{"id":11890,"date":"2024-08-27T20:33:30","date_gmt":"2024-08-28T01:33:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/?p=11890"},"modified":"2024-08-27T23:34:20","modified_gmt":"2024-08-28T04:34:20","slug":"state-flood-plan-moves-forward","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/?p=11890","title":{"rendered":"State Flood Plan Moves Forward"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Thousands of Projects, Billions of Dollars<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Also: Corps of Engineers Seeking Comments on Dams Master Plan<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

August 27, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Incorporating changes suggested by public comments, the Texas Water Development Board<\/a> has officially adopted the state\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The plan is estimated to cost $54.5 billion<\/a>, of which nearly half, $24 billion, is for the Galveston Bay Surge Protection Plan<\/a>, otherwise known as the Ike Dike, and related projects. A significant amount of cost is to be paid through the state\u2019s Flood Infrastructure Fund. (p. 8)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the suggested changes adopted by the board (p. 5 )<\/a> were recommendations by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department urging the board to educate the public and clarify that \u201cflooding 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The plan is divided into \u201cflood management evaluations,\u201d  \u201cflood mitigation projects,\u201d and \u201cflood management strategies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Houston is in Region 6, the San Jacinto Region<\/a>, named after our natural drainage watershed<\/a>. 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)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a> and $500,000 to look at City of Houston properties that could be turned into stormwater detention basins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u2013 but at least you can still walk and bike and drive down the street.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more background on the plan see our report from June.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Master Land Use Plan for Addick and Barker Reservoirs<\/strong>. Comment through Sept. 18<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Master Plan deals only with land use and environmental issues, \u201cincluding recreational, natural and cultural resources.\u201d (p. 2)<\/a> It is part of the agency\u2019s obligation under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). (p. 10)<\/a> It does not address dam operations,  water releases, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both reservoirs are normally dry and contain public parks. The 7,800-acre George Bush Park<\/a> in Barker Reservoir south of Interstate 10 is one of the largest parks in Harris County. North of Interstate 10 Bear Creek Park<\/a> 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is the presentation provided by the Corps<\/a>. Note that according to the Corps\u2019 website the plan is a \u201crevision\u201d of the existing master plan, which is \u201cout of date because it is no longer compliant with current regulations.\u201d At this time the Corps says there are no proposed changes to the plan. (p. 12)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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However, the Corps took comments at the public presentation and will be accepting public comments on the plan through Sept. 18.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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:<\/p>\n\n\n\n