C-12 Poor Farm Ditch

C-12 Poor Farm Ditch
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Recent Actions

August 24, 2021 - Harris County Commissioners Court authorized the initiation of design stage support for this project.

June 30, 2020 - Harris County Commissioners Court approved a $76,821 contract amendment for design, bidding and construction phase engineering services in support of this project.

May 19, 2020 – Harris County Commissioners Court approved updates to project details in the 2018 Bond Program List. Update includes funding change based on HMGP Grant Application amounts.

Project Description

This project will rehabilitate Poor Farm Ditch in the Brays Bayou watershed between Bellaire Boulevard and University Boulevard to address its failing concrete lining, which has exceeded its useful life.

Poor Farm Ditch is currently in poor condition and, should failure of the concrete channel lining occur, it could result in property damages to Southside Place and West University Place, potentially impacting residents of both cities.

As of summer 2023, the funding necessary for the project to move forward with design was secured. Funding for the Poor Farm Ditch project consists of a combination of local, state, and federal dollars, with the Flood Control District investing $5,700,000; the City of Southside Place investing $150,000; the City of West University Place investing $150,000; Representative Ann Johnson (HD-134), Senator John Whitmire (SD-15), and Senator Joan Huffman (SD-17) securing $16,900,000 in Texas Legislative Allocations; and Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher securing $9,886,000 in Federal Community Directed Funding. With the funding committed, the Flood Control District and the cities of Southside Place and West University Place began efforts to enter an Interlocal Agreement.

Currently, the design is completed to 90 percent. The substantially complete design is a technical solution that can be constructed within the extremely limited Poor Farm Ditch project area.

Project History – Poor Farm Ditch

In 2015, the Flood Control District notified the cities of Southside Place and West University Place that funding had been identified for design and that the Flood Control District would actively pursue design and construction. In 2016, further study by the Flood Control District narrowed the design to one option based on the constructability of a replacement ditch within very tight right-of-way constraints. The Flood Control District initiated meetings with Southside Place and West University Place with the goal of entering into agreements that would allow for construction to begin.

In 2017, before plans were finalized by all parties, Hurricane Harvey brought devastating rains to many areas of Houston. As a result, funding for construction of Poor Farm Ditch was reassigned to more immediate repair needs.

In September 2018, Harris County Commissioners Court authorized an application to the Texas Division of Emergency Management for a grant in support of this project.

In October 2019, the Flood Control District notified the cities of Southside Place and West University Place of its decision to put the project on hold.

In August 2021, Harris County Commissioners Court approved the initiation of efforts to complete project design and construction stages. The substantially complete design is a technical solution that can be constructed within the extremely limited Poor Farm Ditch area. The project timeline will be contingent on funding support.

As of Summer 2023, funding for the Poor Farm Ditch project consists of a combination of local, state, and federal dollars, with the Flood Control District investing $5,700,000; the City of Southside Place investing $150,000; the City of West University Place investing $150,000; Representative Ann Johnson (HD-134), Senator John Whitmire (SD-15), and Senator Joan Huffman (SD-17) securing $16,900,000 in Texas Legislative Allocations; and Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher securing $9,886,000 in Federal Community Directed Funding.

Feasibility study

In 2004, a study was conducted by Flood Control District staff and supported by Claunch & Miller Inc., engineering consultants, and focused on the hydraulic capacity and constraints of Poor Farm Ditch. Poor Farm Ditch provides drainage to approximately 1,330 acres of highly developed watershed. The analysis considered stormwater flow that would be generated by both 10 percent (10-year) and 1 percent (100-year) rainfall events. Because of the channel’s close interface with Brays Bayou, the study had to consider stormwater detention volume needed to mitigate the potential impacts on Brays Bayou resulting from identified improvements on this tributary channel.

Key findings from the Regional Study included the following:

  • Poor Farm Ditch upstream of University Boulevard has adequate capacity to convey runoff from a 1 percent (100-year) storm event.
  • Poor Farm Ditch downstream of Bellaire Boulevard to the confluence with Brays Bayou has 57 percent excess capacity to convey runoff from a 1 percent (100-year) storm event.
  • The reach of Poor Farm Ditch between University and Bellaire boulevards is not adequate and would need to be enlarged by as much as 75 percent to convey runoff from a 1 percent (100-year) storm event.
  • The Bellaire Boulevard bridge needed to be widened because it was a constraint to stormwater conveyance. This bridge was later modified in 2012.

Project Lifecycle

Every flood damage reduction project is unique. Yet each project begins and ends, with common and predictable milestones along the way. Whether a project moves forward – and how quickly – depends on many factors, including the availability of funding at each milestone, shifting community priorities for flood damage reduction, and other changing circumstances (such as the price of trees or concrete) from year to year.

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