The backstory: Since 2017, the city of Houston, Harris County, and state and federal officials have been working to address the shortcomings of the Lake Houston spillway dam that were highlighted during Hurricane Harvey. As previously reported by Community Impact, these efforts include a roughly $200 million design for improvements to the dam that would add an additional 11 gates to the existing four-gate structure, which was built in 1953.
The breakdown: According to Martin, the city of Houston has:
- Spent nearly $4.375 million on design for the Lake Houston Spillway Dam Improvement Project
- Secured $48 million from the federal government along with $30 million in local funds
As previously reported by Community Impact, local leaders were looking to the 88th Texas Legislature to fund the final design and construction of the new gates.
What happened: Per the release, the state has agreed to two funding requests that were made to the 88th Texas Legislature for the Lake Houston Spillway Dam Improvement Project, sediment capture projects, and both structural and nonstructural improvements for the San Jacinto River and Lake Houston. These requests were included in a rider to the 88th Texas Legislature's appropriations bill and read as follows:
- (a) Water Development Water Grant Projects. In addition to amounts appropriated elsewhere in this Act, $106,900,000 in General Revenue is appropriated to the Water Development Board in Strategy C.1.1, State and Federal Financial Assistance Programs, in fiscal year 2024 for grants for the following water projects in the following amounts: (1) $50,000,000 for structural improvements to the Lake Houston Dam Spillway
- (b) Unexpected Balances. Any unexpected balances remaining as of August 31, 2023, from appropriations made to the Water Development Board in Strategy B.1.1, State and Federal Financial Assistance Programs, in the 2022-23 biennium (estimated to be $0) are appropriated to the Water Development Board in Strategy C.1.1, State and Federal Financial Assistance Programs, for the fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2023, for the following purposes: (1) removing accumulated siltation and sediment deposits throughout the San Jacinto River and Lake Houston; (2) sediment capture pilot projects upstream of Lake Houston; and (3) structural and nonstructural improvements for the San Jacinto River and Lake Houston to convey future floodwaters. Any unexpected and unobligated balances remaining as of August 31, 2024, are appropriated for the same purpose in the fiscal year beginning September 1, 2024.
Quote of note: "Mayor Pro Tem credits the success of this funding to the hundreds of community members who answered the call to action and called state leaders over the last two weeks," the news release reads. "The Lake Houston area is blessed with many engaged residents and together, the 'fix' for the Lake Houston gates is finally on the horizon."
Going forward: Martin said the District E office plans to host a community meeting in Kingwood to present the design concept and details related to the Lake Houston Spillway Dam Improvement Project and future dredging and sediment capture. The meeting will also include an update on the Northpark Drive overpass project, which began construction in April. As of press time, a specific date for the community meeting had not been announced.
