City of Houston takes new measures to combat flooding
The National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) reported that there were 96 days with at least one report of flooding or flash flooding in Harris County from 1996 through 2015. This equates to an average of 4-5 days of flooding each year during that time frame.
Typically, the heaviest months for rainfall in the Houston area are May, June and September with average rainfall totals at about 15 inches. The last storm system that Harris County experienced was Jan. 18. The storms dumped between four and six inches of rain over a 12-hour period causing significant flooding along Highway 59.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced in a press release dated Jan. 24 that the City of Houston is stepping in to provide funds needed to help expedite long-awaited flood relief projects for Brays, Hunting, and White Oak Bayous.
The project has already received federal approval and unprecedented cooperation by the Harris County Flood Control District and Texas Water Development Board. Brays Bayou will be first in line to receive the improvements, followed by work on Hunting and White Oak Bayous.
The price tag on the Brays Bayou project is $43 million, for which the city council is considering a loan from the Texas Water Development Board. Upon approval of the loan by the state, the city will then advance the funds to the flood control district to help pay for bridge replacements, channel widening and storm water detention basins in Brays watershed.
The $43 million loan would be the equivalent to what the flood control district expects to receive from the federal government once the projects are completed. The city will then be reimbursed as projects are completed by the Harris County Flood Control District and, subsequently, able to repay the loan.
“These projects will greatly reduce the flood threat for residents along these bayous and remove hundreds of properties out of the 100-year flood plain,” Turner is said in the press release. “I want to thank the multiple governmental entities that have come to the table to make this happen. The level of cooperation is unprecedented and a sign of just how committed everyone is to solving our flooding issues.”
Approximately 8 months ago, on April 18, 2016, in just 14 hours an estimated 140 billion gallons of water rained over the Cypress Creek, Spring Creek and Addick’s watersheds. The Addick’s Reservoir and Addick’s Dam, in conjunction with Barker Reservoir, are designed to prevent the downstream flooding of Buffalo Bayou in the City of Houston; nevertheless, Houston found its homes, vehicles, freeways and places of business under siege from the storm waters.
George Royston and his wife Sadie have lived along Bayou View Trail in Houston for more than 25 years.
“Our home has flooded three times in seven years,” the couple said. “Anytime it rains we are in fear of losing everything.”
They have repeatedly replaced the furniture and appliances on the first floor their two-story French style manor as well as, the automobiles in their one-story garage.
The Roystons are an elderly couple in their 70s and are on a fixed income, relying on social security benefits and retirement to sustain their golden years.
“It is virtually impossible to sell our home now that we have been flooded out so many times,” said Sadie Royston. “No one wants to buy it.”
The Harris County Flood Control District uses storm water detention extensively to reduce the risk of flooding throughout the county. The District owns approximately 70 large regional detention basin sites throughout Harris County, and there are hundreds of smaller developer-built basins. District detention basins are typically large regional facilities that are several hundred acres in size.
“As the level of water in the channel recedes after the peak flow has passed, the channel water level drops and allows the storm water to drain, but the excess water can drain only as fast as the channel can handle it” said Janice Evans, chief policy officer & director of communication for Mayor Turner’s office. “Consequently, if downpours continue at consistent and progressive levels, over an extended period of time—there is just no place for the water to go.”
In a separate press release Jan. 11, Turner announced the formation of SWAT, a Storm Water Action Team. SWAT will work proactively to reduce drainage problems that are not directly attributed to overflow from bayous that are under the control of the Harris County Flood Control District. Projects have been selected based on 311 calls and other data regarding the frequency of flooding.
The work encompasses everything from replacing sewer inlets and grates to regrading ditches and resizing culverts to minor erosion repairs and regular mowing. A map of the locations of the first 22 projects and a description of work planned is available at SWAT Projects.
