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Sims Bayou Watershed
Sims Bayou watershed, showing project elements.
The Sims Bayou Federal Flood Damage Reduction Project
The Sims Bayou Federal Flood Damage Reduction Project is a partnership project between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) and the Harris County Flood Control District (the District). The Corps is the lead agency for this project. The project includes 19.3 miles of channel enlargements and environmental enhancements along Sims Bayou, starting at the Houston Ship Channel and extending upstream to Croquet Street, just west of S. Post Oak Road. Upon completion (including District stormwater detention elements), the project will remove the 1% (100-year) floodplain from approximately 35,000 houses and 2,000 commercial structures. The project requires replacement or modification of 20 bridges and a total of 925 acres of additional right-of-way.
Project Cost
Total project cost for the Sims Bayou Federal Flood Damage Reduction Project is estimated at $345 million, with the federal government paying $220 million and the Harris County Flood Control District paying $125 million.
Estimated Completion Date
The Sims Bayou Federal Flood Damage Reduction Project is scheduled for completion in 2009. It began in 1990 and is currently on schedule. It's important to note that, with the completion of each segment, the project delivers some level of relief and steadily reduces the risk of flooding.
Brief History of the Project
In the late 1960's, the Harris County Flood Control District straightened and enlarged Sims Bayou for most of its length. Unfortunately, the risk of flooding remained high in the region and some of the more recent devastating floods occurred throughout the 1970's and early 1980's. In 1979, the Corps of Engineers Galveston District received authorization to study Sims Bayou and in 1982 published "The Interim Report on Sims Bayou." Four years later, Congress authorized the Corps to work on Sims Bayou with the passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986. In 1990, the District and the Corps signed a Local Cooperation Agreement solidifying the project partnership that continues today.
The Project is More Than Halfway Complete with Promising Results
With project elements that are already completed, citizens residing in the Sims Bayou watershed now have a lower risk of flooding than in the past and are benefiting tremendously from the project. Construction of the project is now halfway complete, and neighborhoods along those completed segments are less likely to flood than before. They can also enjoy the natural appearance of the project.
A New Way to Build a Big Channel
The Sims Bayou Federal Flood Damage Reduction Project is designed and constructed in an environmentally responsible manner, and birds and wildlife can already be seen along completed segments. The project uses articulated concrete block mats instead of a solid concrete lining, which allows grass and other vegetation to grow through openings between the blocks. The project's cross-sectional geometry varies in width and steepness, creating flatter slopes and even plateaus and giving completed segments a more natural feel. Fish pools are being constructed along some segments of the project and trees are being planted to further enhance the value of the habitat. Coordination with the Sims Bayou Coalition and other stakeholders as part of the project's public involvement process continues to be a positive influence on incorporating environmental enhancements in the design of future project phases.
New Bridge Designs Mean Fewer Obstructions
Currently twelve bridge replacements/modifications have been constructed, with five bridges currently under design, leaving just 3 bridges remaining. These new bridges are designed to have as small a "footprint" as possible, with most bridge supports located out of the normal flood flow of the bayou. The result is a more efficient rate of flow for high volumes of water, meaning the area drains more rapidly, further reducing the potential for flood damages.
Multi-uses Return Multiple Benefits to the Community
The District highly encourages use of its property for other purposes that are compatible with or can sustain occasional floodwater inundation. Some of the more common multi-use examples include park and recreational uses, hike and bike trails, environmental habitat creation and preservation.
The Hill At Sims Greenway
The Hill at Sims Greenway is a large stormwater detention basin, located adjacent to Sims Bayou near Scott Street and West Orem Drive. It is capable of holding almost 325 million gallons of excess stormwater, greatly reducing the risk of flooding for area residents. It is a model stormwater detention basin and primary example of how flood control projects can be more than functional. Unlike other District detention basins, this basin features a hill that is almost 60 feet tall. The hill feature alone required almost 1.6 million cubic yards of soil, utilized from on-site excavation and disposal – total detention excavation was more than 2.1 million cubic yards of soil. When standing on top of the hill, the site appears almost canyon-like, offering spectacular views of the Downtown Houston skyline. The District hopes to partner with another entity, such as Harris County or the City of Houston, to adopt the site and create park amenities and multi-use features for area residents. Nearly 10,000 trees have been planted at the site.
> Download the Hill At Sims Greenway Info Sheet
> See news story on Hill at Sims Tree Planting
Regional Projects Complement the Sims Bayou Federal Project
In addition to the federal project, the District is implementing five regional stormwater detention basins within the Sims Bayou watershed that are meant to complement the federal project. The District has acquired the five regional detention basin sites over time for a total cost of approximately $10 million. Initial construction on two of the detention basins has been completed, providing reduction in flood risks to neighborhoods along upstream areas of Sims Bayou, in advance of the Sims Bayou Federal Project reaching them.
A Successful Example
The Sims Bayou Federal Flood Damage Reduction Project is a shining example of the District and the Corps embracing community and natural values, and federal and local partnerships working to achieve much needed flood damage reduction for the area.
Your Input is Important to Us
Public input has been vital throughout the project. If you would like more information or would like to comment about the Sims Bayou project, please contact the District's federal project hotline at 713-684-4040, or contact the District via e-mail.
For more information, please see the news items below:
> http://www.hcfcd.org/news/2006-0509.html
> http://www.hcfcd.org/news/2006-0201.html
> http://www.hcfcd.org/news/2006-0107.html
> http://www.hcfcd.org/news/07152003.html
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The Sims Bayou Watershed
The Sims Bayou watershed is located in southern Harris County. Most of the watershed is within the City of Houston, and it is almost fully developed, with the exception of the middle reaches around SH 288 where there are large undeveloped areas. The upper reach of the watershed drains the City of Missouri City and the lower reach of the watershed drains the cities of South Houston and Pasadena. The Sims Bayou watershed covers about 94 square miles and includes two primary streams: Sims Bayou and Berry Bayou. There are about 121 miles of streams within the watershed, including the primary streams and tributary channels. The estimated population within the Sims Bayou watershed in 2000 (Harris County portion) was just over 231,000.
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