Dear Friends and Neighbors:
During a press conference yesterday, the US Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District announced that it had began
a gradual reduction in releases from Addicks and Barker Dams. These reductions began at 7:00 P.M. September 3, and will continue until approximately September 15.
At the peak, the Corps was releasing a combined 13,300 cfs (6300 from Barker and 7000 from Addicks). As of yesterday, that had reportedly been reduced to 12,500 cfs, 5500 from Barker and 7000 from Addicks. The Corps announced that by September 15 their plan was to be back down to a combined release of 4000 cfs. Areas will slowly find the flood waters receding, and by September 15 the Corps anticipates Buffalo Bayou will be back contained within its banks.
The Corps stated that a combined 1 Trillion gallons of rain fell on the Houston area, and that at its peak there were 140 Billion gallons of water in the two dams, the most in the 70 year history of Addicks and Barker.
The Corps' modeling is based upon the best weather forecast available, and that calls for less than one inch of rain in the next seven days. Should the area receive more rain that forecast, it would alter the Corps' plan for reductions.
The Corps produced an excellent video modeling the water inundation of Houston from the day before Harvey hit through September 3, when the reductions in releases began. The video also shows the anticipated reduction in water inundation resulting from the planned reductions.
We will continue to provide updates as we learn additional information from the Corps.
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