C-59 Inwood Forest Stormwater Detention Basin Project

The project includes a total of 12 basins of varying size. The basins are individually labeled with letters A-L. The City of Houston has completed Basin K and partially completed the construction of Basin L. The Harris County Flood Control District’s upcoming project will include the construction of the remaining basins as shown in the diagram. Click the links below for more information on the design and location of each basin.

1. Project Area Overview
2. Detention Basin A
3. Detention Basin B
4. Detention Basin C
5. Detention Basin D
6. Detention Basin E
7. Detention Basin F and G
8. Detention Basin H
9. Detention Basin I and J
10. Detention Basin L

The construction contract allows for 990 calendar days with an anticipated completion date in early 2026. The contractor will adhere to the City of Houston’s noise ordinance, and per the construction requirements, the contractor will maintain clean streets and minimize dust as much as possible. Construction activities will occur Monday through Friday, beginning no earlier than 7:00 a.m. and ending by 7:00 p.m. with work only occurring on the weekend with an approved exception.

It’s important to remember the entire project area will be an active construction site throughout the duration of construction. At the start of construction, you may notice trucks and heavy machinery mobilizing. The early stages of construction include:

• Removal of all cart paths
• Construction of three weirs, including two at Basin D and one on the southern portion of Basin I, at Vogel Creek
• Basin excavation and construction

The construction team will follow a schedule and planned sequence to construct the basins. The order of construction-related activities that will occur for reach basin is as follows:

• Install protective fencing around the trees that are being preserved.
• The remaining trees within the project right-of-way will be removed.
• Excavation efforts for the respective basins will begin.

After excavation is complete, construction of the swales, interceptors or pipes, pilot channel and riprap, as well as connecting the basins with underground pipes will begin. Then, final grading will take place to ensure the area is prepared for the last step in the process: turf establishment.

The sequencing of the project will move from west to east, from downstream to upstream, so that the project site can drain as construction progresses. The timeframe to complete each basin will vary, and there will be overlap with multiple basins being worked on at the same time.

Construction on the first set of basins is expected to occur on the basins located west of Antoine Drive and north of White Oak Bayou – which are Basins A, B, C, D and E.

The second set was originally anticipated to be the basins located west of Antoine Drive and south of White Oak Bayou – which are Basins G and F. However, the timeline for Basin G has changed. While the contractor is pending permission to cross a pipeline easement on the west side of Basin D, they are shifting construction plans to also begin work near Basin G as part of the first set of basins.

Then, the 3rd set will be the basins located to the east of Antoine Drive, which are H, I, J, and the remaining components of Basin L.

As a reminder, Basin K has already been completed by the City of Houston.

Please note the overall construction schedule and sequence is subject to change.

During the process of connecting the stormwater detention basins for the Inwood Forest Stormwater Detention Basin Project there will be occasional impacts to traffic flow.

We anticipate having four road closures over the duration of construction to construct storm sewer connections under the roadway. Please see the maps below for a high-level overview of the planned closure locations. The anticipated timing and duration, along with the detour routes, will be communicated in advance through email updates.

In general, motorists are urged to heed all warnings and road closure signs and detours, and to be alert to truck traffic when passing near construction access points and along truck routes.

ROAD CLOSURE A

This road closure will be located between Basins B and C on Arncliffe Dr. between Green Lawn Dr. and Bateman Ln. During this road closure, northbound traffic on Green Lawn Dr. will be routed to travel eastbound on Green Falls Dr., then southbound on Antoine Dr., and then westbound on Arncliffe Dr.

ROAD CLOSURE B

This road closure will be located between Basins A and B on Green Lawn Dr. just south of Green Falls Dr. When this closure occurs, traffic heading northbound on Green Lawn Dr. will be routed eastbound onto Arncliffe Dr., then northbound on Antoine Dr., and then westbound onto Green Falls Dr.

ROAD CLOSURE C

This road closure is located between Basins A and C at the intersection of Long Leaf Dr and Green Lawn Dr. Traffic will be routed northbound onto W. Gulf Bank Rd. then westbound on W. Gulf Bank Rd., and southbound on Alabonson Rd. and then east on Long Leaf Dr.

ROAD CLOSURE D

This road closure will be located between Basins D and E on Deep Forest Dr., just west of Antoine Dr. across from Maple Hill Dr. The planned detour for this closure will be to route traffic northbound on Antoine Dr., then westbound on Long Creek Ln. and southbound on Deep Forest Dr.

As owner of the property, the recreational opportunities are being determined by the City of Houston with input from the community and Houston Parks Board.

White Oak Conference Center, formerly the golf course clubhouse, which includes a community center and is managed by the Near Northwest Management District, will remain on-site and operational. The White Oak Conference Center is located next to Basin C.

During the development of the project, the Flood Control District conducted a detailed survey of the trees in the area. Trees greater than four inches in diameter were tagged and documented according to size, species, and general health. Suggestions for possible tree preservation zones were indicated as part of the inventory. Following Hurricane Harvey in summer 2017, the project focus shifted to increasing stormwater detention volume to offset street flooding. To allow for maximum basin volume, trees in the immediate area may need to be removed.

During construction, trees located within the right-of-way will be removed as we start to excavate 13 to 25 feet deep. We will try to maintain native trees along the top of the banks of the stormwater detention basins to buffer home property lines, as well as particularly high value or mature trees when possible. Additionally, the construction contractor will have an expert arborist tasked with ensuring trees are marked correctly prior to the start of construction. They will go basin-by-basin – ahead of the construction team – to evaluate the existing conditions of the trees and sign off on the tree plan before excavation can begin. It is not always possible to keep every tree that is identified as “valuable”, but we have worked to do so when we can.

While excavating, efforts will be made to protect the roots of trees that we intend to keep along the perimeter of the basins. There will be a protective fence placed around trees that will be preserved.

An encroachment is any unauthorized use of the Flood Control District or other public property or drainage easements. Encroachments generally are permanent or portable structures or objects that have been placed on Flood Control property, including, but not limited to, fencing, swing sets, sheds, swimming pools, bird baths, outdoor furnishings, and sporting equipment.

The Flood Control District has identified potential encroachments on property owned by the City of Houston and/or Flood Control District. Homeowners with identified encroachments will be contacted by letter and a survey of the encroachment will be provided in that notification. Please note that all encroachments must be resolved prior to the start of construction as it impedes the ability to successfully construct the project. If the identified encroachment(s) are not removed by the start of construction, the encroachment(s) will be removed and placed on your property outside the project’s right-of-way. The Flood Control District and their contractors will not be responsible for damages to, or replacement of, items that are removed.

Once the project is completed, you cannot build or rebuild a personal structure on public property or property owned by the City of Houston and/or the Flood Control District. Maintenance crews will need access to the site on a regular and ongoing basis.