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Texas’ First State Flood Plan Released

Reduce Flooding — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 21:44:02 +0000

8/15/24 – The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) released the state’s first state flood plan today. And it’s full of eye-popping factoids. For instance: More than a quarter of the state’s land and one sixth of the state’s population are in floodplains. So flood mitigation and prevention rank as high priorities. The entire plan stretches […]

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Flood Digest: Flooding, Planning and More

Reduce Flooding — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 19:47:53 +0000

Below is a digest of seven flood-related items in the news lately. Dubai Floods On April 18, 2024, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates saw the heaviest flooding in 75 years. That’s as far back as their records go. Dubai began data collection efforts in 1949. The floods followed several cloud-seeding flights. They probably did not cause […]

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January 2024 Weather Much Cooler, Wetter than Normal in Houston Area

Reduce Flooding — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 21:36:37 +0000

According to Dr. Mark Wentzel, a hydrologist in the Surface Water Division at the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), January 2024 weather was much cooler and wetter than normal in the Houston area, but the same was not true across the state. Wentzel issues monthly reports that summarize weather, rainfall (or lack thereof), and water […]

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Differences in Ways County, State Propose Ranking Flood Projects

Reduce Flooding — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 23:47:24 +0000

The Texas Water Development Board is seeking public comment on its plan to allocate $375 million in funding from the State’s flood infrastructure fund for the 2024-25 state fiscal year. That prompted me to compare the TWDB and Harris County plans for ranking flood projects. Harris County and the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) use […]

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TWDB to Consider $50 Million Grant for Lake Houston Gates

Reduce Flooding — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 09:58:52 +0000

Save the date. On December 7, 2023, the Texas Water Development Board will consider a $50 million grant to the City of Houston for structural improvements to the Lake Houston Dam. The improvements will extend the life of the dam and enable rapid lowering of lake levels in advance of a flood. The project, led […]

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TWDB Wants Your Input on Nature-Based Flood-Mitigation Solutions

Reduce Flooding — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 15:38:22 +0000

Reprinted with minor edits from an article posted by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) on 9/11/2023 – Flooding is the most common and deadly disaster in the state. It has plagued Texans for generations, costing billions in property damage—and worse, loss of lives. So, flood mitigation is at the top of the list when […]

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More People Live in Texas Floodplains than Live in 30 States

Reduce Flooding — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 14:52:21 +0000

According to Texas Water Development Board data compiled for the first state flood plan, 5.9 million Texans live in 100- or 500-year floodplains. That means more people live in Texas floodplains than live in 30 states. Yep. Thirty entire states have populations smaller than that of Texas floodplains. Other key observations also emerge from the data: Where Biggest […]

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Lauder Basin Phase II on Greens Bayou Under Construction

Reduce Flooding — Fri, 12 May 2023 20:59:29 +0000

The long-awaited Lauder Basin Phase II on Greens Bayou is now under construction. In May of last year, the Texas Water Development Board announced a $2.2 million grant to expand the basin. Then in September, HCFCD announced that construction would be starting “soon.” Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) estimated sometime in the fourth quarter […]

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Ins and Outs of Texas Flood Infrastructure Funding

Reduce Flooding — Sun, 07 May 2023 18:28:13 +0000

Alan Black, P.E., formerly Director of Operations at Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD), is now Vice President at Quiddity Engineering responsible for helping public agencies secure local, state and federal partnership funding. While at HCFCD, Black oversaw planning, design and construction of all projects and managed applications to State and Federal agencies for flood-mitigation funding, bringing in […]

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TWDB Needs Feedback on Ranking Method for State Flood Plan

Reduce Flooding — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 19:43:04 +0000

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) is soliciting feedback on its proposed scoring matrix to rank efforts for the state’s first flood plan. Each region has submitted proposed projects. The scoring matrix will help rank order them statewide. And the deadline is April Fools’ Day. TWDB has provided several spreadsheets that show how the criteria […]

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How Current Drought Compares to 2011

