The Harris County Flood Control District has begun construction on two projects that will function together to reduce flooding risks in the Hunting Bayou watershed in central Harris County: the final phase of a stormwater detention basin on Homestead Road, and a third phase of construction to widen and deepen Hunting Bayou itself.
The Harris County Flood Control District has begun construction on two projects that will function together to reduce flooding risks in the Hunting Bayou watershed in central Harris County: the final phase of a stormwater detention basin on Homestead Road, and a third phase of construction to widen and deepen Hunting Bayou itself. The Homestead Stormwater Detention Basin, formally identified as HCFCD Unit H500-01-00, is located east of Homestead Road, north of Loop 610. Construction on Hunting Bayou will take place between Homestead and Liberty roads. (Please refer to the map below for project locations.) Widening and deepening Hunting Bayou allows the channel to carry stormwater more efficiently. Stormwater detention basins reduce flooding risks by safely storing excess floodwater and slowly releasing it back to the bayou or creek when the threat of flooding has passed.
The Harris County Flood Control District has begun the third and final phase of construction on the Homestead Stormwater Detention Basin in central Harris County. Construction also has begun on a related project to widen and deepen Hunting Bayou. On June 13, 2017, Harris County Commissioners Court awarded an approximately $7.98 million construction contract to low bidder BRH-Garver Construction LP to complete the Homestead basin, which has been under phased construction since 2008. Work on this third and final phase began in August and is expected to be completed by mid-2018.
This final phase will involve removing approximately 784,000 cubic yards of additional soil from the basin, and shaping permanent pools and small islands within the 75-acre basin site. When complete, the basin will hold approximately 326 million gallons, or 1,000 acre-feet, of stormwater during heavy rain events.
The project also includes construction of a control structure (or weir) connecting the basin to Hunting Bayou. This control structure allows rising stormwater to be more efficiently stored in the adjacent basin, ensuring that the basin performs to its full design capacity.
Previous phases of excavation at the Homestead basin were completed in 2009 and 2015.
On June 27, 2017, Harris County Commissioners Court awarded an approximately $4.17 million contract to low bidder Patriot Construction and Industrial LLC for construction of channel improvements along approximately 4,700 feet of Hunting Bayou between the Homestead basin and Liberty Road. The project also includes replacement of the existing pedestrian bridge located between Dabney Street and Loop 610 near Harris County Precinct 1’s Hutcheson Park.
Work on this third phase of channel improvements also began in August 2017 and is expected to be completed by the summer of 2018. This phase follows previous projects to widen Hunting Bayou between U.S. 59 and Dabney Street.
In 2014, the Flood Control District and its federal partner, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, signed a Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) enabling the Flood Control District to receive federal reimbursements for eligible flood damage reduction work along Hunting Bayou. Under Section 211(f) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1996, the Flood Control District takes the lead in planning, designing and constructing certain federal flood damage reduction projects, and is eligible for federal reimbursement when project elements are complete and functional. Reimbursement payments, which would be used to fund future Project Hunting segments, depend on federal appropriations.
When Project Hunting is complete, the Flood Control District estimates that most areas along Hunting Bayou within the project area will see water surface elevation reductions of 3-4 feet for the 1 percent (100-year) flooding event. The number of homes and businesses subject to the 1 percent (100-year) flooding event would drop from 5,100 to 650, and all homes and businesses will benefit from the reduced frequency and depth of flooding. Project Hunting updates are available at www.hcfcd.org. For questions or comments about projects, the public may call the Flood Control District's Project and Study Information Line, 713-684-4040, or email [email protected].
ABOUT THE HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT
The Harris County Flood Control District provides flood damage reduction projects that work, 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.