Harris County Flood Control District

This document outlines the Harris County Flood Control District's comprehensive approach to reducing flood damages and enhancing flood resilience. Key focus areas include the utilization of structural and non-structural flood damage reduction tools, rigorous infrastructure maintenance, and strategic capital improvement projects. The district implements programs such as the 2018 Bond Program, hurricane disaster recovery initiatives, and property management, aiming to mitigate flood risks, maintain drainage infrastructure, and integrate community and environmental values into all flood control efforts.

The virtual community engagement meeting focused on two projects: the Crenshaw Stormwater Detention Basin Phase Two, managed by the Harris County Flood Control District, and the Arlington Heights Area Drainage Improvement Project, managed by Houston Public Works. The Harris County Flood Control District overview detailed its mission, governance, and the context of flood mitigation projects, including the 2018 bond program funding. Key discussion points for the Crenshaw project included its objective to reduce flooding for the Arlington Heights subdivision by extending an existing detention basin, with design completion expected in Fall 2021 and construction beginning in Spring 2022. The Arlington Heights portion outlined drainage improvements involving the installation of a large storm sewer system and the necessity for off-site detention, which is being achieved through collaboration with the Flood Control District for basin capacity expansion. The City of Houston's project is divided into Subproject One (90% design, construction starting Spring 2023) and Subproject Two (Phase Two design, construction starting Fall 2025), which includes roadway, sidewalk, ADA ramp, utility, and sanitary sewer replacements.

This virtual community meeting focused on the Barker Reservoir Watershed Channel Desilt and Repair Program. Key discussion points included an overview of the Harris County Flood Control District, its mission regarding flood damage reduction, and the shared jurisdiction over flooding within Harris County. The meeting detailed the desilting process, which involves removing deposited sediment to restore channels to their original design capacity, and channel repair work addressing erosion and slope failures. The program scope covers 47 miles of open waterways draining into the Barker Reservoir, with an emphasis on channels where the District has property rights, limited west of the Grand Parkway. Construction expectations involve truck traffic, temporary lane closures, limited access to trails, and potential tree removal for access, although efforts are made to minimize impact or relocate trees. The desilt package construction began in October 2020 and is expected to last 310 days, while repair package design is approximately 30 percent complete with anticipated bidding in early spring 2021. It was clarified that the Flood Control District does not operate the Barker Reservoir, which is managed by the Army Corps of Engineers. Furthermore, attendees were assured that desilting projects improve conveyance capacity and do not increase flooding risk downstream.

The meeting served to inform the public about a potential flood mitigation project along Little White Oak Bayou, seeking funding through a Community Development Block Grant for Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) administered by the Texas General Land Office. Discussion provided context regarding the 2018 bond election for flood risk mitigation projects and the necessity of partnership funding to fully execute the projects. The meeting detailed the structure of the Little White Oak Bayou sub-watershed, including its four reaches, existing flood control infrastructure (including concrete lining and culverts), and the limitations of FEMA flood maps which exclude lateral drainage system flooding. A preliminary model incorporating both the bayou channel and lateral systems was presented to better visualize flooding risks. The primary project discussed for grant application involves widening Little White Oak Bayou between Cross Timber Street and Tidwell Road, including removing concrete lining, and adding stormwater detention capacity. This project is estimated to cost $78 million, for which $68 million is being requested via the federal grant, with the remaining $10 million from the 2018 bond allocation. The process for project development, including feasibility study, design, and construction, was outlined, emphasizing the urgency provided by the grant deadline.

The meeting served as a virtual community engagement session regarding the major maintenance of Cypress Creek and its tributaries project. Discussions included an overview of the Flood Control District's background, mission, and its role within Harris County's flood risk reduction efforts across 23 watersheds. Key topics involved the status of the 2018 Bond Program, which includes 181 projects funded by $2.5 billion in bonds, and the necessity of securing partnership funding to reach the full project cost of nearly $5 billion. Specific updates were provided on the programmatic effort for Cypress Creek Watershed, which spans 159 miles of waterways, detailing the five planned batches of maintenance work such as sediment removal, erosion repair, and outfall pipe replacement. Initial batches (Batch 1 and Batch 2) were reported as completed ahead of schedule, with construction starting on Batch 3. The session also emphasized incorporating natural values by protecting mature trees where possible, noting that Batch 5 work along the main stem may require more extensive vegetation clearing for basin construction.