Reduce Flooding — Fri, 15 Jul 2022 23:09:58 +0000

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) recently produced a fascinating short video that puts the current drought in historical perspective by comparing rainfall, temperature, and water supplies to 2011. The text and visuals below are adapted from Dr. Mark Wentzel’s presentation. Wentzel serves as a hydrologist for the TWDB. Wentzel’s charts depict statewide averages. The […]

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TWDB grants HCFCD $2,208,906 to Expand Lauder Basin

Reduce Flooding — Tue, 10 May 2022 18:29:56 +0000

Last month, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) approved a $2,208,906 grant from the State’s Flood Infrastructure Fund (FIF) to the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) for expansion of the Lauder Stormwater Detention Basin. The detention basin will eventually hold 1,260 acre-feet of stormwater in Aldine along Greens Bayou. The project will help reduce […]

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Equity Myth Buster: “Rich Neighborhoods Get All the Flood-Mitigation Funding”

Reduce Flooding — Thu, 30 Dec 2021 03:28:05 +0000

A myth being promulgated in the Harris County Courthouse and certain low-income watersheds these days goes something like this: The FEMA Benefit/Cost Ratio used to rank grant applications for flood-mitigation projects favors high-dollar homes. That disadvantages poor, inner-city neighborhoods compared to affluent suburbs. Therefore, poor neighborhoods get no help and the rich neighborhoods get it […]

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TWDB To Vote on Accepting $63.6 million in FEMA Flood Mitigation Assistance Grants

Reduce Flooding — Sun, 03 Oct 2021 02:19:08 +0000

In its October 7, 2021, board meeting, Texas Water Development Board members will vote on whether to accept $63.6 million in FEMA Flood Mitigation Assistance Grants. The federal funding comes with some strings attached: a $10.23 million local match. For this round of funding, the TWDB selected 19 sub-applications from local government entities. After screening, […]

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1985 Upper San Jacinto Flood Control Study Prophetic, But Largely Unheeded

Reduce Flooding — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 20:07:54 +0000

This morning, I came across a 1985 study by Wayne Smith and Associates for the Texas Water Development Board and the San Jacinto River Authority. It’s called the San Jacinto Upper Watershed Drainage Improvement and Flood Control Planning Study. For an engineering study, it’s exceptionally easy to understand and the recommendations were prophetic. It almost […]

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Improved TexasFlood.org Website Shows Spread of Floodwaters and Inundated Buildings by Gage Height

Reduce Flooding — Sun, 08 Aug 2021 01:49:57 +0000

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has reorganized the sea of flood-related information and redesigned the TexasFlood.org website to provide a more user-friendly resource for Texans who want to increase their flood awareness and preparedness. Given the deadly nature of flood events and the rapid timeframe in which they can occur, remaining flood-ready is essential. One Feature […]

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TWDB Approves $10.1 Million to Widen, Deepen Taylor Gully

Reduce Flooding — Thu, 06 May 2021 22:07:02 +0000

At its first May board meeting this morning, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) approved a $10.1 million loan to the City of Houston to widen and deepen Taylor Gully. Removing 400 Homes from Harm’s Way The project should help alleviate flooding in Kingwood subdivisions such as Elm Grove, North Kingwood Forest, Mills Branch and […]

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TWDB To Vote on Financial Assistance for Improving Taylor Gully Level of Service from 10 to 100 Years

Reduce Flooding — Wed, 05 May 2021 17:04:12 +0000

In its May 6 board meeting tomorrow, the Texas Water Development Board will vote on whether to approve financial assistance from the Texas Flood Infrastructure Fund to widen and deepen Taylor Gully. That would increase the “level of service” from 10 to 100 years. The channel would then be able to handle a 100-year rain […]

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RV Park Being Built in Luce Bayou Floodway, Floodplain

Reduce Flooding — Sat, 27 Feb 2021 01:53:17 +0000

An angry Houstonian wrote me earlier this week about a new RV park. It lies mostly in the floodway of Luce Bayou next to Huffman/Cleveland Road – near rotting shells of abandoned homes, repeatedly flooded. This is inside the City of Houston. So the City permitted it, not Harris County. “The Retreat” Will Debut This […]

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