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First Flood Control Engineer Honored With Memorial
December 9, 2005
To honor the first Flood Control Engineer of the Harris County Flood Control District, the Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy and the District established a memorial Nov. 28 at the Willow Waterhole Stormwater Detention Basin. The memorial, called the Jack Rafferty Gathering Area, consists of large granite "seating" blocks under a live oak tree and two plaques bearing his image, biography and historic flood control plan. It is located off Ricecrest just south of South Willow Drive.
Jack Rafferty: Flood Control Engineer, Pioneering Leader
Rafferty (1896-1940), a pioneer in developing flood control projects, paved the way for continued efforts to spare millions of citizens from flooding. For many Houstonians, Rafferty's untimely death at age 44 brought feelings of personal loss. His compelling personality made him a natural leader and provided hope that the deadly, recurrent floods might subside.
Triple-Corridor Plan Was Precursor To Large-Scale Efforts
Rafferty devoted years developing what was called the Rafferty "triple-corridor" flood control plan, which outlined a system of canals and enlarged bayous to divert flood waters around the City of Houston, the Port of Houston and the Houston Ship Channel. The plan was devised in the aftermath of tremendously destructive floods in 1929 and in 1935 that crippled the port for months, caused millions of dollars in damages and loss of life. Rafferty's plan served as a precursor to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Buffalo Bayou Project Plan, which constructed the Addicks and Barker reservoirs in west Harris County.
Set the Stage for Today's Projects
Rafferty's legacy remains alive in current flood damage reduction projects, such as the Willow Waterhhole Stormwater Detention Basin, designed to temporarily store flood waters and lessen flood risks for those living in the area.
> See Willow Waterhole Stormwater Detention Basin Exhibit
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