The Harris County Flood Control District announced it began preliminary fieldwork in February to remove about 180,000 cubic yards of sediment from South Mayde, Langham and Horesepen creeks that flow into the Addicks Reservoir, according to a March 3 press release.
The $5.9 million project—funded by the 2018 voter-approved flood bond—is expected to complete in spring 2021, per the release. Lecon Inc. was awarded the construction contract at the Jan. 7 Harris County Commissioners Court meeting.
“This program follows the Tax Day 2016 and Harvey 2017 storms, which sent record levels of sediment-laden stormwater through the channels leading into the federal reservoirs,” the release states. “Deposited sediment can block stormwater outfalls and reduce the capacity of channels to transport stormwater.”
The project will desilt the following:
- South Mayde Creek, from North Fry Road to Greenhouse Road;
- a tributary of South Mayde Creek from Morton Road to South Mayde Creek;
- Langham Creek between Autumn Hills Lane to Hwy. 6; and
- Horsepen Creek from Mill Run Drive to Trail Side Drive.
This desilting project is part of a larger HCFCD program to investigate and repair channels that flow into the Addicks and Barker reservoirs, which are owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District, per the release.
“Over the next three years, this program will assess all open channels in the Addicks watershed downstream of the Grand Parkway, removing sediment and making repairs as needed,” the release stated. “A similar assessment will also address open channels in the Barker watershed within Harris County and downstream of the Grand Parkway.”
The district is nearly finished with a $13.3 million pilot program that began in 2018 to desilt Langham, Bear and Horsepen creeks, per the release.
The HCFCD plans to bid at least two more construction packages related to desilting the channels leading to the reservoirs, according to the release. One project—including South Mayde, Bear, Horsepen and other Langham Creek tributaries—will be bid this winter. Another project on Barker Reservoir channels will be bid this fall.
