HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT TO COMPLETE 150-ACRE STORMWATER DETENTION BASIN PROJECT ON HORSEPEN CREEK

This month the Harris County Flood Control District will launch the final phase of a 150-acre stormwater detention basin project in northwest Harris County that will result in an approximately $9.3 million cost savings to taxpayers.

The stormwater detention basin is located at the upstream end of Horsepen Creek approximately 0.5 miles east of Barker-Cypress Road. The basin is almost completely surrounded by residential neighborhoods, including Canyon Lakes at Stonegate on the basin’s north and west sides and Copper Lakes on the south side.

Heather Saucier, Flood Control District spokeswoman, said the majority of the stormwater detention basin was excavated through an excavation and removal (E&R) agreement with Sprint, Sand & Clay, LLC.

“The company excavated and removed the soil from the site at very little cost to the District,” Saucier said. “We are now moving forward with the final phase of the project, which will complete the excavation and ensure that the stormwater detention basin is fully operational.”

The final phase of the capital project also includes constructing a weir structure and significant re-grading of the detention basin’s slopes.

N&Z Contracting, Inc. was awarded the approximately $1.3 million contract in November 2011. The project will take approximately 100 working days to complete.

When stormwater detention basins are used for flood damage reduction purposes, they are sometimes designed with a weir structure. The weir serves as a spillway whereby stormwater rising in a channel – in this case Horsepen Creek - can spill into the detention basin during times of heavy rain where it will be temporarily stored and slowly released back to the creek.

After the construction of the weir structure and regrading of the detention basin’s slopes, the basin will retain approximately 360 million gallons of stormwater that otherwise might flood homes and businesses and will help reduce flooding risks for those who live downstream along the creek’s banks.

This capital project is in addition to a Flood Control District maintenance project underway downstream on Horsepen Creek. That maintenance project is restoring a 3.25-mile section of Horsepen Creek from State Highway 6 to the Addicks Reservoir in west Harris County.

Work on the maintenance project started in late August 2011 and will be completed in 2012 depending on weather conditions. The Flood Control District’s project includes erosion repair work on Horsepen Creek’s upstream segment and the removal of sediment on the downstream segment that has naturally accumulated in the creek over the years.

ABOUT THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT
The Harris County Flood Control District provides projects that reduce flooding risks and damages from bayous and creeks, with appropriate regard for community and natural values. With more than 1,500 bayous and creeks totaling approximately 2,500 miles in length, the Flood Control District accomplishes its mission by devising flood damage reduction plans, implementing the plans and maintaining the infrastructure. To learn more about the Flood Control District, visit www.hcfcd.org.