About
About

About

The Harris County Flood Control District is a special purpose district created by the Texas Legislature in 1937 and governed by Harris County Commissioners Court.
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About the Flood Control District

About the Flood Control District

The Harris County Flood Control District is a special purpose district created by the Texas Legislature in 1937 and governed by Harris County Commissioners Court.
Learn More
Flood Damage Reduction Tools

Flood Damage Reduction Tools

The Flood Control District utilizes a number of techniques, or primary "tools," to reduce flood damages throughout the county. Generally speaking, these tools are implemented in flood damage reduction projects.

Structural Tools

Non-Structural Tools

Infrastructure Maintenance
Harris County's Flooding History

Harris County's Flooding History

A major flood occurs somewhere in Harris County about every two years. Most of the flooding is in areas developed prior to the current understanding of flood potential and prior to regulations restricting construction in flood-prone areas.

Hurricane Harvey

Spring Floods 2016

Hurricane Ike 2008

Tropical Storm Allison 2001
Flooding and Floodplains

Flooding and Floodplains

Did you know that everyone lives in a flood zone? You don't need to live near water to be flooded. Learn more about the ways that geography and the environment affect your flood risk and get information about the Harris County drainage network.

Drainage Network

Benefits of Flood Damage Reduction
Partnership Funding

Partnership Funding

Partnerships with federal and state agencies, local communities, and private interests play a vital role in funding many of the projects completed by the Flood Control District.

CDBG Funding
Activity
Activity

Activity

Building new flood damage reduction projects helps reduce flooding risks for Harris County homes and businesses, while other programs maintain our drainage investment, plan for the future, and turn stormwater detention basins and channels into community amenities and environmental assets.
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2018 Bond Program

2018 Bond Program

On August 25, 2018, Harris County voters approved $2.5 billion in bonds to finance flood damage reduction projects. This additional funding, together with other funding sources, supports a wide variety of recovery and resiliency initiatives.

Prioritization Framework

Project Lifecycle

2018 Bond Program FAQ

Completed Bond ID Summaries
Capital Improvement Program

Capital Improvement Program

Capital projects include those major projects that reduce flooding risks and damages by increasing stormwater conveyance capacity in bayous and drainage channels, or by excavating stormwater detention basins. Stormwater detention basins reduce flooding risks and damages during heavy rain events by safely storing excess stormwater and slowly releasing it back to the bayou when the threat of flooding has passed.

Subdivision Drainage Projects
Maintenance Programs

Maintenance Programs

Along with mowing and routine maintenance of the county’s 2,500 miles of channel, dozens of stormwater detention basins and thousands of buyout lots, the Flood Control District conducts major maintenance to repair damage caused by storms and erosion.

Property Management Program

Abandoned Bridge Program

Vegetation Management

Tree Planting Program

Major Maintenance Projects

NRCS-HCFCD Partnership Repair Program

Emergency Repairs - COMPLETED
Additional Programs

Additional Programs

The Flood Control District’s activities have diversified since its creation in 1937. From tree planting and environmental programs to Voluntary Home Buyouts and more, these additional programs help the Flood Control District fully meet its mission.

Hurricane Harvey Disaster Recovery FEMA Sediment Removal Program

Development Coordination and Inspection

LOMR Review Program

MAAPnext Development Program

Property Acquisition Program

UAS and The Flood Control District

Watershed Environmental Baseline (W.E.B.) Program

Wetland Mitigation Banks

Stormwater Quality

Home Buyout Program

Floodplain Preservation

Raingarden Demonstration Project
Projects

Projects

The Flood Control District builds and maintains numerous capital and major maintenance projects throughout the county. These projects are organized, coordinated and managed with respect to the watersheds they benefit.

