Kingwood Information

Kingwood Information
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KINGWOOD INFORMATION

After the flooding in Kingwood the week of May 6, 2019, the Harris County Flood Control District mobilized immediately to remove blockages within the channels due to fallen trees. The same week, other Harris County Flood Control District teams assessed all the major channels in Kingwood in a similar fashion as was done in February 2018. The purpose of the assessment was to determine immediate projects needed to provide positive drainage as soon as possible. These types of projects could include selective clearing, debris and/or sediment removal within the tributary systems.

To View The Current Assessment Reports For Individual Channel Reaches In The Kingwood Area:

1. View our Kingwood Area Drainage Assessment Map

2. Next, select Kingwood Assessment Reports tab at the top right of page

3. Select an individual channel reach. The assessment report for that channel reach shows the ownership, maintenance responsibilities and any identified plan for an individual channel reach.

On January 31, 2018, the Harris County Flood Control District committed to assessing the major drainage channels in Kingwood from Hurricane Harvey, as it works toward accomplishing the following items: 

  • Determining the ownership and maintenance responsibilities for all 29 miles of open channels in the Kingwood area. In the case of some channels, no public entity claims ownership.
  • Developing a long-term plan for the ownership and maintenance responsibilities of channels and document the conclusions.
  • Determining immediate projects needed to provide positive drainage as soon as possible. These types of projects could include selective clearing, debris and/or sediment removal within the tributary systems.
  • Identifying potential drainage issues that would require additional coordination or investigation before becoming a long-term project.
  • Determining the environmental permitting requirements for working within the tributary channels and the San Jacinto River.

Determining the environmental permitting requirements for working within the tributary channels and the San Jacinto River for the purpose of this assessment, the Kingwood area is bounded by the county line on the north and west, US 59 on the west, West Fork of the San Jacinto River on the south, and East Fork of the San Jacinto River and Caney Creek on the east. Drainage for the Kingwood area is provided through more than 29 miles of tributary channels of the West and East Forks of the San Jacinto River. 

The Flood Control District has completed 11 projects to provide positive drainage in the Kingwood area since Hurricane Harvey. The assessment reports have been updated to reflect current status information including the assessment from the fieldwork in May 2019 and the proposed future projects. 

The Flood Control District has completed the construction plans in connection with a project to remove sediment on property it owns along a 6,900-foot stretch of Ben’s Branch (a tributary of the San Jacinto River). Located near the Kingwood Library and Lake Houston YMCA, this project will start just south of Kingwood Drive and end approximately 1,800 linear feet downstream (east) of West Lake Houston Parkway. The project was bid for construction on June 4, 2019. After the contractor is selected and the construction contract signed, the construction will commence in summer 2019. 

The Flood Control District is still waiting for the City of Houston to resolve property ownership issues to establish maintenance responsibilities. For these channel segments, the assessment reports will be updated after decisions have been made and the next steps are known. If there are any questions regarding the property ownership issues, please contact the City of Houston.

Kingwood Area Drainage Analysis

On August 13, 2019, Harris County Commissioners Court approved a contract with Neel-Schaffer, Inc. to begin the Kingwood Area Drainage Analysis. 

The intent of the Kingwood Area Drainage Analysis is to evaluate the existing drainage level of service for the open channel drainage network and where needed, identify drainage infrastructure improvements to improve the drainage level of service. 

HCFCD has entered into an interlocal agreement with the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority (TIRZ 10) to partially fund this drainage study. In September 2019, engineering consultant Neel-Schaffer will begin a 9-month analysis of 32.3 miles of open channels within the greater Kingwood area.

US Army Corps of Engineers Dredging

As of September 2018, dredging is underway along the West Fork of the San Jacinto River near the West Lake Houston Parkway Bridge. Over 4.5 miles of pipeline is in position to remove over 1.8 million cubic yards of sediments deposited after Hurricane Harvey and other recent storms. 

Press Release, Sept 2018: US Army Corps of Engineers 

Press Release, April 2019: City of Houston

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