Cypress Edition | February 2025

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Cypress Edition VOLUME 16, ISSUE 6 FEB. 12MARCH 11, 2025

Shifting to surface water Local water authorities combat land sinkage with multimillion-dollar infrastructure projects

249

WINDFERN RD.

The recently completed Alan Rendl Regional Pump Station is located o Gessner Road near Beltway 8.

beneath the earth’s surface. HGSD General Manager Mike Turco said the phenomenon is often caused by groundwater withdrawal. Ocials said northwest Harris County has seen increased subsidence over the last four years. To alleviate this, authorities must follow the HGSD’s plan and have 60% of their jurisdictions using surface water by the end of 2025 and 80% by 2035.

BY RYAN REYNOLDS

Water authorities serving the Cy-Fair area are ramping up e orts to convert a larger portion of their water supply to surface water, aiming to reduce groundwater reliance and comply with Harris-Galveston Subsidence District regulations. HGSD data from 2019-23 shows the Greater Houston area continues to experience subsidence, or the collapsing of the land due to movement

2024 completion date

$120M construction cost

40.3M gallon capacity per day

SOURCE: NORTH HARRIS COUNTY REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY COMMUNITY IMPACT

CONTINUED ON 14

COURTESY NORTH HARRIS COUNTY REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY

Also in this issue

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Government: See how many residents Cy-Fair has gained in the past 5 years (Page 9)

Dining: Learn about the legacy of Juanita’s Mexican Kitchen in Cy-Fair (Page 28)

HERITAGE COVE AT TOWNE LAKE

CALDWELL HOMES FROM THE $350 S

Hurry to your lakeside dream home at Towne Lake! There are only a few remaining homesites at The Heritage, Cypress’s premier active adult neighborhood, and they are perfectly placed on the lake. Enjoy stunning views and a front-row seat to a vibrant, lake-centric lifestyle.

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

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CYPRESS EDITION

for pre-k Hooray! for pre for for p p pr r re e

Cypress-area residents have access to high-quality neurological care, close to home. At Mischer Neuroscience Associates - Cypress, our affiliated neurologists, neurosurgeons and pain management specialists evaluate and manage a wide range of neurological conditions, from the common to the complex. So, we can offer care that’s customized for you. Advanced neurological care for Cypress.

Your child will become more independent & self confident!

Tuition- based Pre-k 2025-2026

memorialhermann.org/MNACypress

Looking for the perfect Pre-K for your child? At CFISD Pre-K, we’re passionate about helping your little one develop a lifelong love of learning. Our nurturing teachers and inviting classrooms create the ideal environment for growth, exploration, and discovery. Discover why families love CFISD’s Pre-K program!

Divya Chirumamilla, MD Interventional Pain Management

Sebastian Herrera, MD Neurosurgery

Sam P. Javedan, MD, FAANS Neurosurgery

CONDENSED WIDE - WHITE

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REGISTRATION COMING SOON!

THE PATH TO

Wyatt Ramey, MD Neurosurgery

Swaroopa Pulivarthi, MD Neurology

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! Scan the heart to learn about our Pre-K program and meet our wonderful teachers!

Learn more at CFISDPreK.net

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

About Community Impact

Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.

Market leaders & metro team

Reporters Jovanna Aguilar Asia Armour Angela Bonilla Melissa Enaje Valeria Escobar Wesley Gardner Rachel Leland Emily Lincke Ryan Reynolds Nichaela Shaheen Jessica Shorten Haley Velasco Aubrey Vogel Kevin Vu Carson Weaver Graphic Designers Richard Galvan Ellen Jackson Matt Mills

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CYPRESS EDITION

Impacts

• Opened Dec. 24 • 17335 Hwy. 249, Houston • www.slickcity.com/tx-willowbrook

G R A N T

249

S C HIEL RD.

CHAMPION FOREST DR.

