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SJRA Wins Appeal Against Downstream Homeowners in Federal Court

Reduce Flooding — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 02:24:08 +0000

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 […]

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SJRA, Conroe Settle Lawsuit after Nine Years

Reduce Flooding — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 20:55:56 +0000

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 […]

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SJRA Unveils 10-Year Flood-Mitigation Plan

Reduce Flooding — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 23:06:02 +0000

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: Let’s look at each. Spring Creek […]

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Wastelands to Wetlands, Part III: Turning Ideas into Action

Reduce Flooding — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 20:26:01 +0000

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 […]

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Appellate Court Dismisses Homeowners’ Claims in SJRA Takings Case

Reduce Flooding — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 18:31:29 +0000

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, […]

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Details of Lake Conroe Contract between SJRA, City

Reduce Flooding — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 01:00:53 +0000

8/21/24 – The City of Houston approved a new Lake Conroe contract with the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) last September. For those interested in a deep dive, I’ve posted the entire 48-page document on my Reports Page under the San Jacinto River Authority tab. For everyone else, I’ve posted a brief summary below. It […]

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“Seasonal” Lake Lowering Out. “Active Storm Management” In.

Reduce Flooding — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 16:14:47 +0000

The San Jacinto River Authority and City of Houston have abandoned their automatic “seasonal” lake lowering policy. The seasonal program lowered Lake Conroe automatically to fixed levels during the rainiest parts of the year (April/May and August/September, i.e., the peak of hurricane season). They have replaced seasonal lowering with a new program called “active storm […]

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How SJRA Set Lake Conroe Release Rates During May Storm

Reduce Flooding — Sat, 25 May 2024 02:39:44 +0000

5/24/24 – The SJRA board reviewed a presentation yesterday about Lake Conroe release rates during the early May storm this year. Sadly, while some people flooded, far fewer flooded than in Harvey, despite the fact that the peak inflow to Lake Conroe was higher during this storm than it was in Harvey. Better management of […]

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West and East Forks of San Jacinto Flooding Again

Reduce Flooding — Mon, 20 May 2024 01:02:45 +0000

May 19, 2024 – For the second time this month, the West and East Forks of the San Jacinto River are flooding. The East Fork crested last night about 1.5 below the prediction. However, the West Fork is now cresting at US59. Parts of River Grove Park and the turnaround under US59 are already flooded. […]

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SJRA Reducing Lake Conroe Release Rate

Reduce Flooding — Fri, 03 May 2024 05:56:53 +0000

May 3, 2024 – As of 10 PM last night, the level of Lake Conroe had declined slightly for several hours. That indicates inflows are now less than outflows. Accordingly, San Jacinto River Authority Board Member Mark Micheletti worked out an agreement with the SJRA General Manager to start reducing the lake’s release rate. By […]

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Ramsey Hosting Infrastructure Meeting at KHS Tonight

Reduce Flooding — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 17:10:48 +0000

Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey’s Office will host a meeting about local infrastructure at Kingwood High School tonight. The meeting will include representatives from the City of Houston, San Jacinto River Authority, Congressman Dan Crenshaw’s office, and Harris County Flood Control District. 6:30-8:00 PM The infrastructure meeting will follow an open-house format. After […]

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Ramsey Hosting Infrastructure Meeting at KHS Tonight

Reduce Flooding — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 17:10:48 +0000

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Upstream Watersheds’ Relative Contributions to Lake Houston Area Flooding

Reduce Flooding — Sun, 10 Mar 2024 19:53:30 +0000

What are upstream watersheds’ relative contributions to Lake Houston Area Flooding? During a flood, where does all the water come from? Of course, it depends on how much rain falls where and when, and how long it takes to concentrate downstream. Rainfall is rarely uniform across an entire region. But still, when considering hundreds of […]

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All Floodwaters Receding, But Flood Warnings Remain in Effect

Reduce Flooding — Sun, 28 Jan 2024 20:34:27 +0000

1/28/24, 2PM – After a week of near-constant rain and flooding, all river and lake gauges in the area show floodwaters receding, even if they aren’t below flood stage yet. Whew! If you didn’t flood, you can stop worrying. Nevertheless, the National Weather Service (NWS) still has flood warnings in effect for the areas: Photos […]

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SJRA Appoints Aubrey Spear New General Manager

Reduce Flooding — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 19:58:31 +0000

November 15, 2023 – The San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) Board of Directors announced today the selection of Aubrey A. Spear, PE, as general manager. Duties As general manager, Spear will oversee the development and implementation of SJRA’s vision, mission and strategic goals through the collaboration with the SJRA’s Operating Divisions: General and Administrative Services, […]

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Search For Sediment Solutions Should Lead Straight to Colony Ridge

Reduce Flooding — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 19:08:22 +0000

Harris County Flood Control, Montgomery County, the SJRA, and Texas Water Development Board are searching for sediment solutions in the Upper San Jacinto River Basin. Their major scientific study includes all or parts of six counties: Harris, Montgomery, Waller, Grimes, Walker, San Jacinto and Liberty – all land draining into Lake Houston. The high-level goal: […]

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Spring Creek Dams Facing Hurdles

Reduce Flooding — Fri, 15 Sep 2023 20:10:59 +0000

The San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA), which is managing a feasibility study on two Spring Creek dams, has run into some unexpected hurdles. They involve the benefit-cost ratio and competing uses for the land. Matt Barrett, PE, the SJRA’s Water Resources and Flood Management Division Manager, updated ReduceFlooding on the status of the project. Project […]

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2023 Legislature Scorecard on Flood Issues: 2 Wins, 4 Losses, 1 Toss-up

Reduce Flooding — Sun, 02 Jul 2023 20:40:41 +0000

The 2023 legislature scorecard, just five years after Hurricane Harvey, shows that flooding is fast becoming forgotten in Texas. Of the seven issues I tracked, the Lake Houston Area had two wins, four losses, and one that could be ruled a coin toss depending on your point of view. In the Win Column Let’s look […]

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SJRA Loses Plea in Harvey “Takings” Case, Attacks Expert Witness, Files Another Appeal

Reduce Flooding — Sun, 21 May 2023 00:38:30 +0000

Downstream property owners who claim their property was unconstitutionally “taken” by the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) during Harvey face more delays in their legal battle for compensation. A final outcome could still be years away. Appeal After Appeal After losing a motion to dismiss the case against it in 2020, SJRA appealed the ruling. […]

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Amendment to H.B. 1540 Could Force Changes in SJRA Management

Reduce Flooding — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 00:47:28 +0000

H.B. 1540 passed in the Texas House on Friday, April 28, 2023. The bill concerns recommendations from the Sunset Advisory Commission. Among other things, it specifies provisions affecting the board of the SJRA. However, Representative Will Metcalf from Conroe offered an amendment at the last minute that would effectively fire Jace Houston, the SJRA’s general […]

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