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Clear Creek Watershed
Clear Creek watershed, showing area under reevaluation.
The Clear Creek Flood Damage Reduction Project
The Clear Creek Federal Flood Damage Reduction Project is a partnership project between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps), the Harris County Flood Control District (the District), Galveston County, and Brazoria Drainage District #4. The Corps is the lead agency for this project.
Currently, the Corps and the local sponsors are engaged in a complete reevaluation of flood damage reduction measures for Clear Creek. The reevaluation is considering all reasonable alternatives to the original proposal. The new study is expected to be complete in 2005. This study will completely reevaluate options for federal financial participation in a flood damage reduction plan, which was originally developed many years ago. The original plan included deepening and widening Clear Creek to reduce serious flooding problems that have affected some area residents for over thirty years.
Project Cost
The original Clear Creek Federal Flood Damage Reduction Project construction cost is estimated to be $129 million: $54 million for the District and Galveston County, and $75 million for the Corps. To date, expenditures total $39 million: $18 million for the District and Galveston County, and $21 million for the Corps.
Brief History Behind the Project
As the lead agency, the Corps will manage, design and build the project, and the local sponsors will buy land, easements, rights-of-way, relocate utilities, adjust bridges (except for railroads), then operate and maintain the project after construction is complete.
Originally, the project called for over 14 miles of channel conveyance improvements from Clear Lake to the Brazoria County line near Dixie Farm Rd. A Second Outlet Channel about one mile long from Clear Lake to Galveston Bay was part of the plan, and its construction was completed in 1997. The Second Outlet includes a large gated control structure that is opened during certain flooding conditions to allow flood waters to drain from Clear Lake to Galveston Bay, which in turn allows Clear Creek to drain sooner. During non-flooding conditions or "normal" conditions, the gates are closed to maintain a pre-project salinity level in Clear Lake.
Eleven bridge replacements were planned, and eight have been completed.
The entire project was originally scheduled to take 18-20 years to build (est. 1988 - 2006). It would have achieve almost a 1% (100-year) level of flood protection for much of the area, removing the 1% (100-year) floodplain from approximately 2,000 homes.
General Reevaluation of the Project Initiated
Due to objections from concerned citizens and organizations, the local sponsors conducted a 6-month review of the current federal project in 1997. In June 1999, the Corps initiated a General Reevaluation Study to evaluate the sponsor-proposed alternative, the current authorized project, and any other reasonable alternatives. Brazoria Drainage District #4 joined the District and Galveston County as local sponsors for the Corps reevaluation study. Up-to-date data and computer models are being used, and public involvement will continue through the general reevaluation process.
Current Primary Goals of the Reevaluation
The primary intent of the reevaluation is to identify and recommend an effective, affordable and environmentally acceptable flood damage reduction project for Clear Creek. Additional goals are to conduct necessary engineering, economic and environmental studies in a timely manner in order to establish a viable project that is acceptable to the public, local sponsors and the Corps.
Several Alternatives to Consider
Numerous alternatives to the original proposal for Clear Creek have been presented for consideration by both project sponsors and private citizens. Alternatives under study involve a wide range of ideas. These include channelizing portions of Clear Creek and creating bypass channels and stormwater detention areas. Just as importantly, non-structural options, such as buyout of frequently flooded homes and raising structures, are also being considered.
One additional alternative to consider is the "no action" alternative. When the study is complete, the Corps must decide if a plan exists that provides sufficient benefits to warrant its continuing participation and support. If no acceptable, beneficial plan can be developed, the study team may recommend that "no action" be taken by the Corps. The Corps is required to examine this "no action" alternative as part of the study.
Your Input is Important to Us
Public input has been vital throughout the process. If you would like more information or would like to comment about the Clear Creek Federal Flood Damage Reduction Project, please contact the local project sponsor at the District's federal project hotline at 713-684-4040, or contact the District via e-mail at hcfcd@hcfcd.org.
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The Clear Creek Watershed
The Clear Creek watershed is located in southern Harris County. The watershed encompasses portions of Harris, Galveston, Brazoria and Fort Bend counties; all or portions of 16 cities; and 5 drainage/flood control districts. Clear Creek flows from west to east through Clear Lake and into Galveston Bay. Armand Bayou is the largest tributary to Clear Creek and is a separate watershed. The Clear Creek watershed covers approximately 197 square miles and includes two primary streams on the Harris County side: Clear Creek and Turkey Creek. There are about 154 miles of open streams within the watershed on the Harris County side, including the primary streams and tributary channels. The estimated population within the Clear Creek watershed in 2000(Harris County portion) was just over 118,000.
Development activity has historically been concentrated in the lower end of the watershed around Clear Lake and several smaller cities in the mid and upper portions of the watershed; however, in recent decades development activity has increased throughout the watershed and is expected to continue.
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