5 Pawllywood Kingdom Faraz Rehan owns the business, which oers doggy day care as well as boarding and grooming. • Opened Dec. 14 • 12215 Grant Road, Ste. K, Cypress • www.pawllywoodkingdomforpets.com 6 Pure Barre The tness center oers group workout classes focused on cardio and exibility for people of all levels. • Opened Dec. 26 • 12020 FM 1960, Ste. 950, Houston • www.purebarre.com 7 1st & 10 Barber Shop The football-themed barber shop oers haircuts, beard trims and hot towel shaves. • Opened in November • 8020 Fry Road, Ste. 103, Cypress • https://1stand10barbershop4.godaddysites.com 8 Eco Thrift Items at the thrift store include clothing, accessories and furniture. Donations are accepted. • Opened in November

HEATHERWICK DR.

L O U E

VINTAGE PARK BLVD.

HOUSE & HAHL RD.

WILLOWBROOK MALL

99 TOLL

MIL

290

N. BRIDGELAND LAKE PKWY.

CYPRESS N. HOUSTON RD.

4 8

1960

BRIDGELAND CREEK PKWY.

A L

FRY RD.

GREENHOUSE RD.

L O

529

ELYSON EXCHANGE WAY

MAP NOT TO SCALE

• 17355 Hwy. 249, Ste. 1K, Houston • www.ecothrift.com/willowbrook

• 12620 FM 1960 W., Ste. A4-187, Houston • https://spicyhousetx.kwickmenu.com

Now open

9 DG Market Dollar General’s DG Market oers an expanded selection of meats, fruits and vegetables. • Opened Nov. 11

1 The Kebab Shop The Mediterranean eatery oers wraps, bowls and plates; kebabs; salads; fries; hummus; and falafel. • Opened Feb. 3 • 9620 Fry Road, Ste. 800, Cypress • www.thekebabshop.com

3 Charleys Cheesesteaks & Wings The sandwich shop oers Philly-style cheesesteaks, wings, loaded fries and lemonades. • Opened Dec. 20 • 20725 Tuckerton Road, Ste. 900, Cypress • www.charleys.com 4 Slick City The 42,000-square-foot venue is designed for all ages and features 12 giant dry-slides.

• 7010 Fry Road, Cypress • www.dollargeneral.com

10 Tint World The franchise sells and installs auto accessories. • Opened Jan. 6 • 20330 Tuckerton Road, Ste. 700, Cypress • www.tintworld.com

2 Spicy House Chinese Food The restaurant oers Chinese cuisine. • Opened in November

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. Chest pain, pressure, or discomfort . Pain in the arm, neck, jaw, or back . Shortness of breath . Cold sweats, nausea, or dizziness

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

11 Nelson Family Orthodontics The family-owned orthodontic practice oers braces, aligners and retainer services for all ages. • Opened Jan. 14 • 9430 Fry Road, Ste. 800, Cypress • www.nelsonfamilyortho.com 12 Prosperity Chiropractic The business oers chiropractic adjustments for holistic wellness. • Opened Nov. 4 • 12211 Heatherwick Drive, Cypress • www.prosperitychirotx.com 13 Wavelength Chiropractic The business oers chiropractic adjustments, functional exercises and X-rays. • Opened in September • 12239 Queenston Blvd., Ste. F, Houston • www.wavelengthchiropractic.com 14 Gastro Health & Nutrition The gastroenterology practice oers services to treat acid reux and more. • Opened in September • 27160 Hwy. 290, Ste. 208, Cypress • www.yourgastrohealth.com

17 Shipley Do-Nuts Shipley serves hot and iced coee, and pastries. • Opening in July • 7016 Elyson Exchange Way, Cypress • www.shipleydonuts.com

