News
BY JESSICA SHORTEN & JULIANNA WASHBURN
Spring Creek Dam study identies $298M need The full report detailing a proposal for two new dams along the Spring Creek watershed was released May 16, projecting a nearly $300 million project cost. What we know Shared in part April 28 at a town hall in The Woodlands, feasibility studies for dams on Birch Creek and Walnut Creek are now being recom- mended for future construction. The feasibility study cost $1 million and was funded in 2022 by The Woodlands Water Agency, Harris County Flood Control District, the city of Humble and the Texas Water Development Board. Breaking it down According to the full study, construction of the two dams would reduce overall downstream river levels from Walnut Creek to the West Fork of the
Lone Star College sets 202627 calendar The Lone Star College board of trustees approved the academic calendar for the 2026-27 school year on May 1. The details Fall semester will start Aug. 24, 2026 and end Dec. 13, 2027. Spring semester will begin Jan. 19, 2027 and end May 16, 2027. No classes will be held: • Labor Day: Sept. 5-7 • Thanksgiving: Nov. 25-29 • Winter holidays: Dec. 21-Jan. 3 • Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Jan. 18 • Spring holidays: March 15-21; March 26-28 • Memorial Day: May 29-31 • Juneteenth: June 17 • Independence Day: July 1
Design to begin on Grand Parkway frontage road Engineering and design services for redesigned eastbound frontage roads along the Grand Parkway in Montgomery County Precinct 3 were authorized by Montgomery County commissioners on May 13 over a year after being proposed. How we got here Trac ow improvements to the Grand Park- way frontage roads between Rayford Road and Birnham Woods Drive were initially proposed in December 2023 by former commissioner James Noack. Under an agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation, the project will be funded through accumulated toll road revenues—other- wise known as pass-through toll funds—alongside 12 other projects countywide which were eyed for funding. However, Precinct 3 Commissioner Ritch Wheeler said the project was removed from the
Shenandoah policy aims to aid tourism Shenandoah City Council members on May 14 voted to approve a change to the city’s hotel occupancy tax collection policy which they said will allow for better tracking and increased tourism advertising eorts. Two-minute impact Shenandoah Finance Director Lisa Wasner brought the proposal before City Council on May 14, saying the city could provide a 1% discount to hotels on their taxes to the city if their hotel occupancy tax collections are led before the 10th day of every month. Wasner said by receiving reports from hotels earlier, it will allow the city’s conven- tion and visitors bureau, Visit Shenandoah, to share the data with travel booking companies.
Construction and ongoing costs
Walnut Creek dam
$193M
Construction:
99 TOLL
$2.8M
Annual maintenance:
Birch Creek dam
$105.3M
Construction:
N
$2.1M
Annual maintenance:
SOURCE: SAN JACINTO RIVER AUTHORITYCOMMUNITY IMPACT
county’s list with TxDOT before he took oce. “In six months we went from that project not happening to being fully funded by TxDOT now so Montgomery County is not paying for it,” Wheeler said. What’s next? The contract approved by commissioners on May 13 authorizes $747,565 for engineering rm WSB, Inc. to perform engineering and design work to create a project scope for trac improvements. The company expected to have its work completed by Nov. 30.
San Jacinto River. The study also provided additional specica- tions regarding the dams, projecting the lake levels behind the Walnut Creek Dam would be 254.7 feet, while the Birch Creek Dam would sit at 251.2 feet. Next steps SJRA engineer Matt Barrett said the SJRA would now be able to petition the Texas Water Develop- ment Board and the federal government for grant funding for the projects.
THE WOODLANDS 10491 Kuykendahl (281) 681-9110 FM 1488 3588 FM 1488 (936) 271-9606
RAYFORD SAWDUST 25044 IH 45 (281) 362-9131 GOSLING ROAD SPRING 24527 Gosling Rd (281) 516-9404
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