Countywide or Multi-Watershed

Addicks Reservoir

Armand Bayou

Barker Reservoir

Brays Bayou

Buffalo Bayou

Carpenters Bayou

Cedar Bayou

Clear Creek

Cypress Creek

Greens Bayou

Halls Bayou

Hunting Bayou

Jackson Bayou

Little Cypress Creek

Luce Bayou

San Jacinto River

San Jacinto & Galveston Bay

Sims Bayou

Spring Creek

Spring Gully & Goose Creek

Vince Bayou

White Oak Bayou

Willow Creek
Resources
Resources

Resources

Resources
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Storm Center

Storm Center

Stay informed and prepared! Whenever the forecast calls for possible heavy rainfall, Houston and Harris County residents are urged to monitor weather conditions, and to pay close attention to road conditions on their daily travel routes.

Flood Warning System

Report House Flooding

Preparing for a Storm
Interactive Mapping Tools

Interactive Mapping Tools

Interactive Mapping Tools keep the residents of Harris County and the City of Houston informed, help Flood Control District employees do their jobs and, most importantly, help us fulfill our mission to provide flood damage reduction projects that work, with appropriate regard for community and natural values.

Harris County Flood Education

Mowing Schedule Explained

Active Construction Projects

BMPbase - Regional BMP Database

Model and Map Management (M3) System

Harris County Floodplain Reference Marks
Education Materials

Education Materials

Access resources for educating yourself and others about Harris County's waterways.

Clean Waterways

Regional Public Education Services Program

School-Age information materials
Technical Manuals

Technical Manuals

All Technical Manuals

12 Month Bid Outlook

2019 Land Surveying Guidelines

Application to Discharge (2011)

2019 Atlas 14 Policy Criteria and Procedures Manual (PCPM)

Cad Standards Manual

Channel System - Unit Numbers

Construction Unit Pay Items (Quarterly) - Project Bidding

Design Guidelines for HCFCD Wet Bottom Detention Basins With Water Quality Features

Design Manual for Articulating Concrete Block Systems

Development Coordination and Inspection

Draft Hazard Mitigation Plan (2011)

Harris County Low Impact Development Design Criteria Manual

Hydrology and Hydraulics Guidance Manual

Little Cypress Creek Interim Guidelines

Little Cypress Creek Master Drainage Plan

Lomr Delegation

Model and Map Management System

Natural Stable Channel Design

Ordinary High Water Mark Manual

Previously Approved Submittals Reference Book

Quality Assurance / Quality Control

Standard Specifications & Related Drawings

Supplemental Guidelines and Criteria for Developing in the Addicks Reservoir Watershed, Barker Reservoir Watershed and the Cypress Creek Watershed Upstream of Us 290

Upper Langham Creek Development Guidelines

Watershed Coordination
Downloads

Downloads

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Glossary

Glossary

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FAQ

FAQ

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Community
Community

Community

Community
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Community Engagement and Public Meetings

Community Engagement and Public Meetings

Visit this page to get information about upcoming and completed community engagement and public meetings.
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Contact Us

Contact Us

Send us your comments and questions, sign up for news and alerts, report an issue, request service, or just let us know how we're doing.

General Inquiries

Service Request

Community Satisfaction Survey

Floodplain Administrators

Public Information Requests

Harris County Phone Directory

Sign Up for News

Speakers and Event Request
Community Services Program

Community Services Program

Plant trees, beautify neighborhoods and public areas, get to know fellow residents, and learn more about outreach programs in your community.
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Press Room

Press Room

Stay informed with the latest news and public announcements from the Flood Control District. In addition to formal press releases, you can also follow us on social media for project status updates, flood watch advisories, and more.

Press Room

The Watermark Newsletter

Media Requests

Contact Our Communications Team
Work With Us

Work With Us

Prospective job seekers as well as contractors and consultants will find all the tools they need. You can search for open positions and access resources for working with the Flood Control District, here.
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Kingwood Information

Hurricane Harvey Peak Inflows

Interim Hurricane Harvey Report

F-14 General Drainage Improvement Near Kingwood

San Jacinto River Tributary G103-33-00

San Jacinto River Tributary G103-38-01

San Jacinto River Tributary G103-46-00

San Jacinto River Sediment Removal Project

HCFCD Vegetation Management Activities

Types of Drainage Right-of-Way

KINGWOOD INFORMATION

After the flooding in Kingwood the week of May 6, 2019, the Harris County Flood Control District mobilized immediately to remove blockages within the channels due to fallen trees. The same week, other Harris County Flood Control District teams assessed all the major channels in Kingwood in a similar fashion as was done in February 2018. The purpose of the assessment was to determine immediate projects needed to provide positive drainage as soon as possible. These types of projects could include selective clearing, debris and/or sediment removal within the tributary systems.

