ISSUE 8

August 2021

Three Year Bond Anniversary Marked with Every Project Initiated

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From the Interim Executive Director

Click here to read the monthly message from the Harris County Flood Control District's Interim Executive Director Alan Black.

Completed Bond Project Ribbon Cutting

The Harris County Flood Control District recently updated Harris County Commissioners on the progress of the 2018 voter-approved bond program. That update included a huge milestone with the announcement that every project included in the bond program has been initiated. In the three years since $2.5 billion in bonds to finance flood damage reduction projects were approved, the following work has been done:

181 of 181 bond projects have been initiated.
$251 million in contracts have been awarded to engineering companies.
$552 million in contracts have been awarded for construction of capital improvements and repairs.
27 projects have completed, removing 11,000 homes from 100-year floodplains.
Another 660 buyouts have been completed with another 662 in process.

Former Flood Control Executive Director Honored by Harris County

Russ Poppe Park

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The Harris County Commissioners Court commended Russell “Russ” Poppe, P.E. for his 16 years of dedicated service, with the Poppe Family Park Dedication Ceremony in Cypress.

Under his leadership, the Flood Control District launched over 180 projects, and every project is currently on schedule.

Flood Control District Recognized for MAAPnext Community Outreach

The Harris County Flood Control District received a first place award from the National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies (NAFSMA) for communication efforts surrounding the Modeling, Assessment and Awareness Project (MAAPnext). The contest brought in entries from across the country that included comprehensive communications campaigns as well as individual works, like brochures, posters, public service announcements and government television programs. The 2021 Excellence in Communications contest recognized the best outreach efforts in two communication categories – Public Awareness of Flooding and Improving Water Quality.

“We are excited to be recognized nationally for our community outreach efforts for MAAPnext. This multi-year effort, in collaboration with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is essential to help us better communicate the risk of flooding in Harris County in a way that the community can understand,” said Alan Black, Harris County Flood Control District Interim Executive Director.

Employees Recognized in High Five Program

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Richard John McCullough:
Project and Grant Accounting Department Manager

How long have you been with the Flood Control District?

20 years

How did you get your start at the Flood Control District?

As a Precinct Coordinator for Precinct 1.

What are your day to day responsibilities?

Managing 5 employees in the Project and Grant Accounting department. Three Project and Grant Analyst and two Project and Grant Assistants who monitor project / grant budgets and expenditures, overseeing the preparation of reimbursements for grant projects and federal projects, and monitoring the creating and closing projects in the Harris County STARS Financial System.

What do you like the most about your job?

The people I get to work with on a daily basis, true professional in every Department.

What is the most challenging thing about your job?

The last two years have been very challenging with the COVID-19, working from home, and limited exposure to family and friends. My family is originally from Austin and with the onset of COVID it’s been difficult for my wife and I to see our families and friends in Austin.

What is something about you that people would be surprised to know?

I love to cook! Not just on weekends, but for large gatherings. Nothing says love better than a well cooked meal….or meals.

Feel free to share anything else about yourself, your role or your experience at the Flood Control District!

I’ve been married for 33 years. My wife's name is Joni and we have 3 adult kids and 4 grandchildren.

The Harris County Flood Control District has completed construction of Bond Project C-35, which includes the Little York and Hopper stormwater detention basins, and channel conveyance improvements to Tributary P118-14-00.

Together, the basins will hold nearly 65 million gallons of stormwater, which is equivalent to 98 Olympic-size swimming pools

Learn more at https://bit.ly/3lV8uKs Harris County Precinct 2

Project Progress

Progress continues on Project Hunting, a federal partnership project with United States Army Corps of Engineers that will reduce the flood risk for more than 4,000 homes in the Hunting Bayou watershed. This segment is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2021. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3zo6C08

Upcoming Community Meeting

The Harris County Flood Control District will hold a Community Engagement Meeting for the Barker Reservoir Watershed Channel De-Silt and Repair Program. The purpose of this meeting is to inform residents about the status of the Barker Reservoir Watershed Channel De-Silt and Repair Program and share project information.

The Barker Reservoir Watershed Channel De-Silt and Repair Program focuses on the rehabilitation of channels upstream of the Barker Reservoir to restore them to their original design capacity and repair channels where erosion and slope failures have occurred. This project will be paid for with funds from the 2018 Bond Program which were approved by Harris County voters on August 25, 2018.
The Virtual Community Engagement Meeting will be held on:
Thursday, September 30, 2021
6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Join online at: PublicInput.com/Barker3
Or by phone* at 855-925-2801 with Meeting Code: 5235