Houston approves agreement with Harris County for 24 flood mitigation projects

At a June 14 meeting of Houston City Council, the governing body agreed to an interlocal agreement with the Harris County Flood Control District to go toward the design and construction of 24 flood mitigation projects throughout the city.

The overview

• The projects, which are a part of the city's Storm Water Action Team projects, total $39.4 million, with the city and HCFCD each paying half, or $19.7 million.
• According to the agenda item, the projects range from restoring existing infrastructure to upgrading infrastructure within specific neighborhoods.
• The projects are located throughout the city of Houston, though none are located in districts D and F.

The specifics

The following is a list of potential SWAT project sites for the partnership, according to the city:

District A

• Mayde Creek Farms Storm Sewer Improvements-Phase 2
• Spring Shadows Section 12—Helmsdale, Manila and Quincannon—design and construction package 1
• Spring Shadows Section 12—Helmsdale, Manila and Quincannon—design and construction package 2

District B

• Shepherd Park Terrace storm sewer improvements
• Northwood Manor design and construction Phase 1
• Northwood Manor design and construction Phase 2
• Willow Run Section 8—Veterans Memorial at Diplomat Way—design and construction
• Mount Houston Community/Settegast

District C

• Cottage Grove Roadside Ditch—Kansas at Sherwin streets—design and construction
• Woodcrest regional analysis (Woodcrest downstream improvements)
• Woodcrest Subdivision Phase 1A: Cohn and Knox streets roadside ditch construction
• Woodcrest Subdivision Phase 1B: Allen, Birdsall, Malone, and Asbury streets roadside ditch construction

District E

• Sand Creek Village drainage improvements design and construction
• Trailwood Village Neighborhood drainage improvements design and construction

District G

• Briarcroft storm sewer improvements, construction only
• Pine Shadows subdivision drainage system improvements

District H

• Northside/Northline Area 5, phases 1 and 2 improvements
• Denver Harbor New Addition (Section 2)
• Northside/Northline Area 5, Phase 3 improvements

District I

• Ledge Street drainage improvements
• McKinney and Lenox streets improvements

District J

• Bellerive Drive storm improvements, east, Phase 2—construction only
• Bellerive Drive storm improvements, west, Phase 3—design and construction

District K

• Almeda Plaza Drive ditch reconstruction/enclosing

Quote of note

"I wanted to highlight for the constituents that we are moving forward with an interlocal agreement with Harris County to close the ditch that runs throughout Almeda Plaza," Vice Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex Taum said after the vote. "We are looking to put that drainage underground. This ditch has been problematic for years, and the closing of this ditch will prevent the extensive dumping that happens in the ditch."