To View The Current Assessment Reports For Individual Channel Reaches In The Kingwood Area:

1. View our Kingwood Area Drainage Assessment Map

2. Next, select Kingwood Assessment Reports tab at the top right of page

3. Select an individual channel reach. The assessment report for that channel reach shows the ownership, maintenance responsibilities and any identified plan for an individual channel reach.

MAPS OF KINGWOOD ASSESSMENT AREA

On January 31, 2018, the Harris County Flood Control District committed to assessing the major drainage channels in Kingwood from Hurricane Harvey, as it works toward accomplishing the following items:

Determining the ownership and maintenance responsibilities for all 29 miles of open channels in the Kingwood area. In the case of some channels, no public entity claims ownership.
Developing a long-term plan for the ownership and maintenance responsibilities of channels and document the conclusions.
Determining immediate projects needed to provide positive drainage as soon as possible. These types of projects could include selective clearing, debris and/or sediment removal within the tributary systems.
Identifying potential drainage issues that would require additional coordination or investigation before becoming a long-term project.
Determining the environmental permitting requirements for working within the tributary channels and the San Jacinto River.

Determining the environmental permitting requirements for working within the tributary channels and the San Jacinto River for the purpose of this assessment, the Kingwood area is bounded by the county line on the north and west, US 59 on the west, West Fork of the San Jacinto River on the south, and East Fork of the San Jacinto River and Caney Creek on the east. Drainage for the Kingwood area is provided through more than 29 miles of tributary channels of the West and East Forks of the San Jacinto River.

The Flood Control District has completed 11 projects to provide positive drainage in the Kingwood area since Hurricane Harvey. The assessment reports have been updated to reflect current status information including the assessment from the fieldwork in May 2019 and the proposed future projects.

The Flood Control District has completed the construction plans in connection with a project to remove sediment on property it owns along a 6,900-foot stretch of Ben’s Branch (a tributary of the San Jacinto River). Located near the Kingwood Library and Lake Houston YMCA, this project will start just south of Kingwood Drive and end approximately 1,800 linear feet downstream (east) of West Lake Houston Parkway. The project was bid for construction on June 4, 2019. After the contractor is selected and the construction contract signed, the construction will commence in summer 2019.

The Flood Control District is still waiting for the City of Houston to resolve property ownership issues to establish maintenance responsibilities. For these channel segments, the assessment reports will be updated after decisions have been made and the next steps are known. If there are any questions regarding the property ownership issues, please contact the City of Houston.

Kingwood Area Drainage Analysis

On August 13, 2019, Harris County Commissioners Court approved a contract with Neel-Schaffer, Inc. to begin the Kingwood Area Drainage Analysis.

The intent of the Kingwood Area Drainage Analysis is to evaluate the existing drainage level of service for the open channel drainage network and where needed, identify drainage infrastructure improvements to improve the drainage level of service.

HCFCD has entered into an interlocal agreement with the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority (TIRZ 10) to partially fund this drainage study. In September 2019, engineering consultant Neel-Schaffer will begin a 9-month analysis of 32.3 miles of open channels within the greater Kingwood area.

US Army Corps of Engineers Dredging

As of September 2018, dredging is underway along the West Fork of the San Jacinto River near the West Lake Houston Parkway Bridge. Over 4.5 miles of pipeline is in position to remove over 1.8 million cubic yards of sediments deposited after Hurricane Harvey and other recent storms.

Press Release, Sept 2018: US Army Corps of Engineers

Press Release, April 2019: City of Houston