ISSUE 16

May 2022

30+ Year Flood Damage Reduction Effort “Project Brays”

Now Complete

The Brays Bayou Federal Flood Damage Reduction Project (known as Project Brays), a $480 million partnership effort between the Harris County Flood Control District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Galveston District is now complete after more than 30 years of work.

2022 Hurricane Season has begun

The Atlantic hurricane season began on June 1 and ends on November 30, though storms sometimes form outside those dates. The Harris County Flood Control District encourages everyone to get familiar with the Flood Warning System and ensure they get information from trusted sources.

Harris County Flood Control District Director of Hydrologic Operations, Jeff Lindner, shares some tips on emergency preparedness. To read more about this year's season and how to prepare, click here.

Reopening of John Paul Landing Environmental Education Center

The Harris County Flood Control District joined Harris County Precinct 4 for the re-opening of the John Paul Landing Environmental Education Center last month. John Paul Landing Park includes a stormwater detention basin built with stormwater quality features and is part of the Upper Langham Creek Frontier Program. The Frontier Program approach allows for the inclusion of recreational areas that can be utilized when the stormwater detention basins are not in use during a heavy rain event.

Herman Sanders
Communications Specialist

How long have you been with the Flood Control District?

More than 5 years.

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

There was a reorganization at Harris County Engineering Department, and our small Communications Department was folded into the Flood Control District’s Communications team.

What does your job at the Flood Control District entail?

My job entails a variety of communications duties. One major aspect of those duties includes following the lifecycle stages of projects, which begins with analysis. I'm responsible for following active studies and projects in six watersheds (Buffalo Bayou, Clear Creek, Spring Gully/Goose Creek, Cedar Bayou, Addicks and Barker Reservoirs) and sharing that information with the public through our project page, emails, mailers, social media, phone calls, and community engagement meetings.

What is your favorite thing about working at the Flood Control District?

I enjoy educating and informing the public about how their tax dollars are being utilized to develop and produce flood mitigation projects that minimize the likelihood of flooding in their area.

What’s the coolest thing you’re working on right now?

I’m currently in training to be a licensed drone pilot. Perhaps, I’ll be able to offer my additional talent to the Flood Control District when the need arises.

What has been your favorite project so far?

My favorite project so far has been the massive de-silt efforts in channels upstream of Addicks and Barker Reservoirs. That was quite an undertaking, which took about three years.

What is the best career lesson you’ve learned so far?

You’re never too old to learn from your mistakes.

What’s the best thing that’s happened to you so far this week?

Hearing my youngest daughter prepare for her vocal recital with poise, confidence and bravery.

What is something about yourself that most people don't know?

Prior to my ten years of service at Harris County Engineering Department, I worked at Broadcast News Reports. There I recorded and reported the news into a database for the company to then sell video news clips to organizations, businesses, and the public.

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

I'm an original (1977) Star Wars fan. I recall sitting in the theater at five years old and watching Darth Vader enter my life for the first time. I was simultaneously scared and intrigued. Additionally, I’m also an avid podcast listener of SasquatchChronicles.com. I love listening to people tell their first-person account, especially when they come from hunters, former military, police officers, and forest rangers.

What was your first job?

Balloon Salesman at the Houston Zoological Gardens.

What do you like most about your job?

Working with my communications team. We get along extremely well, and it feels like we’re more of a work family instead of just coworkers. I’m able to go to any team member, team lead or our supervisor to discuss ideas, needs or concerns at any given time.

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

Check out the before and after images of sediment removal at a Theiss Gully site in the Cypress Creek watershed. Sediment build-up at the Stuebner-Airline Road bridge was about 6 to 7 feet high in this area, partially blocking flow from upstream of the bridge and through adjacent culverts.

Learn more at hcfcd.org/CI-012

Construction Update

This is the project site of a future stormwater detention basin in the Cedar Bayou Watershed near FM 1960 and east of FM 2100. Currently, crews have started to mobilize and excavate soil in the area, in conjunction with the Excavation and Removal (E&R) agreement attached to the project.

Learn more about this project at hcfcd.org/F45.

The Work Continues

Progress continues on Bond Project CI-012, which involves major maintenance along Cypress Creek and its tributaries to restore channel conveyance capacity. This project will be constructed in 6-8 batches of multiple individual project sites in need of repair.

Learn more at hcfcd.org/CI012