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Our Organization
Organization of the Harris County Flood Control District
The chart below illustrates the reporting structure of the Harris County Flood Control District under Harris County Commissioners Court. The District is a "special purpose" district created by the Texas Legislature in 1937 that is governed by Harris County Commissioners Court.
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Harris County Public Infrastructure Dept.
Organizational Chart
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The Harris County Flood Control District is organized into seven primary divisions to carry out its mission: Communications, Engineering and Construction, Environmental Services, Human Resources, Infrastructure, Office of Chief Engineer and Support Services.
Harris County Flood Control District
Organizational Chart
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DIRECTOR
The Director oversees and manages the District's business with respect to overall management and guidance of policy. The Director routinely reports matters of business to the Harris County Public Infrastructure Department's Executive Director and represents the District's interests as they relate to public works and infrastructure matters.
LEGAL
Legal review of District business is performed by the Harris County Attorney's Office. Typical business items requiring legal review include: inter-governmental agreements, professional and personal services agreements, property lease and maintenance agreements and agreements with not-for-profit entities.
COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION
The mission of the Communications Division is to ensure effective communication with the public and to support and facilitate communication among District employees. The Division's main goals are to inform the public about the District's programs and projects, to solicit public feedback and input, and to help provide the means, materials and guidance to meet the communication needs of the District's staff, programs and projects. The Communications Division consists of 3 departments. These are Communications, Creative Services and Precinct Coordination.
Communications Department
The Communications Department is made up of the Public Outreach, Project Communications, Media Relations and Internal Communications sections. The Public Outreach section creates and implements an overall public outreach program designed to inform the public about the Flood Control District, flooding risks and the importance of flood insurance and develops detailed communication strategies for county-wide public education campaigns. Project Communications creates and implements project-based communications plans and ensures that information about District projects is communicated effectively to the public. The Media Relations section proactively pitches stories about the District to newspaper, radio, television and Internet media outlets and responds to media inquiries about the District. Internal Communications produces and distributes internal news bulletins and newsletters and maintains a calendar of the District's participation in community meetings and events.
Creative Services Department
The Creative Services Department provides design, branding and production services in support of the Flood Control District's projects and outreach efforts. Products of this department include brochures, newsletters, flyers, mailers, digital presentations, videos and signage. Creative Services also maintains the District's website, and develops and produces animations and interactive materials.
Precinct Coordination
The Communications Division is responsible for providing points of contact for each Commissioners Court Member and his/her staff. Four Precinct Coordinators serve as liaisons between the District and Commissioners Court members and their staff. Precinct Coordinators also interact with members of other government entities, stakeholder groups and the general public. The Director of Communications serves as the liaison to the County Judge and the Judge's staff.
ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION DIVISION
The Engineering and Construction Division supports the District through strategic planning initiatives and implementing a Capital Improvement Program in a manner that evokes public trust for open communication and financial stewardship. The Division works through the Planning, Capital Projects and Watershed Coordination departments to accomplish the District's mission through the operational and departmental structure needed to devise and implement projects that reduce flooding risks and damages from area bayous and streams.
Capital Projects
The Capital Projects Department is responsible for designing projects, working with the Harris County Right of Way Division to acquire land to implement projects, overseeing the procurement of contractor services and executing construction projects. The Department supports the District's Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and serves as a central point of contact for both internal and external information related to the CIP. General functions include managing the District's public engagement program in support of the plan formulation and execution process; responding to public inquires concerning capital projects; programming available funding to keep projects moving forward; monitoring projects and associated expenditures; and reporting on the projects' progress.
Planning
The Planning Department identifies and prioritizes the community's flood damage reduction needs and conducts project-specific and/or watershed-based studies that ultimately produce flood damage reduction plans for Harris County's bayous and streams. Devising flood damage reduction plans involves gathering historical flood data and developing hydrologic and hydraulic models to define areas that are at risk for flooding from bayous and streams overflowing. The Department establishes criteria for hydrologic studies and manages countywide programs associated with flood risk identification and reduction. The Planning Department researches opportunities for local, state and federal funding partnerships, provides technical support to the District, and ensures that District projects meet the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) requirements.
Watershed Coordination
The Watershed Coordination Department is responsible for coordinating ongoing activities for each of Harris County's 22 major watersheds and communicating information about those activities to various Flood Control District departments. Activities include working with other governmental agencies on their capital improvement projects and reviewing and approving third-party projects and development plans for compliance with the District's adopted design criteria, regional programs and rights of way needs. The Watershed Coordination Department works closely with the Harris County Engineering Department's Development Planning Section, Development Projects Section and Permit Division to review and process construction plans, plats and other technical submittals.
