C-05 Stormwater Detention Basin at the Reverend William and Audrey Lawson Park

C-05 Stormwater Detention Basin at the Reverend William and Audrey Lawson Park
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Note: Bond ID F-03 has been consolidated with Bond ID C-05.

Recent Actions

November 30, 2021 – Harris County Commissioners Court authorized a change in the construction contract for the South Belt Stormwater Detention Basin excavation Phase 3, adding 74 calendar days and resulting in no change to the contract amount.

August 10, 2021 – Harris County Commissioners Court amended an interlocal cooperation contract with the University of Houston Clear Lake in connection with floating treatment wetlands at this basin

May 25, 2021 - Harris County Commissioners Court approved an amendment to a Joint Funding Structure between Harris County and the Flood Control District for the construction of recreational trails at this basin. Court members also approved naming the basin in honor of the Reverend William A. Lawson

September 29, 2020 - Harris County Commissioners Court authorized an additional $12,000 to the contract amount for construction of this project.

September 15, 2020 – Harris County Commissioners Court authorized the acquisition of one easement in support of this project.

May 19, 2020 – Harris County Commissioners Court approved updates to project details in the 2018 Bond Program List. Update changes project title to include Unit ID; project funding also updated based on engineer's estimate and consolidation with Bond ID C-05; and project type changed because no funding partner has been identified.

May 2020 – Construction began. April 28, 2020 – Harris County Commissioners Court authorized negotiations with an engineering firm for materials engineering and testing services in support of this project.

February 11, 2020 - Harris County Commissioners Court authorized a joint funding structure between Harris County and the Flood Control District for construction of trails at the Christia V. Adair Stormwater Detention Basin.

January 28, 2020 - Harris County Commissioners Court awarded a $16.96 million contract for construction of the South Belt and Christia V. Adair Stormwater Detention Basins.

November 12, 2019 – Harris County Commissioners Court authorized negotiations with various political jurisdictions for agreements in support of collaborative efforts to implement the Clear Creek Federal Flood Risk Management Project and Clear Creek watershed bond projects.

August 13, 2019 – Harris County Commissioners Court authorized negotiations with an engineering firm for materials engineering and testing services in support for this project.

November 13, 2018 – Harris County Commissioners Court awarded a $428,051 contract for engineering services to provide design, bidding and engineering services in support of this project.

Project Description

Construction on the Stormwater Detention Basin at the Reverend William and Audrey Lawson Park (HCFCD Unit #A500-08-00), formerly known as the Dagg Stormwater Detention Basin, is now substantially complete. The basin will help reduce flooding risks in the Clear Creek watershed by storing excess floodwater during times of heavy rain and releasing it back to the creek when the threat of flooding has passed.

A preliminary engineering report completed in September 2018 evaluated alternatives for the basin, which is located on the site of a former sand pit purchased by the Flood Control District in 2017. The report recommended construction of a basin with a permanent pool that will hold approximately 188 acre-feet of stormwater, approximately 61 million gallons, and includes features to improve stormwater quality. Construction of the basin began in spring 2020 and was substantially complete in fall 2022.

The Flood Control District coordinated plans for the stormwater detention basin with Harris County Commissioner Precinct 1, which manages Christia V. Adair Park.

To further extend 2018 bond funding, the Stormwater Detention Basin at the Reverend William and Audrey Lawson Park was paired with the third phase of the South Belt Stormwater Detention Basin project for construction. These two detention basins complement, but are separate from the Clear Creek Federal Flood Risk Management Project.

The Stormwater Detention Basin at the Reverend William and Audrey Lawson Park is part of a pilot project to help the Flood Control District identify techniques to improve stormwater quality. One component of the pilot will feature wetland shelves being revegetated with local native species to enhance water quality treatment capabilities. Other key objectives of the pilot are to determine how water quality treatment can be enhanced by utilizing floating vegetated islands and to identify the types of materials that will function best in stormwater detention basins in terms of both longevity and maintenance. Construction on the floating vegetated islands is anticipated to begin winter 2023/2024.

Location

The basin is located on an approximately 22-acre site near the intersection of Cullen Boulevard, between Dagg Road and Christia V. Adair Park.

Stage

Construction on the stormwater detention basin started in April 2020 and was substantially complete in fall 2022.

After construction is complete and final contracts are closed out, the project moves into the Operations and Maintenance stage. This becomes the responsibility of the Flood Control District’s Infrastructure Division, which will mow, repair and maintain the area.

Bond Listing

Bond Project C-05 is a “Local Only” bond project, which means there is no other funding partner at this time and total project costs would be paid with bond funding. Total funds for construction of the Stormwater Detention Basin at the Reverend William and Audrey Lawson Park (formerly known as the Dagg Stormwater Detention Basin) and Phase 3 of the South Belt Stormwater Detention Basin was $18.5 million.

Photo Gallery

C-05 Reverend William A. Lawson Stormwater Detention Basin

C-05 Reverend William A. Lawson Stormwater Detention Basin

C-05 Reverend William A. Lawson Stormwater Detention Basin

C-05 Reverend William A. Lawson Stormwater Detention Basin

C-05 Reverend William A. Lawson Stormwater Detention Basin

C-05 Reverend William A. Lawson Stormwater Detention Basin

Bond List

List of 2018 Bond Projects

Project Area Map: Stormwater Detention Basin at the Reverend William and Audrey Lawson Park

Project Area Map

The University of Houston Clear Lake Environmental Institute Houston (EIH) is evaluating some innovative techniques to improve stormwater quality using floating wetlands. These techniques are being tested and are currently deployed on Potter Pond at the University of Houston Clear Lake campus. Results from the EIH study will help the Flood Control District to determine some answers to questions about deployment (installation, construction, anchors), vegetation (types, sizes, best location)and maintenance (vegetation/equipment upkeep and material types). Ideally, the Flood Control District will choose two of these island types to scale the project up and fill large surface areas (2,000 – 3,000 Sq. Ft.) at the Reverend William A. Lawson (formerly known as Dagg) Stormwater Detention Basin.

Floating Wetlands video (begins at 2:06 mark)

Project Lifecycle

Every flood damage reduction project is unique. Yet each project begins and ends, with common and predictable milestones along the way. Whether a project moves forward – and how quickly – depends on many factors, including the availability of funding at each milestone, shifting community priorities for flood damage reduction, and other changing circumstances (such as the price of trees or concrete) from year to year.

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