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Reduce Flooding: How Current Drought Compares to 2011

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

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 […]

The post TWDB grants HCFCD $2,208,906 to Expand Lauder Basin appeared first on Reduce Flooding.

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

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 […]

The post Equity Myth Buster: “Rich Neighborhoods Get All the Flood-Mitigation Funding” appeared first on Reduce Flooding.

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

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, […]

The post TWDB To Vote on Accepting $63.6 million in FEMA Flood Mitigation Assistance Grants appeared first on Reduce Flooding.

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

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 […]

The post 1985 Upper San Jacinto Flood Control Study Prophetic, But Largely Unheeded appeared first on Reduce Flooding.

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

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 […]

The post Improved TexasFlood.org Website Shows Spread of Floodwaters and Inundated Buildings by Gage Height appeared first on Reduce Flooding.

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Reduce Flooding: TWDB Approves $10.1 Million to Widen, Deepen Taylor Gully

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

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 […]

The post TWDB To Vote on Financial Assistance for Improving Taylor Gully Level of Service from 10 to 100 Years appeared first on Reduce Flooding.

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Reduce Flooding: RV Park Being Built in Luce Bayou Floodway, Floodplain

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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