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIVISION
The Environmental Services Division provides the Flood Control District with required support functions within a framework of sound environmental practices. The Division advances environmental awareness and the continued "greening" of all District operations. It incorporates the best available science into the design and construction of all projects so that each results in minimal environmental impact, optimum environmental quality and maximum public acceptance. The Regulatory Compliance Department and Stormwater Quality Department fall under this Division's umbrella.
Regulatory Compliance
The Regulatory Compliance Department (RCD) is responsible for guiding and implementing all necessary actions to ensure that Flood Control District projects are in compliance with federal, state and local environmental regulations. This includes compliance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, as well as compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. RCD also supports environmental due diligence studies by assessing the potential for recognized environmental conditions, cultural resources and endangered species within a study area. In addition, RCD is responsible for the operation, maintenance and compliance of the Greens Bayou Wetlands Mitigation Bank.
Stormwater Quality
The Stormwater Quality Department ensures that District facilities are constructed, operated and maintained for long-term stability, thereby promoting improvements in water quality in bayous, streams and stormwater detention basins. The District holds a Texas Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) discharge permit for stormwater that requires the inclusion of water quality enhancements into the design of future projects when feasible and has developed a Storm Water Management Program (SWMP) to address water quality concerns. The Stormwater Quality Department oversees MS4 permit compliance, as well as other stormwater discharge permits including construction, industrial and the future pesticide permits. The department also monitors water quality enhancements to determine their effectiveness for pollutant treatment and to improve future project design, and manages programs that address site stabilization, re-vegetation and stream restoration. These programs help minimize erosion and sedimentation and support the design of stable channels and long-term site stabilization.
HUMAN RESOURCES DIVISION
The Human Resources Department (HR) recruits, screens, evaluates, and hires qualified applicants; maintains statistical information and records pertaining to new hires and other personnel actions. Human Resources prepares a salary budget annually, produces payrolls biweekly and prepares various expenditures and cost accounting reports. The Department administers the Employee Benefits Program, the Employee Assistance Program, deferred compensation and retirement plans, and provides eligible employees access to information about medical, vision, dental, long-term disability and life insurance. The Department's Safety Section develops and conducts training programs to promote safety awareness and reduce workplace accidents, both office or field-related, and analyzes job duties to ensure that the correct personal protective equipment is utilized by District employees.
INFRASTRUCTURE DIVISION
The Infrastructure Division provides the departmental structure and resources required to maintain the District's extensive inventory of infrastructure, which includes more than 2,500 miles of bayous and creeks. The Division is made up of seven departments that carry out the District's mission and associated support services, which include the following: Property Management, Facilities Maintenance, Maintenance Engineering, Fleet Management, Geographic Information Systems, Compliance and Office Management.
Property Management
The Property Management Department manages property rights, usage and care of District property. This is achieved by maintaining ownership records, accepting new infrastructure and managing activities on District property and rights of way. The Department has four main sections: Asset Management, Community Services, Development Coordination and Inspection, and Building Management.
Asset Management
The Asset Management Section evaluates and establishes plans for District property. Evaluations are based on information gathered during regular field inspections, citizen service requests and research of previously recorded information. These evaluations determine short- and long-term programs for the property, and resulting plans are forwarded to the appropriate department for execution. Asset Management researches the ownership of properties that affect the District by mapping and maintaining a database of various property interests and rights. The Section also coordinates fee and easement acquisitions with other District personnel, the state, Harris County, various cities, utility districts and developers.
Community Services
The Community Services Section focuses on the coordination and promotion of District property with regard to agreements and leases, from trails to adopt-a-lot and other open space opportunities, and manages the District's voluntary home buyout lots within neighborhoods. This section markets District property to entities willing to sponsor multiple uses that will improve quality of life. The Section also interacts directly with the public by coordinating volunteer events and by producing Division publications such as quarterly newsletters.The Citizen Service Center provides a single point of contact for citizens to ask questions, report problems and raise concerns regarding the operating condition of District infrastructure. The District's Citizen Service Center is crucial to the success of the District's teams in the field.
Development Coordination and Inspection
The Development Coordination and Inspection Section tracks, monitors, inspects and documents construction activity in the District's rights of way. This section identifies potential adverse impacts to District infrastructure and ensures that new infrastructure accepted into the District's inventory meets management and maintenance guidelines. The Section also reviews developer and public agency projects that are proposed in the District's rights of way and ultimately accepts new infrastructure into the District's maintenance system.
