Officials with the Houston Public Works Department will host an open house and public meeting Aug. 6 to update Houstonians on the status of the North Canal Project, a $131 million flood control project meant to reduce flooding in Downtown Houston as well as along upstream portions of White Oak Bayou.

Catch up quick

The concept for the North Canal dates back to the 1970s, but planning began on the project in earnest in 2017 in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.

The project is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, and 35.15% of the cost will be covered by federal funding. A number of different agencies are partnering on the local share of the cost, including the Memorial Heights Redevelopment Authority, the city of Houston, the Harris County Flood Control District and the Texas Department of Transportation. TxDOT officials are also working on the North Houston Highway Improvement Project, which will have a direct effect on how the "south canal" element will be designed.

The Houston City Council approved a $1.1 million design contract with HDR Engineering in May 2021, adding another $1.5 million in December 2022 and $7.5 million in June 2023 in contract amendments.

Zooming in

The project includes two components:

• Creating a high-flow diversion channel at the confluence of White Oak and Buffalo bayous with "north canal" and "south canal" elements
• Enacting channel improvements to provide increased conveyance capacity and flood damage reduction along White Oak Bayou

Specifically, the project calls for rerouting White Oak Bayou along Downtown Houston, adding an overflow channel east of Downtown, and improving bridges and channels along Yale Street and Heights Boulevard to increase water conveyance capacity.

The latest

City officials will host the Aug. 6 meeting as teams continue the final design process, anticipated to hit 60% completion this fall. The meeting is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. at the Houston City Hall Legacy Room, 901 Bagby St., Houston.

What readers should know

The North Canal Project itself does not include the installation of any amenities, but planners said there will be opportunities for the city of Houston or other partner organizations to provide amenity features, such as trails, light recreational water craft, terraced access ways along banks of the North Canal, multiuse open green space, green landscaping and lighting features.

Specific details on flood control benefits have not yet been released, and officials said they would be revealed as the design phase progresses.

Moving forward

Long-term plans for the project schedule show the design process running through the end of 2025. Construction on the project could begin in summer 2026 and run through the end of 2029.