State Flood Plan Moves Forward

Thousands of Projects, Billions of Dollars

Also: Corps of Engineers Seeking Comments on Dams Master Plan

August 27, 2024

Incorporating changes suggested by public comments, the Texas Water Development Board has officially adopted the state’s first comprehensive flood plan. The massive plan, developed over the past several years by hundreds of volunteers working in fifteen regional groups around the state, will be sent to the legislature by Sept. 1.

The goals of the flood plan are to identify where flooding occurs, reduce that flooding and/or remove people and critical structures from those areas, educate people about flooding and give warnings when flooding is going to occur. The process will continue every five years.

The plan is estimated to cost $54.5 billion, of which nearly half, $24 billion, is for the Galveston Bay Surge Protection Plan, otherwise known as the Ike Dike, and related projects. A significant amount of cost is to be paid through the state’s Flood Infrastructure Fund. (p. 8)

Among the suggested changes adopted by the board (p. 5 ) were recommendations by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department urging the board to educate the public and clarify that “flooding is a natural occurrence and can be necessary to maintain the natural hydrology of rivers and streams and is a necessary part of the life history of some fish and other aquatic natural resources.”

The plan is divided into “flood management evaluations,”  “flood mitigation projects,” and “flood management strategies.”

Houston is in Region 6, the San Jacinto Region, named after our natural drainage watershed. It has by far the largest and costliest programs: $32.9 billion in projects and strategies, including $24 billion for the coastal plan, and $905.4 million in evaluations. (p. 4)

The Region 6 projects ranked at the top by the state board include $20 million for further study by the Harris County Flood Control District of the proposed stormwater tunnel along Buffalo Bayou and $500,000 to look at City of Houston properties that could be turned into stormwater detention basins.

Among the Region 6 projects are City of Houston drainage (flood mitigation) projects in the Fifth Ward, Pleasantville, Kashmere Gardens, and Sunnyside. These include proposals for new storm sewer trunklines, a detention pond, regrading roadside ditches, driveway culvert replacement, inlet replacement and constructing green stormwater infrastructure.

The proposed improvements will increase the size of the existing storm sewer lines, which will reduce the risk of excessive street ponding and structural flooding, according to the plan. (Note that temporary street ponding is normal, a built-in result of curb-and-gutter drainage systems, something commonly misunderstood. Temporary ponding in roadside ditches is normal too – but at least you can still walk and bike and drive down the street.)

The plan also proposes funding for channelizing streams and building detention ponds in Galveston County and Friendswood, which also include Harris County Flood Control District projects there and elsewhere.

For more background on the plan see our report from June.

Master Land Use Plan for Addick and Barker Reservoirs. Comment through Sept. 18

On Aug. 19 the Galveston District of the US Army Corps of Engineers held an in-person open house providing information and an opportunity for public comment on its Master Plan for Addicks and Barker Reservoirs on upper Buffalo Bayou in far west Houston. The public meeting had been postponed from July due to hurricane Beryl. Unfortunately, we were unable to attend.

The Master Plan deals only with land use and environmental issues, “including recreational, natural and cultural resources.” (p. 2) It is part of the agency’s obligation under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). (p. 10) It does not address dam operations,  water releases, etc.

Both reservoirs are normally dry and contain public parks. The 7,800-acre George Bush Park in Barker Reservoir south of Interstate 10 is one of the largest parks in Harris County. North of Interstate 10 Bear Creek Park in Addicks Reservoir is 2154.6 acres. Buffalo Bayou flows through Barker Reservoir and streams flowing through Addicks Reservoir, including South Mayde Creek, Bear Creek, and Langham Creek, empty into Buffalo Bayou. Both parks are administered by Harris County Precinct 4.

Here is the presentation provided by the Corps. Note that according to the Corps’ website the plan is a “revision” of the existing master plan, which is “out of date because it is no longer compliant with current regulations.” At this time the Corps says there are no proposed changes to the plan. (p. 12)

However, the Corps took comments at the public presentation and will be accepting public comments on the plan through Sept. 18.

The Corps is requesting written comments for recommended changes to the existing plan. Possible changes to the Revised Master Plan could include, according to the Corps:

  • Change Land Classification
  • Change Resource Goals and Objectives
  • Create Utility Corridors

To comment on the Master Plan, send an email to ceswg-addicksandbarkermp@usace.army.mil

Comments may also be mailed to USACE: David Mackintosh, Chief, Houston Project Office, 1011 Highway 6 South, Suite 101, Houston, Texas 77077

The Corps says the public may also call the Lake Office to ask questions regarding the Master Plan revision at 281-752-2600.

The draft master plan is expected to be completed by July 2025, at which time there will be another 30-day comment period.

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Addicks and Barker reservoirs 2009 land use master plan showing recreation, environmentally sensitive areas, waterways and operations areas. (p.2)

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