Building Management
Building Management manages maintenance and repairs of the District's building facilities and premises performing routine inspections at each of the District's three locations and managing and monitoring building contract services.
Facilities Maintenance
The Facilities Maintenance Department manages maintenance activities for 17,000-plus acres of District right of way. In order to accomplish various maintenance tasks required throughout the county, the Facilities Maintenance Department utilizes the services of both in-house and contract resources. By coordinating these services, the Department is able to reduce costs, increase productivity and ensure responsiveness to citizen concerns and emergency situations. In-house resources operate out of two service center locations and have specially trained employees to take on the required tasks. Contract services are procured through the public bidding process and are managed by department contract inspectors. Contractors are required to follow strict specifications outlined in the written contracts.
Vegetation Management
The Vegetation Management group is responsible for managing and inspecting contracts for turf establishment, mowing, tree planting, maintenance and hazardous tree removal on District rights of way. The methods developed in the Vegetation Management Program have resulted in cost effective maintenance of stormwater conveyance systems and stream bank integrity, while preserving and enhancing the environment. The program provides quality-of-life benefits for the community and reduces the District's and public's maintenance burden.
Service Centers
The Maintenance Engineering Department is responsible for engineering an appropriate approach to repairs of the District's vast stormwater infrastructure. The District, as a local sponsor for federally-constructed flood damage reduction projects, also maintains several facilities and channel systems built by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. The complexity of the infrastructure repair projects range from small channel spot repairs to full channel rehabilitations.
Maintenance Engineering
The Maintenance Construction Group was created as the District's in-house construction force to handle small projects and emergency repairs. The required bidding process does not allow infrastructure repairs to be immediately addressed. The Maintenance Construction Group provides the District rapid response capabilities when needed.
Engineering Group
The majority of Maintenance Engineering repair projects are engineered and competitively bid for construction by contractors. The District utilizes the Maintenance Engineering staff of professional engineers and consulting engineers on contract to engineer repair projects. The number of sites identified to receive repairs is dependent on the funding available for the given fiscal year.
Maintenance Construction Group
The Maintenance Construction Group was created as the District's in-house construction force to handle small projects and emergency repairs. The required bidding process does not allow infrastructure repairs to be immediately addressed. The Maintenance Construction Group provides the District rapid response capabilities when needed.
Mechanical and Electrical Group
The Department's responsibilities also include the maintenance of mechanical and electrical facilities owned by the District, such as stormwater pumping facilities, flap gates and cathodic protection systems.
Fleet Management
The Fleet Management Department performs all services that effectively and economically fulfill the District's transportation requirements. The Fleet Management program's goal is to efficiently manage equipment acquisition and distribution, and to execute a comprehensive preventive maintenance program that extends the life cycle and efficiency of the District's equipment.
Distribution Center
The Distribution Center is the central facility for receiving and dispensing supplies, mechanical parts and other items used for District operations. A monthly usage report is reviewed as a tool to track rates of use and to balance inventories. Inventory levels are closely monitored to accommodate the seasonal nature of the District's field maintenance operation, which is the Distribution Center's largest consumer. Periodic adjustments of minimum and maximum reorder quantities are made to reflect changes in work schedules and job tasks. The Department focuses on maintaining a delicate balance between physical cycle counts and automated inventory ordering.
Geographic Information Systems
The Geographic Information Systems Department (GIS) lends support to all Division departments. Support includes geographical positioning system field data collection, spatial analysis, training, tools for custom maps and application development. GIS is an analytical group that is able to accurately analyze District information to assist in various departments' decision-making processes and to make data more available across the organization.
Compliance Coordination
The Compliance Coordination Department is responsible for overseeing and monitoring the Infrastructure Division's day-to-day compliance issues. The Department monitors programs for Field Maintenance Operations, Fleet Management Operations, the Maintenance Construction Group, Material Handling Operations and the Stormwater Quality Program. These programs are monitored to ensure that Division employees are compliant with internal safety policies and procedures.
Office Management
Office Management provides administrative and clerical assistance for the Infrastructure Division and works to resolve communication and workflow issues between departments.
