The breakdown
The Major Maintenance of Cypress Creek and Tributaries program will be completed in five total batches, as previously reported by Community Impact. This program is targeted at bettering “channel conveyance capacity” in the Cypress Creek watershed by removing built-up sediment and repairing erosion damage. Examples of other work under this project include replacing “riprap” stones to to fight erosion, outfall pipes, maintenance holes and concrete channel linings.
Batch 5 will consist of Spring-area channel repairs and two stormwater detention basins: one to be placed near where Cypress Creek intersects at Kuykendahl Road and east of where the creek crosses under I-45, according to the July 26 presentation. Timelines have not yet been set for this batch of projects, but the basins are expected to cost a total of $42.4 million, while the channel repairs will cost at least $20.3 million.
Construction on Batch 4—which encompasses 4 miles of work—is expected to begin in the fall across several tributaries, most of which are located in the Spring area west of I-45 and east of Hwy. 249. Work will cover eight channels and is slated to finish by winter 2025 for the $13.6 million project.
The HCFCD began work on Batch 3 in July 2022 with an anticipated completion by summer 2024. These segments include 6.25 miles of work across 12 channels for an estimated $13.8 million.
In December, construction wrapped up on two groups of 2018 bond projects that focus on improving water flow along Cypress Creek and its tributaries, according to the HCFCD. Batches 1 and 2 of the Major Maintenance of Cypress Creek and Tributaries program utilized $17.3 million in bond funds, and a little over 14 linear miles of work was completed.
Other projects
On July 26, the HCFCD also gave updates on its planned $23.4 million Federal Emergency Management Agency Sediment Removal Program and the Kickerillo-Mischer Preserve Erosion Repair Project. Design contracts were awarded at the beginning of the summer for the sediment removal program, which will focus on removing sediment buildup in Cypress Creek accumulated during Hurricane Harvey flooding in 2017.
