Friendswood evaluates future master drainage plan, consulting firm flags most urgent projects

According to the presentation, the top five prioritized projects are:

• Roadside ditch Improvement at North Clear Creek Drive and Leisure Lane
• Whitehall neighborhood storm sewer improvement
• Comprehensive storm sewer improvement north of FM 528
• Storm sewer improvement and Annalea pond expansion
• Storm sewer improvement near West Edgewood Drive and Sunset Drive

Also of note

In Friendswood, roadway flooding is more widespread than structural flooding. The plan’s risk assessment revealed that while flooded structures are primarily concentrated immediately adjacent to channels, roadway flooding and historical flooding are much more widespread throughout the entire city.

The study identified 35 distinct problem areas, with "Tail Water Driven" flooding being the most common culprit in 13 areas, followed by undersized storm sewers in seven areas and riverine flooding in seven areas.

Quote of note

"It's important to remember that these projects are not going to get rid of all the flood risk,” Jason Becker, water resources team leader at Halff Associates, said at the meeting. “Just because you're not in one of these problem areas doesn't mean you don't have any flood risk, but we are trying to figure out where those concentrated areas are, so that every dollar that's invested gives the biggest return on investment.”

Next steps

The city will schedule a workshop with Halff Associates to review the data and conduct a cost-benefit analysis for the recommended projects.

The city is currently considering putting a $50.9 million bond to voters in November and currently, the largest portion of the bond proposal, $20.34 million, is allocated to drainage improvements, according to previous reporting by Community Impact.