Harris County Flood Control District begins major maintenance project in Cypress Creek watershed

This month, the Harris County Flood Control District will begin construction on the first phase of Bond Project CI-012, also known as Major Maintenance of Cypress Creek and Tributaries, district officials announced in a June 8 news release.

According to the release, the project involves major maintenance along Cypress Creek and its tributaries to restore channel conveyance capacity across the watershed. The $13.4 million project is part of the district's $2.5 billion flood bond program approved by voters in 2018.

According to the release, the project will be constructed in six to eight phases, or batches, with the first batch of project repair sites being located primarily between Spring Cypress Road and Cypresswood Drive in the 77379 ZIP code area. Construction activities will include silt removal from the channel; the placement of riprap, or stones designed to protect from erosion; erosion repair; the replacement of outfall pipe, manholes, and concrete channel lining; excavation and off-site disposal; imported fill; and site restoration.

"This work will not widen or deepen the channels but will return them to their designed capacity to convey stormwater," the release stated.

The project contractor, LECON, is expected to complete Phase 1 construction by fall 2023, according to the HCFCD website. Construction on Phase 2, which will include project sites primarily located along Hwy. 249 between Northpointe Boulevard and FM 1960, is expected to begin this fall and wrap up by winter 2023. Construction timelines for the project's remaining phases had not been announced as of June 8.

"Multiple crews will be working on various channels simultaneously," the release stated. "The time frame for when crews will be working at each site in Batch 1 has not been determined, but additional communications will be sent to impacted areas prior to construction."