The Cypress Creek watershed is receiving 793 acre-feet of additional stormwater storage capacity, with the goal of reducing flooding risks.
At a glance
Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey, Harris County Flood Control District Director Marcus Stuckett and other officials announced a $18.6 million construction contract that will increase the watershed’s capacity at a groundbreaking ceremony held Aug. 19.
The watershed will connect with the T.C. Jester Stormwater Detention Basin, which is estimated to have 1,200 acre-feet of stormwater storage capacity upon completion, Stuckett said. The detention basin will have four compartments, the first of which — 1B — is now under construction. The new compartment is designed to transfer stormwater to the detention basin during heavy rain, according to a news release.
Ramsey said the project will span 44 acres and require about 1.5 million cubic yards of excavation.
“The groundbreaking represents another step toward protecting our homes, our businesses, our communities,” Ramsey said.
Jim Robertson, chairman of the Cypress Creek Greenway Project, told Community Impact the watershed deals with “very significant” flooding, which the region experienced during the Tax Day Flood in 2016 and Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
The details
Construction for Compartment 1B is slated to finish by March 2027. Adjacent compartments 1A and 2 are expected to begin construction in December, with completion by the end of 2027. The fourth compartment, west of 1B, is expected to begin construction between July and September 2028.
Funding for Compartment 1B includes $12 million in state community project money from the Texas Water Development Board. State Rep. Sam Harless, who attended the groundbreaking, secured the funding, Stuckett said.
The compartment also has funding of up to $12.5 million from Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery, a federal grant program. The money is administered through the Texas General Land Office, said Regina Recinos, a government and community relations specialist with the TGLO.
Costs for Compartment 1B could exceed the estimated construction contract amount, which is accounted for in the additional money from the federal grant program, said Amy Crouser, the HCFCD project communications manager.
