Issue 14
March 2022
Flood Control District Celebrates Funding for Critical Flood Risk Reduction Project
From the Executive Director
Click here to read the monthly message from the Harris County Flood Control District's Executive Director Dr. Tina Petersen.
Project Update
The Harris County Flood Control District recently attended an event at the site of the Meyergrove Stormwater Detention Basin in Brays Bayou to celebrate $9.95 million in federal funding for the project. The Meyergrove Detention Basin will hold more than 21 million gallons of stormwater during heavy rain events, benefitting the residents of the Brays Bayou watershed, who have experienced recent and repeated flooding.
Flood Control District Host Groundbreaking Cypress Creek Watershed
The Harris County Flood Control District recently broke ground to acknowledge the start of work on projects K120-00- E001 Harris County Municipal Utility District (MUD) 249 agreement and K120- 03-00-E001 Z-02 Partnership with Harris County Water Control & Improvement District No. 110 and Harris County MUD 249. Both projects seek to expand their respective stormwater detention basins, in order to mitigate for future drainage improvements in existing subdivisions and provide flood risk reduction.
Commissioner Ramsey praises Flood Control District
Commissioners Court, March 22, 2022
At the March 22 Commissioners Court meeting, Commissioner Tom S. Ramsey recognized the Harris County Flood Control District for its diligent work and effort towards securing $750 million worth of funding for flood mitigation projects for Harris County.
Check out Commissioner Ramsey's full statement in the clip above.
West Houston Leadership Institute Tours Sites of Langham Creek Frontier Program
Members of the West Houston Leadership Institute toured sites of the Upper Langham Creek Frontier Program in the Addicks Reservoir Watershed. The Upper Langham Creek Frontier Program focuses on a 16-square-mile, 10,000-acre portion of the Langham Creek watershed upstream of the confluence of Dinner Creek with Langham Creek near Barker Cypress Road. The program is one component of the Harris County Flood Control District’s overall Frontier Program, which is an organized effort to plan for drainage infrastructure in advance of future land development.
Learn more here.
Flood Control District Hosts Tree Planting Competition
More than 200 volunteers participated in the 2022 Tree Planting Competition on March 5! Split up into 17 teams, volunteers planted a total of 1,800 trees at the Curtis M Graves Detention Basin in the Hunting Bayou watershed.
Trees included 23 different species, native to Southeast Texas. The trees will continue to be maintained by the Flood Control District for the next two years until they are successfully established. Thank you to all volunteers!
Learn more about our Tree Planting Program at hcfcd.org/Tree-Planting.
Nic Griffin
Vegetation Management Coordinator
After more than seven years of flood risk reduction improvements along Hunting Bayou, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Harris County Flood Control District partnership known as Project Hunting will be completed later this year. Check out the progress of the channel conveyance improvements under the newly constructed railroad bridges along the Hunting Bayou mainstem.
Learn more about this project at hcfcd.org/C-18
Construction Update
Excavation and offsite disposal work continues as part of the White Oak Bayou Federal Flood Damage Reduction Project. Construction of this segment began in spring 2021 and is anticipated to be completed in the Summer of 2022.
Learn more at hcfcd.org/C14
The Work Continues
Community volunteers marked over 50 storm drains in the Westmoreland Historical District in Montrose. The Stormwater Inlet Marking Program is open to any individual, group or community that would like to participate in marking storm drains in Harris County to help prevent pollution from entering our local waterways. “Our biggest success was locating and clearing a drain that was completely covered with leaves,” Jan, the event organizer said.
Learn more about the program at cleanwaterways.org/SWIM
In the News
Flood Control District talks plans for detention basins along Cypress Creek
Harris County to receive $750 million for flood mitigation projects
How long have you been with the Flood Control District?
18 years
How did you get your start at the Flood Control District?
When I finished my degree in Forestry from Steven F. Austin State University, I moved to Houston to work for a tree care company. After a year in that position, I decided that my career interests were more suited for the public sector. I then interviewed with Harris County Flood Control District and was hired on as an Urban Forester.
What does your job at the Flood Control District entail?
My primary responsibility is the management of the Flood Control District’s Tree Planting and Maintenance program. We plant trees between 12,000 and 15,000 trees every year in support of Capital Projects and our routine maintenance programs.
What is your favorite thing about working at the Flood Control District?
I like the attitude that we are all on the same team. Management has always been supportive of our program and encourages us to pursue new ideas and creative solutions.
What’s the coolest thing you’re working on right now?
I’m currently working on a partnership study with Stephen F. Austin State University to look at the effects of tree root systems and water infiltration into the soil. Most people are not aware of all the different flood control benefits trees provide. This study will hopefully lead to some quantifiable numbers on those benefits.
What has been your favorite project so far?
About 15 years ago, we planted some basins in the Cypress Creek watershed that have really taken off. It’s great to be able to revisit a site planted years in the past and see it develop.
What is the best career lesson you’ve learned so far?
Changes will always happen so stay flexible and openminded. Time moves faster than you think.
What is something about you that people would be surprised to know?
I really like to joke around and have a good laugh. Most people think I’m very serious.
What was your first job?
At 16, I worked as a “car jockey” at a car dealership in Austin.
What do you like most about your job?
I like being able to shape and transform a site for the long term through planting trees. It is satisfying to see people walking along trails underneath the trees we planted years ago.
What motivates you to wake up and go to work?
Of course, my family, but I also really love what I do! I feel like I have a career, not just a job.
Current Projects
