The San Jacinto Regional Watershed Master Drainage Plan (SJMDP), led by the Harris County Flood Control District, along with other local partners Montgomery County, the City of Houston, and the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA), will host a series of public open houses in December 2019. The purpose of the public open houses is to encourage public participation and input in the SJMDP and provide information about other study efforts in the San Jacinto River watershed.

The SJMDP study effort began in April 2019 to identify future flood mitigation projects that can be implemented in the near- and long-term to reduce flood risks to people and property throughout the San Jacinto River regional watershed. The SJMDP is jointly funded with 75 percent from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Planning Program and 25 percent from the four local partners. Overall, the SJMDP aims to provide an up-to-date technical basis to identify flooding vulnerabilities for existing infrastructure and impacts from future growth to improve flood resiliency within the watershed. The SJMDP is expected to be complete in fall 2020. The SJMDP study area covers nearly 3,000 square miles located in seven different counties and includes approximately 535 miles of stream.

Public input and participation will be encouraged throughout the duration of the study. The first series of public open houses for this study effort will be held on the following dates and locations in the Kingwood/Lake Houston area:

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

3:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Kingwood Community Center

4102 Rustic Woods Drive

Kingwood, Texas 77345

Thursday, December 19, 2019

3:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

May Community Center

2100 Wolf Road

Huffman, Texas 77336

Comments will be accepted at the public open houses and throughout the duration of the study. Comments may also be mailed to the Harris County Flood Control District, 9900 Northwest Freeway, Houston, Texas 77092, Attn: San Jacinto Regional Watershed Master Drainage Plan, or submitted online at www.sanjacstudy.org/contact-us/.

For more information about the San Jacinto Regional Watershed Master Drainage Plan, visit www.sanjacstudy.org.

Houston Public Works crews began work on the 12800 block of Samuel Lane on Monday, December 2.  The scope of work included removing the grassy area within the cul-de-sac on Samuel Lane, and installing new asphalt pavement. The work is expected to be completed by this Monday, December 9. Council Member Martin allocated $13,618.14 of his Council District Service Funds to address the concern of several Samuel Lane residents. 

As a follow up to our press release sent out on November 4, the City of Houston submitted a new project worksheet to FEMA. This project worksheet was submitted on November 8 and is currently under review. The project worksheet submitted and supported by all federal elected officials from the Lake Houston Area is to address complete removal of the mouth-bar. Once this project worksheet is approved our office will provide notification to the community. Thank you to Congressman Brady, Congressman Crenshaw, Senator Cornyn and Senator Cruz for their persistence and support for removing the mouth-bar. 

Houston Public Works crews recently began a panel replacement along Bay Area Boulevard, just south of its intersection with Middlebrook Drive, yesterday, Thursday, December 5. The  scope of work includes replacing 162 linear feet of concrete panels in the southbound lanes. 

 

Last night, Thursday, December 5, Houston Public Works crews began the preparation work at 7:00 p.m. One lane will be closed while crews saw cut the paving. The lane was re-opened by 5:00 a.m. this morning, Friday, December 6. At 9:00 a.m. this morning, crews will have re-closed that same lane to remove and replace the concrete paving. This lane is scheduled to remain closed from until 12:00 a.m. midnight, Sunday, December 8. 

 

This same process will be performed the following weekend, weather permitting, beginning Thursday, December 12, to complete the panel replacement in the opposite lane.  The work is expected to be completed by Wednesday, December 18, unless the contractor encounters weather related delays. During the design portion of this project, Houston Public Works completed a traffic count of the area to create this work schedule with the goal of minimally impacting commutes and traffic congestion. 

 

As a result of the construction activities, please be aware of flagmen and orange traffic cones that will be put in place on site to help with traffic flow through the construction zone as temporary lane closures are expected. One lane will remain open during the repairs process.  Residents will have access to driveways and sidewalks at all times, and may experience an increase in noise levels due to trucks and equipment in the area.

The community can be a part of the solution through participating in t he City's Adopt-A-Drain program. Other options for residents to help keep our drains clear are to make sure trash cans don't tip over before they are picked up, ensure that yard clippings and leaves are disposed of properly, gutters are clear before bad weather and never throw trash or other items down drains or inlets.

The Storm Water Action Team will begin a drainage project along Gulfpalms Street, from Berry Bayou to Palmsprings Drive, on Monday, December 9, 2019. The map below shows the project limits outlined in red. The scope of work for this project includes clearing and grubbing of the off-road drainage channel along this portion of Gulfpalms Street. 

 

Crews will be on site working Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m, and the work is expected to be complete by end of January 2020, weather permitting. The crews plans to start work at Berry Bayou and will work south towards Palmsprings Drive. 

 

One lane adjacent to the work zone may be closed during construction. Moderate noise can be expected as clearing and grubbing will require the use of mowers, chainsaws, and other small equipment. 

