The background
The plan aims to develop a strategic plan to improve the city’s drainage infrastructure and mitigate flooding issues for both now and future conditions, Patrick Rummel, a systems engineer with Civil Systems Engineering, Inc., said.
The plan’s development began in May 2023 using information from past flooding events like Tropical Storm Allison and Hurricane Harvey, as well as the Memorial Day flood in 2016. The engineering firm is also using the city’s 2019 future land use map, Rummel said.
What this means
The city will use the information from the drainage master plan to decide which plans will be used for capital improvement projects in the coming five to 10 years, depending on the city’s growth. Rummel said the main focuses include:
- Storm sewer expansion: Upgrades to drainage systems along North Cherry Street, Lovett Street and Carrell Street aim to reduce street flooding and protect properties.
- Detention basins: New regional detention ponds will help manage runoff, particularly in the Old Town Tomball area.
- Infrastructure coordination: The city is working with the Harris County Flood Control District, the Texas Department of Transportation and Harris County Precincts No. 3 and No. 4 to align drainage improvements with roadwork projects.
Key projects outlined in the draft master plan include focusing on improving drainage infrastructure including channel/ditch enhancements, storm sewer upgrades and adding detention basins to mitigate flooding, Rummel said. These projects include:
- M1 18 Basin project: Deepening an existing drainage channel and ditch, improvements to culverts at Lizzie Lane and the potential future expansion of the channel and sub-regional detention pond
- North Cherry Street project: Construction of a sub-regional detention basin and storm sewer improvements along Commerce Street
- Southern Old Town Tomball project: Deepening of the N1 2101 lateral upstream of Medical Complex Drive, improvements to the Harden Street ditch, storm sewer upgrades along Magnolia, South Pine and South Cherry streets
- Tomball Hill Subdivision project: Installation of flanking inlets to increase inlet capacity and construction of a parallel storm sewer system with a new outfall to Spring Creek.
City staff will work with Civil Systems Engineering, Inc. to make changes to the draft and will then finalize the plan to be presented to City Council during the Feb. 17 regular meeting, according to the Feb. 3 workshop agenda.
