Issue 12
January 2022
Buffalo Speedway Bridge Opens to the Public
From the Interim Executive Director
Harris County officials and community leaders celebrated the recent opening of the Buffalo Speedway bridge. The new bridge and accompanying channel conveyance improvements will increase the capacity of the channel, allowing for more stormwater to flow through Brays Bayou. The project is part of Project Brays, which is a $480 million partnership effort between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Harris County Flood Control District.
75th Street bridge in the East End Opening
Hundreds of homes and businesses now have reduced flood risk thanks to the new bridge and channel conveyance improvements that will allow more stormwater to flow through Brays Bayou. This $7.7 million federally-supported project has been years in the making and is a major milestone in reducing flooding as part of the Brays Bayou Project that spans from the Houston Ship Channel to Fondren Road.
Flood Control District Provides Update on MAAPnext Project
.png)
Harris County Flood Control District Risk Mitigation Project Manager, Brian Edmondson, shared insight about MAAPnext at the ASCE Houston Branch meeting in January. Brian currently leads the Modeling, Assessment, and Awareness Project (MAAPnext) at the Harris County Flood Control District, providing management and oversight of a large team of engineers, communications professionals, and web developers. Photo credit to ASCE Houston.
Click here to read the monthly message from the Harris County Flood Control District's Interim Executive Director Alan Black.
Project Update
Flood Control District crews recently installed a maintenance ramp under Homestead Drive as part of the $100 million Project Hunting, which is reducing the flood risk in central Harris County from U.S. 59 to North Wayside Drive. Read more here hcfcd.org/c18
Construction Work
The Flood Control District is continuing to work along Halls Bayou between the Hardy Toll Road and Aldine Westfield Road with channel conveyance improvements and a stormwater detention basin as part of an estimated $20 million partnership project with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The work is expected to be completed this Spring and reduce the risk of flooding for neighborhoods such as the Western Homes subdivision. Read more here: hcfcd.org/C25
Upcoming Community Meeting
The Harris County Flood Control District will hold a virtual Community Engagement Meeting for the Baywood Stormwater Detention Basin project in the Armand Bayou watershed on February 23, 2022 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. This project is intended to reduce flooding risks in the Armand Bayou watershed by providing temporary storage for excess stormwater during heavy rain events. Join online at: PublicInput.com/Baywood
Tree Planting Efforts Continues with 6,000 Additional Trees
Tree Planting
Check out the recent Harris County Flood Control District tree planting sites. More than 6,000 trees were planted in late 2021 at four locations in Harris County: Eldridge to Dairy Ashford, Mason Rd to Bridge Creek Terrace, Spring Cypress to K545-03-00 and Cypresswood to K100-00-00. This is an early installment on the 2021-22 Tree Planting Season, which aims to plant about 12,000 trees.
Roberto Vega
Environmental Quality Section Leader
How long have you been with the Flood Control District?
4 years, 6 months
What does your job at the Flood Control District entail?
Participating in research for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit (MS4) permit compliance, evaluating channel and basin design for MS4 permit compliance, and reviewing external plans in E-permits for Construction General Compliance permit and MS4 permit compliance.
What is your favorite thing about working at the Flood Control District? The vast number of projects that are occurring.
What’s the coolest thing you’re working on right now?
Floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) project to evaluate if FTWs can enhance our stormwater treatment systems.
What is the best career lesson you’ve learned so far?
Speak up in any meeting if you feel you want to add to the conversation, if you’re uncertain about something or if you feel lost. There is no harm in being on the same page as others in the meeting and other people may be thinking the same things.
What’s the best thing that’s happened to you so far this week?
I went rock climbing this past weekend.
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
I’ve climbed multiple routes in the “Elite” range of the climbing scale. I have also climbed multiple advanced climbs abroad.
In the News
Cypress Creek Cultural District raising funds for detention ponds
Galveston Engineer District, Harris County Extend Buffalo Bayou Study
Harris County commissioners name new flood control director, county engineer on Jan. 25
Harris County Flood Control District could have biggest spending year yet in 2022
Employee Anniversaries
Current Projects
