ideas into action.

In business, I learned that if you put two people in charge of a project, no one is in charge. Right now, we have more than a dozen groups theoretically in charge of permitting various aspects of restoration. But none is in charge of oversight and coordination. That’s a problem.

Do We Use Existing Group or Start New One?

Several contenders for the job already exist. But do they have the knowledge, skills, funding and desire to take on the additional work?

The San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) theoretically has the authority. And they have established a flood management division. But do they have the desire to take on the environmental restoration job? They architected a massive Master Drainage Plan for the entire river basin. But after more than four years, they have yet to implement one recommendation from it. SJRA seems focused on capturing water in Lake Conroe and selling it.

Further downstream, the Coastal Water Authority has the responsibility for managing Lake Houston. But no one has given them responsibility for fixing upstream issues between the two lakes that pollute their water.

Unless one of these two groups accepts restoration as a mission and dedicates the resources to achieving it, we need to create another authority responsible for the area between Lake Conroe and Lake Houston – a West Fork Restoration Authority.

Mission Defined

Their mission: turn wastelands into wetlands. How? 1) Restore abandoned mines using a combination of grants and matching funds dedicated to the effort by the state legislature. 2) Monitor active mines to ensure they comply with their abandonment plans when the time comes. 3) Coordinate the efforts of all affected parties to ensure they are additive and contribute to the long-range plan over time.

Creating such an authority would require action by the state legislature in 2027. It’s too late for this session.

Board Structure

A board appointed by the governor and affected parties, such as the City of Houston, Montgomery County, the mining industry, and residents, could manage the West Fork Restoration Authority.

Suggested Success Metrics

How would they measure success? Here’s a list of major needs, metrics, and milestones.

  • A) Completion of business plan
  • B) Acquisition of staff
  • C) Completion of engineering study
  • D) Design of solution and component parts
  • E) Costs estimates
  • F) Publication of long-term plan with stages/tasks outlined
  • G) Successful grant applications, funds raised
  • H) Permits obtained
  • I) Acres revegetated
  • J) Linear feet of trails installed
  • K) Reduction of erosion
  • L) Water-quality improvements
  • M) Publication of quarterly and annual progress reports
  • N) Creation of case study that communicates knowledge gained to guide similar efforts elsewhere

Time Limited

The State’s Sunset Commission would review the Restoration Authority at regular intervals (currently 12 years) and dissolve it after completion of its job or for lack of progress.

Need

Do we need such an Authority? In my opinion, YES! The economic future of the region depends on eliminating the blight that contributes to flooding. The West Fork has:

  • Approximately 20 square miles of sand mines, many abandoned, between Lake Houston and I-45
  • Become completely blocked in some areas
  • Broken through the dikes of at least five sand mines.

The American Rivers organization named the West Fork one of the most endangered rivers in America.

And we still have not completed a $200 million dredging program that began in 2018.

Back in 2019, I posted 72 pictures that showed the extent of sand mining on the West Fork. Sadly, not much has changed since then. In fact, things have gotten worse.

West Fork Sand-Mining Problems
Hallett Mine on West Fork. Picture taken March 19, 2025. Pit in foreground has been captured by river, cutting off normal channel to right.

We need the area’s elected leaders to work together to restore the West Fork as mines like the one above play out and the miners move on to other areas.

We need their help in turning Wastelands into Wetlands. Otherwise, the next generation will be stuck with the situation below.

New Sand Mining BMPs needed to offset sediment pollution.
Confluence of Spring Creek (left) and West Fork (right) with its 20 square miles of sand mines. Photo taken in January 2025

Posted by Bob Rehak on 3/31/25

2771 Days since Hurricane Harvey

Appellate Court Dismisses Homeowners’ Claims in SJRA Takings Case

11/30/24 – On November 26, 2024, the Court of Appeals for the First District of Texas dismissed homeowners’ claims in the long-running SJRA Takings Case. The case arose from Hurricane Harvey flood damage.

Downstream homeowners alleged that San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) releases from Lake Conroe significantly exacerbated their flooding. The resulting damage, they claimed, amounted to an illegal taking of their property by the government.

Court of appeals dismisses Homeowners' Claims in SJRA Takings Case
SJRA Takings Case Appellate Ruling

The Texas Constitution provides that “no person’s property shall be taken, damaged, or destroyed for or applied to public use without adequate compensation.” (Texas Constitution, Article I, Par. 17(a)).

Sadly, the alleged “facts” cited in the Appellate Court’s ruling apparently went unchallenged. And some of those so-called facts may mislead.

