The big picture
The city will use $14.1 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through its 2017 Community Development Block Grant fund for work on a project that will divert stormwater from Turkey Gully to the nearby White Oak Bayou. The project involves building new storm sewer infrastructure and is designed to reduce flooding in Shady Acres, Houston City Council Member Abbie Kamin said during a Sept. 14 news conference. The city will also chip in $1.3 million in capital improvement funds to cover the $15.5 million project.
The details
Because Turkey Gully has limited capacity and homes are built along its banks, the gully cannot be widened or deepened. Instead, water will be diverted from several streets in Shady Acres to Bevis Street, a north-south corridor that will take the water to White Oak Bayou. Tina Petersen, the director of the Harris County Flood Control District, said at the Sept. 14 event the county is also looking into ways to mitigate the effects of the project along White Oak, including working with the city to identify suitable land for a new stormwater basin.
The project will leave Turkey Gully in its native state as officials use an underground box to hold excess flows during heavy rain events.
Why it matters
Nearly 50% of homes and businesses, almost 240 properties, will be removed and protected from flood risks during a 10-year storm event, Kamin said. Shady Acres experienced flooding during storms that took place in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said.
Quote of note
"The development is not stopping," Turner said at the Sept. 14 event. "People are building. Apartments are being built right around single-family homes. But it is critically important if the city is going to allow this to occur that the infrastructure catches up to the development and gets ahead of it."
Zooming out
The Shady Acres community can be found within Harris County's 100-year flood plain, meaning the area is expected to flood during 100-year storms, which have a 1% chance of occurring in any given year. However, Kamin said more than 500 properties flood during a 10-year storm event in the community.
Turkey Gully cuts through the middle of Shady Acres, while White Oak Bayou can be found to the west of the community along T C Jester Boulevard. During storm events, water spills out over the gully, which can cause street and home flooding.
What's next
Design work will begin on the project in 2024, Houston officials said. Construction will start in 2025 and could take from 1-1.5 years to complete.
One more thing
The project will also provide opportunities to add new sidewalks and make other traffic improvements along West 20th Street, including a new roundabout to address safety concerns, Kamin said.
