Finding a Focus In its 2020 interim report, the Army Corps of Engineers looked at eight possible plans for ood mitigation on Bu alo Bayou, three of which were favored by a cost-bene t analysis. Now, the Corps will revisit some of the other concepts from the report, including underground tunnels.
Harris County Commissioners Court unanimously approved the allocation of another $2.8 million for the analy- sis at a Jan. 31 meeting. In comments to commissioners at that meeting, HCFCD Director Tina Petersen said the district’s portion of the work could wrap up by December 2024, while the Corps will continue working on the study through 2026. “Though the preferred timeline is much faster than that,” Petersen said, referring the HCFCD’s analysis. Tunneling out The HCFCD has been conducting its own analysis of the use of underground ood tunnels in Harris County, having already come to the conclusion that 11 of the county’s 23 major watersheds would receive the greatest bene t for a systemic approach. District o cials have estimated the implementation of a broader network of eight ood tunnels in Harris County could cost $30 billion, with preliminary construction cost estimates for a typi- cal 10-mile segment pegged at around $3 billion-$4 billion. The Corps study suggested it could cost as much as $12 billion for the Bu alo Bayou tunnel. Following the announcement, stake- holder groups that were critical of the interim study expressed optimism about the future. O cials with Hous- ton Stronger said the involvement of the HCFCD was a “positive develop- ment,” while Barker Flood Prevention released a statement thanking Harris County commissioners for increasing the county’s funding commitment. Olson said she more favors nature- based ood mitigation options, such as the use of riparian bu ers, which are vegetation walls designed to slow run- o and absorb excess water. The HCFCD is working on a $9 mil- lion e ort at Bu alo Bayou Park to sta- bilize the bayou’s banks, Olson said. The channelization of the bayou could exacerbate bank erosion, she said. “The problem that we have is, when these lower banks are inundated some- times, the water level remains really high for a long period of time,” Olson said. “Then, when it drops out, that’s when we get all the sediment dropping out and the erosion.” There will be opportunities for the public to continue giving feedback as the next stage of the study progresses, said Gretchen Brown, the study’s proj- ect manager.
* TUNNEL PATH SHOWN ON MAP SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS STUDY CONTINUES.
MAP NOT TO SCALE N
SPRING CREEK
45
LAKE HOUSTON
290
CYPRESS CREEK
1
8
99 TOLL
CYPRESS CREEK RESERVOIR
SAN JACINTO RIVER
59
6
MULESHOE LAKE
2
ADDICKS RESERVOIR
90
610
BEAR LAKE
WHITES LAKE
4
10
BURNET BAY
CRYSTAL BAY
3
BARKER RESERVOIR
SCOTT BAY
BUFFALO BAYOU
UPPER SAN JACINTO BAY
TABS BAY
Addicks and Barker reservoir excavations
Bu alo Bayou channel improvements
A new dam and reservoir in Cypress Creek could retain stormwater before it ows into the reservoirs. Estimated cost: $2.1B-$2.9B Interim report: favored Now: TBD Cypress Creek reservoir and dam 1
Tunnel* 4
3
2
Underground tunnels would capture water at the reservoirs and carry it to the Houston Ship Channel. Estimated cost: $6.5B-$12B Interim report: would provide a comparable bene t but at a higher cost; not favored Now: will be revisited in next interim report
Portions of reservoirs would be deepened to increase storage capacity. Estimated cost: $1.3B-$1.8B Interim report: determined
Roughly 22 miles of Bu alo Bayou would be wider and deeper to hold more water. Estimated cost: $1B-$1.25B Interim report: favored Now: Analysis will continue after environmental groups raised concerns about potential damage to wildlife and bayou ecosystems.
to only provide local bene ts, not favored Now: TBD
SOURCES: ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT COMMUNITY IMPACT
Anne Olson said the ood tunnels would have less environmental dis- ruption on the bayou than other Corps recommendations, namely channel- ization, or deepening and widening the bayou. In a March interview, she said the partnership was happy the HCFCD would take on a larger role moving for- ward, citing a strong relationship with the district. “Virtually all of our projects have had some sort of funding from the HCFCD, so we consider them a great partner,” she said. “I think it’s a really positive The Corps launched the Bu alo Bayou study in the wake of Hurricane Harvey in 2017 with the goal of identi- fying actions that would reduce ood risks to people, property and commu- nities namely within the Bu alo Bayou, Addicks and Barker watersheds. During Harvey, record ooding occurred at every bridge along Buf- falo Bayou with water elevation development.” Study origins
levels a ected by the Corps’ decision to empty the Addicks and Barker reser- voirs, leading more stormwater to ow downstream, according to a post-Har- vey analysis by the HCFCD. An esti- mated 17,090 homes along Bu alo Bayou ooded, per the analysis. An earlier interim report from the Corps released in October 2020 was criticized by some groups along the bayou for one option that called for deepening and widening the channel. The option—one of several favored by the Corps’ cost-bene t analysis— raised environmental concerns. Mean- while, an underground tunnel was viewed less favorably by the Corps because of its cost, estimated to range from $6.5 billion-$12 billion. Moving forward, the HCFCD aims to nd a cost-e ective, implementable and community-supported solution to reduce the ood risk associated with the Addicks and Barker reservoirs; secure federal funding for design and construction; and enhance the resil- ience of vulnerable communities.
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The move comes more than two years after the Army Corps released its rst interim report, one that gen- erated negative feedback from stake- holder groups who wanted, among other requests, the tunnel to be more considered. The Corps then said it would revisit the study in Decem- ber 2021 with plans to release a new interim report. “We’re excited to continue working with the Harris County Flood Con- trol District to nd a way to bring the communities along Bu alo Bayou an e ective means to further reduce ood risks,” said Col. Rhett Blackmon, the Corps’ Galveston District commander, in a statement. O cials with some of the stake- holder groups who have been follow- ing the study—including Barker Flood Prevention, Houston Stronger and Buf- falo Bayou Partnership—said the larger role for the HCFCD is a positive step. Bu alo Bayou Partnership President
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