Each year the council office reaches out to various City Departments serving District E communities requesting a list of supplies needed to be approved by legal and the administration. Once our office receives approval from the legal department and the administration, the District E office works to fund as many approved requests as possible.

This Fiscal Year, Council Member Martin has allocated $13,700 of his Council District Service Funds (CDSF) to assist the Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD) at Lake Houston Wilderness Park. These funds were used to purchase and install new playground equipment and a swing set. The installation of this equipment is a wonderful opportunity to attract new park visitors and maximize enjoyment for the current park goers.

On Tuesday, December 3, Council Member Martin had the opportunity to speak at the Reserve at Clear Lake's Annual Homeowner's Association Meeting at Bay Oaks Country Club. At the meeting, Council Member Martin provided updates on what is happening downtown at City Hall, as well as, in the Clear Lake community. Council Member Martin updated the attendees on projects and improvements they can expect to see in the New Year, including the widening of El Dorado Boulevard.   

In August of 2019 the clock for Phase I of the Lake Houston Spillway Dam Improvement Project (Flood Gates) started with the award of a Hazard Mitigation Grant through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) in the amount of $47,170,953 for the City of Houston Lake Houston Spillway Dam Improvement Project  (Federal Share $35,378,214.75, Non-Federal Share $11,792,738.25).  This award is pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, Section 404, and 44 CFR Part 206.434.

 

The first phase of this project is currently underway and includes the City of Houston working with Harris County Flood Control District, as a partner, to procure a consultant that will provide for the design, permitting, environmental, hydraulic and hydrologic analysis. The first phase of this project is expected to be completed by Fall 2020 but extensions may be necessary depending on results of environmental analysis and impact studies. The City of Houston will front all costs for the Lake Houston Spillway  Dam Improvement Project and submit reimbursement requests to the Texas Division of Emergency Management on a monthly basis. 

 

Once Phase I of the project is complete the City of Houston will renew the cost benefit analysis and submit to FEMA for their review. Upon their review of the completed cost benefit analysis after Phase I completion, the additional funds provided to the state of Texas for this project will be made available for reimbursement to the City for completion of Phase II construction. The two phases of the Lake Houston Spillway  Dam Improvement Project are expected to be completed within 36 months, with the possibility of extension if needed.

 

As updates for this project become available the District E Office will notify residents utilizing the office newsletter and social media platforms. If you do not already, please follow  @cmdavemartin on Twitter and like the  Council Member's Facebook Page.

The Texas General Land Office has recently posted The State Action Plan for $4,297,189,000 in Community Development Block Grant Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has been released for public comment.

 

The 45-day public comment period will take place from Friday November 22nd, 2019 until Monday January 6th, 2020.

 

The plan has been published for public comment on the GLO's recovery website  here.

 

All public comments received prior to 5:00 p.m. on January 6th, 2020, will be considered. The GLO will respond to these comments in the final submission of the document to HUD for approval. Public comments can be submitted via email at [email protected].

 

In addition, the GLO will host a public hearing during the public comment period:

Houston Public Hearing

During the February 2020 board meeting, the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) Board of Directors will consider renewing the current flood mitigation strategy of temporarily lowering Lake Conroe during the spring and fall rainy seasons. 

The strategy of lowering Lake Conroe on a seasonal basis - one foot in the spring and two feet in the fall - is intended to provide flood mitigation benefits for downstream residents by increasing capacity to catch rainfall and runoff in the lake. The strategy is reviewed annually and is authorized by both the SJRA Board of Directors and the City of Houston since the two entities each own water rights in Lake Conroe.  This year's seasonal lowering of Lake Conroe ended October 1st.

 

After Hurricane Harvey, the SJRA Board of Directors and the City of Houston were called upon by the State of Texas to participate in regional strategies to reduce flooding. The temporary lowering of Lake Conroe has shown benefits in terms of reducing releases from Lake Conroe during storm events. SJRA and downstream communities realize and understand the negative impacts that the strategy can create around Lake Conroe and ask for understanding while this temporary mitigation strategy is in place.

 

For more information about the Seasonal Lake Lowering plan please visit www.sjra.net. 

Harris County Precinct 2 has provided an update to the District E office on the El Dorado Boulevard widening project. Unfortunately, CenterPoint determined the first round of tree removals in late summer 2019 was not adequate for their pole relocation. 

As Harris County Precinct 2 is handling the design and  construction of this project, they are in direct contact with CenterPoint regarding their work on the project. The tree removal/trimming is required to relocate the power poles from the median to the west edge of public right of way (ROW). This change in the plans to relocate CenterPoint's power lines from the median to the west of El Dorado Boulevard was announced in the February District E newsletter . 

 

CenterPoint requires their poles to be a foot off of the right of way line, which required the County to remove a second round of the trees in the vicinity of the west right of way boundary. CenterPoint anticipates to complete this tree removal by Friday, December 13. Fortunately, Harris County Precinct 2 has agreed to work with the District E office to plant new trees within the project boundaries in order to replace the trees that are being removed. Once this re-planting plan is available, it will be published in our monthly newsletter. As a reminder, re-planting occurs at the end of construction to avoid any damages and is required by city ordinance.