Now open

Relocations

18 Brisket & Rice The eatery will move from 13111 FM 529, Houston. • Relocating by April • 6166 Hwy. 6 N., Houston • www.brisketnrice.com 19 Hans’ Crawsh The business is relocating to The Barn at Frio Hill Country Grill in Cypress for the 2025 season. • Relocated in mid-February • 16416 Mueschke Road, Cypress • Facebook: Hans’ Craw¨ish Services 20 David Weekley Homes The homebuilder’s Houston division o©ce will relocate from 14444 Hwy. 290, Houston. • Relocating in late 2025 • 8847 W. Sam Houston Parkway N., Houston • www.davidweekleyhomes.com 21 Sleep and Headache Solutions Sarah Aguilar relocated her specialty practice from 13114 FM 1960, Ste. 105B, Houston. • Relocated in November • 9405 Huffmeister Road, Ste. 100, Houston • www.sleepandheadache.com

23 Portillo’s The fast-casual Chicago-style street food restaurant has opened near Willowbrook Mall. It features a pickup area and double drive-thru lane, seating for about 130 guests inside plus seating for an additional 40 guests on the outdoor patio. Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches and char-grilled burgers are on the menu. • Opened Jan. 14 • 7511 FM 1960 W., Houston • www.portillos.com/willowbrooktx

Coming soon

24 HCA Houston Healthcare North Cypress The hospital is now using advanced robotic technology from the Da Vinci 5 Surgical System. • 21214 Hwy. 290, Cypress • www.hcahoustonhealthcare.com/north-cypress

15 The Wae Bus The new location will serve chicken sandwiches, burgers, fries, wings and sweet wa§e sandwiches.

• Opening by early April • 10615 Fry Road, Cypress • www.thewafflebus.com

Closings

In the news

25 The Station Seafood Co. After four years in business o Hwy. 6, owner Tre Thomas closed the seafood eatery. • Closed Nov. 30 • 8604 Hwy. 6, Houston • www.ilovethestation.com

16 HTeaO The franchise oers coee and iced tea. • Opening in the ¨irst quarter of 2026 • 14101 Grant Road, Cypress • www.hteao.com

22 Lambeau’s Sports Bar & Grill Ahide Ramos, Diego Cortez and Artemio Cortez took ownership of the local bar and grill on Dec. 16. • 13131 Louetta Road, Cypress • www.lambeaus.com

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CYPRESS EDITION

Government

BY EMILY LINCKE

County mandates power backups at assisted living, nursing facilities Under a new re code, the roughly 120 assisted living and nursing facilities located in unincorpo- rated Harris County will have until Jan. 1, 2026 to add emergency backup power systems, county leaders announced Jan. 8. The overview Harris County is the rst in Texas to implement this re code, which is designed to keep vulnera- ble senior populations safe during emergencies, Fire Marshal Laurie Christensen said Jan. 8. Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones said the requirement for backup power systems will allow: • Safe facility temperatures to be maintained • Vital medical devices to be powered • Medications to be preserved

County invests $10.1M in solar panel project Harris County is one step closer to launching a $10.1 million pilot project to install solar panels at libraries and commu- nity centers following a unanimous vote by Harris County Commissioners on Jan. 9. What’s happening? Harris County’s two-phase Distributed Energy Resources pilot aims to make county facilities “less reliant on the electricity grid” and more resistant to power outages during weather events, according to Jan. 9 meeting documents. The project calls for solar panels, battery storage and dual-port electric vehicle charging stations. Construction on Phase I of the energy pilot began in January and is slated to wrap up by the rst quarter of 2026.

The new re code was approved following Winter Storm Uri and Hurricane Beryl—which induced widespread power outages—and resulted in:

At least 1 senior death due to extreme heat during Hurricane Beryl 14 nursing homes and 30 assisted living facilities in Harris County losing power for several days during Hurricane Beryl 10% of nursing homes and nearly 33% of assisted living facilities across Texas losing power during Winter Storm Uri 100 senior deaths due to hypothermia in Texas during Winter Storm Uri

SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT 4COMMUNITY IMPACT

• Emergency communications to be made • Evacuations to be safer

Facilities will be given one year to get into com- pliance with the new re code, and county leaders plan to provide guidance and support during the transition, Briones said.