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF ENGINEER
The Chief Engineer provides institutional knowledge and is a technical resource for the Flood Control District's studies and projects during the planning, preliminary engineering and design phases of projects. To that end, the Chief Engineer works closely with the District's planning and capital project teams. The Chief Engineer also oversees the application and update of the District's Policy Criteria and Procedure Manual for Approval and Acceptance of Infrastructure and works closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other related federal agencies during the execution of the District's federally-funded partner projects and on national policies that affect those projects.
The Chief Engineer manages the District's Flood Watch and Information Program, which monitors, evaluates and reports on actual flood events. The Chief Engineer is also responsible for the operation, maintenance and improvement of the Harris County Flood Warning System (FWS). The goal of the FWS is to provide accurate and consistent rainfall, flood stage and other data on a reliable real-time basis. The information is utilized by the District, Harris County officials, the National Weather Service, the Texas Department of Transportation and the public to facilitate crucial decision-making before, during and after flood events to reduce the risk of property damage, injuries and loss of life.
SUPPORT SERVICES DIVISION
The Support Services Division is made up of five departments: Financial Services, Information Services, Office and Library Services, Project/Grant Accounting and the Process Support and Public Information Office.
Financial Services
The Financial Services Department (FIN) is responsible for monitoring and controlling funds needed to implement District programs and initiatives. The Department maintains records of all general and capital project fund revenues and expenditures, which include the Engineering and Construction and Infrastructure divisions, along with privatized programs such as surveying, maintenance support projects and engineering services contracts. The Financial Services Department processes requests for budgeted items through purchase orders and requests for payment. Budget requests are compiled and evaluated for all District divisions. Financial Services also monitors and tracks items such as equipment and vehicles in its inventory system.
Information Services
The Information Services Department (IS) is responsible for the design, implementation, management and support of all internal computer-related functions. This includes acquisition or internal development of custom applications and databases and hardware (including user workstations, network equipment, cabling and servers). Support teams are available to assist District staff with existing equipment, application use, database support and the design of any new databases or applications. The Department's Geographic Information Systems Section develops and maintains geographic and spatial data to simplify and streamline District functions and to provide new analytical tools to aid in the achievement of District goals. GIS is heavily utilized in the delivery of information to the public and plays a pivotal role in the development of all District programs and projects. Virtually all data of interest to the District can be or is associated with a specific location on the ground, making GIS a strong and valuable tool for the District.
Office and Library Services
The Office and Library Services Department (OFS) supports general office operations at the District's headquarters and four satellite locations. OFS greets visitors at the office reception area; routes phone calls and general e-mail messages to the appropriate department; receives and scans mail and packages for distribution throughout the District; and maintains and purchases office equipment, furniture, vending machines and supplies and EZ tags. OFS also tracks daily usage information of vehicles in the District's motor pool; prepares and distributes Commissioners Court letters and agendas; and creates reports and prepares deposits to account for payment checks received by the District. The Library Section scans and stores a wide variety of District records and assists both internal and external customers with the search and retrieval of District records.
Project/Grant Accounting
The Project/Grant Accounting Department supports the District through accounting, compliance, and coordination as it relates to the District's Capital Improvement and Grant programs. The Department is responsible for
timely and accurate accounting and financial reporting of all HCFCD grants and CIP projects, as well as, ensuring compliance with applicable accounting, contractual, and statutory requirements. The Department coordinates financial information with the various other HCFCD Divisions, as well as, other Harris County Departments. The Project/Grant Accounting Department also coordinates any necessary financial or programmatic audits by the various Federal, State and local agencies. Other general functions include preparation of CIP and Grant related journal entries, review of invoices, request for payments and agreements, as well as, budget transfers, requesting funding codes, supplemental revenue certification, UPIN assignments and distribution and monitoring of cellular phone invoices.
Process Support and Public Information Office
The Process Support Department (PRS) promotes, creates and streamlines policies, procedures and processes; promotes employee morale, teamwork, interaction and interdepartmental communications; coordinates the Support Service Division's employee volunteer efforts to assist District divisions in community events and facilitates meetings with District representatives to increase communication, promote consistency and implement best practices. PRS's Public Information Office Section works with the Harris County Attorney's Office to protect public information and promptly produce it for inspection, duplication or both when a public information request is made to the District's Records Liaison Officer.
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Management Team
Mike Talbott
Director
Fred Garcia
Assistant Director & Director
Communications
Alan Potok
Director of Engineering and Construction
Glenn Laird
Director of Environmental Services
Kartik Dixit
Director of Support Services
Steve Fitzgerald
Chief Engineer
Sandra Musgrove
Director of Infrastructure
Gary Hoffpauir
Director of Human Resources
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