 

Following the additional tree removal as well as the pole relocation, construction is anticipated to begin in early Spring 2020. Construction is expected to take 18 months to complete once it begins.

Houston Public Works crews recently completed two panel replacements in the Kingwood area.

The first panel replacement took place along West Lake Houston Parkway, just south of its intersection with Oakwood Forest Drive. The scope of work included replacing 66 ft. of pavement, as well as replacing an additional 16 ft. of pavement on the crossover street to connect to the existing joint. The project was funded through Council Member Martin's Council District Service Funds in the amount of $35,000.

The second panel replacement took place in the westbound lanes of Kingwood Drive between the traffic signals located at Valley Manor and Kingwood High School. The scope of work included replacing 37 ft. of pavement, as well as replacing an additional 12.5 ft. of pavement on the crossover street to connect to the existing joint. The project was funded through Council Member Martin's Council District Service Funds in the amount of $50,400.

Crews will return to the site of both panel replacements today, Friday, December 6 to install sod and restore the landscaping to its original conditions.

The Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority, also known as the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone 10 (TIRZ), will be hosting an Open House for Kingwood residents and businesses to learn more about the upcoming construction of the Northpark Drive Expansion Project. 

This informational Open House will take place at the Kingwood Community Center, 4102 Rustic Woods Drive, on Thursday, February 6, 2020, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

At the Open House, residents will have the opportunity to visit information tables addressing specific areas of the project, ask questions of project team members, and submit public comments.  The format of the open house will be come and go with a brief presentation at 6:00 p.m.

The Northpark Drive Expansion Project will reduce congestion, improve mobility and enhance safety in the Kingwood area by expanding Northpark Drive from four to six lanes between I-69 and Russell Palmer Road, and adding a grade-separation at Texas State Loop 494 and the Union Pacific Railroad crossing. 

This project was identified as a clear priority in the 2015 Kingwood Area Mobility Study commissioned by the Authority.  The project is currently in the design phase and is expected to be completed by 2023.

Houston Public Works will conduct a bridge repair project on the West Lake Houston Parkway Bridge beginning Friday, December 13. The project consists of the replacement of fourteen bearing pads. The project costs $307,400 and will be paid for using dollars from the Dedicated Drainage and Street Renewal Fund (Fund No. 4040). The contractor for the project is ISI Contracting, Inc. This project is expected to be completed by Wednesday, December 18, weather permitting.

 

On Friday, December 13, bridge repairs will begin at 8:00 p.m. with closure of the northbound lanes of the bridge, two-way traffic will be redirected to the southbound lanes. This part of the repair project is expected to be completed by Monday, December 16 at 5:00 a.m. In addition to the road closures, the pedestrian sidewalks along the bridge will be barricaded and closed for safety. 

 

Monday, December 16 through Wednesday, December 18, Houston Public Works will begin demobilizing equipment from the site. This activity may require one outside lane closure in the northbound lanes for transporting equipment and material, each day between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. As a result of the construction activities, please be aware of flagmen and orange traffic cones that will be put in place on site to help with traffic flow through the construction zone. All lanes of the bridge and pedestrian sidewalks will reopen following the completion of the project on Wednesday, December 18, weather permitting.

 

This project follows the completion of temporary repairs completed by Houston Public Works earlier this year after three bearing pads slipped from their concrete beams.  The slipped bearing pads were the reason for the difference in elevation between the seams of the bridge. The work completed this month is similar to repairs completed in 2015, which included the replacement of deformed or slipped bearing pads. 

The City of Houston Solid Waste Department (SWD) will continue collecting storm debris through the end of this month. Starting in January, SWD will return to normal operations and storm debris will be collected during the scheduled junk waste service date. To view your service date, please visit this link.

 

Storm debris can be reported to Houston 311 by calling 713-837-0311. Following the report to 311, a service request number will be generated. Please share this service request number and the associated address with the District E office by emailing  [email protected] so District E staff can track each case and expedite debris clean up as quickly as possible.

 

Please make sure the debris is not placed near mailboxes or blocked by vehicles as this will impact SWD's ability to access and remove the debris. Roadways should be kept clear to ensure SWD vehicles can pass through the neighborhoods. Please avoid street parking if possible.

This Holiday Season, protect yourself, your family and your property against criminal activity. The holidays are an opportune time for a criminal to commit these offenses., and it's up to you to make sure that a criminal does not have the opportunity to take advantage of you and your family

 

While shopping:

In parking lots:

At home:

If you are traveling:

Please email the District E office if you would like us to include your upcoming event in future newsletters! 

City Wides

December 14

Run Off Election Day

December 24-25

Christmas Holiday - District E Office Closed