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY RYAN REYNOLDS

Cy-Fair area gains 40,000 residents from 201823

Cy-Fair’s Hispanic, Black and Asian populations all increased from 2018 to 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau data. In addition to being the fastest-growing ZIP code, 77433 was also the wealthiest in this timeframe with a median household income of $137,348—up from $109,084 in 2018. While the community’s percentage of residents with a high school diploma or higher form of education slightly decreased, the percentage with at least a bachelor’s degree increased.

The population of Cy-Fair grew more than 9% from 2018-23, according to 2023 ve-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey released Dec. 12. The total population estimates for the seven ZIP codes that make up Community Impact ’s Cy- Fair coverage area combined grew from around 432,000 residents in 2018 to 473,500 residents in 2023. The population within Cy-Fair ISD’s boundaries grew 5.93% in that time—from 587,241 to 622,067.

2018

2023

Local demographics*

Cy-Fair ZIP codes

Black or African American White Hispanic or Latino

Native Hawaiian or other Pacic Islander American Indian or Alaskan Native

249

99 TOLL

36.82%

290

77070

1960

44.17%

77429

2018 total population: 432,063 2023 total population: 473,469

77064

Asian

77433

31.9% 15.59%

Two or more races

29.1% 14.14% 10.58%

Other race

0.04% 0.13% 0.29% 1.54%

529

77040

0.59% 3.5% 0.11%

77065

77095

11.48%

*ALL CATEGORIES LISTED ARE RACES, EXCEPT FOR HISPANIC OR LATINO, WHICH IS NOT A RACE. HOWEVER, THE PERCENTAGES OF THE RACES LISTED DO NOT INCLUDE HISPANIC OR LATINO RESIDENTS.

Median age

Population change

2018

2023

+36.41%

120K

ZIP code

2018 34.8 34.6 34.2 34.3 37.2 35.1 32.3

2023 34.3 34.2 38.7 33.8 39.9 36.9 33.6

+8.59%

77040 77064 77065 77070 77095 77429 77433

100K

-2.73%

+8.27%

80K

-1.73%

+4.46%

60K

+0.33%

40K

20K

77040

77064

77065

77070

77095

77429

77433

Education level** High school diploma or higher achieved

Median household income

2018 2023

Bachelor’s degree or higher achieved 2018 2023

+25.91%

$150K

+10.14%

$125K

+21.32%

+1.44%

89.27%

37.83%

$100K

+33.94%

+8.14%

+18.04%

$75K

$50K

88.87%

44.2%

$25K

77040

77064

77065

77070

77095

77429

77433

SOURCES: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU 2018 AND 2023 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY 5YEAR ESTIMATESCOMMUNITY IMPACT

**BASED ON TOTAL POPULATION AGE 25 AND OLDER

CYPRESS EDITION

Education

BY EMILY LINCKE CONTRIBUTIONS BY HANNAH BROL

Matthew Dempsey to lead Lone Star College- University Park In December, Lone Star College o cials named Matthew Dempsey as the new president of LSCUniversity Park. Dempsey graduated from Saddleback College in California—a community college—before going on to earn a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. He has 25 years of experience in higher educa- tion, including work as a part-time biology instruc- tor, administrative and instructional positions at Dallas College, vice president of instruction at LSCCyFair, and interim president of LSCUP following the departure of Virginia Fraire in June. In an interview with Community Impact , Dempsey discussed his community college experience and goals for the University Park campus. What made you interested in serving as president of LSC UP? I’m a community college graduate, so I’ve seen the value of being a community college student. ... So I know it’s a great place to learn. It’s a great place to teach, and my employment history has always been with community colleges. So I learned a lot. ... I think I was just ready for that next level, that next challenge—to become a president. ... I have to tell you, from day one, this campus, this community, everything from the support sta to the faculty, it [has] felt like a very natural and good t. What are your short- and long-term priorities for LSC UP? There’s amazing work being done here at