Speed of Floodwaters a Major Deciding Factor

The appellate court judges based much of their ruling on an argument related to the speed of floodwaters.

SJRA had produced an expert report by Mark E. Forest. The appellate judges said on page 24 of their ruling that “…the timing [emphasis added] of the water releases and flooding supported the conclusion that the River Authority’s water releases did not cause the homeowner’s flooding.”

The judges continued, “Forest explained that the water from Lake Conroe would take about 30 hours to travel the 38 miles downstream to reach the Humble and Kingwood areas, where most of the homeowners’ properties were located.”

Then, on the same page, comes this pivotal sentence. The judges say,

“About 30 hours after the River Authority first released water from Lake Conroe, the Humble and Kingwood areas had already experienced ‘major flooding,’ as the river levels had already risen from 41 feet above sea level to 62 feet.”

Page 24, SJRA v. Medina

Then the coup de grâce. “This major flooding occurred ‘without any contribution from Lake Conroe since those contributions had not yet arrived’ Forest explained.”

The appellate judges in the SJRA Takings Case evidently bought that argument. At the bottom of Page 24, they said, “Therefore, the River Authority produced evidence that its water releases from Lake Conroe did not cause or exacerbate the flooding of the homeowners’ properties.”

In their conclusion on page 36, the judges also state, “The homeowners’ evidence does not raise a fact issue to refute the River Authority’s evidence. The homeowners have not met their burden to provide evidence showing there is a material fact issue as to the causation of their inverse condemnation claim.”

Basis for SJRA Speed Estimate Unclear

I have asked SJRA repeatedly how they arrived at 30 hours and never gotten an answer. That made me suspicious. The SJRA claims floodwaters move only1.27 MPH (38 miles in 30 hours). An average person can walk 3-4 miles per hour!

Plus, I’ve measured (with my drone) logs floating downriver in lesser floods at 5-6 MPH.

The speed of floodwaters determine their arrival time downstream. Claiming a 30 hour travel time that easily could have been as brief as five or six hours could cause people to focus on the wrong part of the flooding bell curve. And it appears that may be what happened in this case.

Judges Cite Flooding at Less-Than-50-Year Level

I’m not sure what data Forest cited; the judges don’t specify. But let’s assume it came from the gage at the West Fork and US59.

At that location, 62 feet is less than a 50-year flood. Most structures are built at least two feet above the 100-year floodplain. The 100-year flood level there is 64.8 feet – almost three feet higher.

Importance of Speed in Determining Proximate Cause

If you assume a higher rate of speed and correlate that to when floodwaters reached the 100-year level where most homes begin to flood, it’s easier to see a possible connection between the Lake Conroe release and structural flooding downstream.

Floodwaters traveling 5-6 MPH would reach US59 in five to six hours, not 30 hours.

According to the Harris County Flood Warning System, the West Fork reached a 100-year-flood level at US59 at 8:42 PM on 8/28/2017.

And according to an SJRA affidavit supplied during the original trial:

  • 30 hours earlier, SJRA was releasing 10,946 CFS.
  • 6 hours earlier, SJRA released 78,885 CFS.

So, between the 30 hours claimed by the SJRA and the six hours indicated by drone measurement, the SJRA increased its release rate by almost 8X.

If the drone measurements are accurate and representative…

SJRA releases increased dramatically shortly before structures near US59 flooded.

This suggests a different conclusion. SJRA releases may have been a far more proximate cause of downstream flooding than SJRA-supplied data implied.

Would homes and businesses have flooded eventually anyway? Certainly, that’s true for some. But it might not be true for others.

No one would expect a home to flood in Kingwood when you release 11,000 CFS from Lake Conroe.

But how about an additional 79,000 CFS when homes were already on the verge of flooding? That’s a very different story – especially considering that at the peak, Lake Conroe releases comprised one third of the total water coming down the West Fork. Many homes at the periphery of the flooding might have stayed dry had the timing and volume of releases been different.

Too Late Now

The plaintiffs’ expert consultant in the SJRA Takings Case did not conduct his own hydrological modeling (Page 26). That’s unfortunate.

Even if the plaintiffs in this case succeed in getting the Texas Supreme Court to hear an appeal, additional evidence would likely be inadmissible.

In general, appellate courts do not consider new evidence. Their primary role is to review the record from lower courts to determine whether legal errors were made that significantly affected the outcome of the case. Appellate courts focus on issues of law rather than fact.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/29/24

2650 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.