University Park. So there’s a phrase that I’ve heard a lot since I got here—is that “Lone Star College- University Park is not a problem in need of a solu- tion.” So I think it really establishes the fact that I need to be a steward of the good work that’s already being done here. ... That makes my short-term goals really easy. I do want to make sure that I connect with our community so all of the readers out there know that we’re here for them. ... I really want to align University Park’s campus with some of the eorts that are being done at the state level to prioritize employment. So ... if our true mission at the community college level is to enhance lives, and we know that one of the ways that we can do that [is] through gainful employment, then I think it’s my responsibility as the president to make sure that I connect those two entities—local business and industry—with the output. ... Your next employee is walking across my stage in May. LSC UP recently debuted new articial intelligence and paralegal programs. Do you have any plans to bring additional pathways to LSC UP? University Park is known as the campus of innovation, and so I would expect to see some more innovative degree plans. Right now, we know that the state of Texas is prioritizing credentials of value, so I think we have to do a deeper analysis of what those credentials of value are. The other thing is to align those with what our community needs. So there are no immediate plans for expansion, but I think being the campus of innovation, I’d be hard pressed to say that we wouldn’t. LSC UP also recently opened a care center for students in need. Why are resources like this important? One of the things that we know about learning is that the holistic care of students is so important.

COURTESY LONE STAR COLLEGE

Students that are facing ... challenges other than academic ones, they need holistic care. ... So that when you’re focusing on math, you’re focusing on math—you’re not focusing about where that next meal is coming from, or whether or not you’re going to have formula for your child. So there’s a really important eort. As far as expansion of that idea, I think, right now, we’re learning how to process the requests that are coming in. I know that we’re also working with our system to make sure that we have elec- tronic devices [for students].

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. For a longer version, visit communityimpact.com .

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY RYAN REYNOLDS

Cy-Fair ISD passes student pronoun policy In a 5-1 vote on Jan. 16, the Cy-Fair ISD school board approved a new “parent rights and respon- sibilities” policy that will require sta to notify parents if their child requests to use a name or pronouns that diers from their biological sex. Natalie Blasingame, vice president of the CFISD school board, proposed the policy, which would require parents to submit a written request for an accommodation allowing their child to use preferred pronouns at school. The policy also includes a provision that allows sta to request an accommodation if using a student’s preferred pronouns conicts with their own “sincerely held belief,” according to district

Health class no longer required to graduate The Cy-Fair ISD board of trustees voted 4-2 at the Jan. 16 meeting to remove the Health I course as a graduation requirement. Trustees Julie Hinaman and Natalie Blasin- game opposed the motion, and President Scott Henry was absent. Following a recommendation from the School Health Advisory Council, the course will be oered as an elective instead. According to the district’s course descrip- tion, this class covers “knowledge and behaviors [students] use to safeguard their health,” including abstinence-based sex education. What happens next? Making health class an elective means content required by state law will be inte- grated into other subjects.

“[Teachers] had general concerns that they didn’t agree with the use of maybe a biological boy using pronouns for a female, and a couple people actually told me it was religious, and there was also a few people that told me they just didn’t believe in it.” TODD LECOMPTE, CYFAIR ISD TRUSTEE

“By mandating that parents be notied that their student wants to use a dierent name and pronouns, you

are outing that child to their parents, and there is a very real risk of imminent rejection and harm for that child within their family.”

documents. Public input

MANDY GILES, FOUNDER OF PARENTS OF TRANS YOUTH

More than 30 speakers addressed the board in January with just two supporting the policy.

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CYPRESS EDITION

News

BY DANICA LLOYD & JESSICA SHORTEN

Houstonians struggle with nancial stability Just one in three Houston-area residents can cover three months of living expenses using savings—an indicator of nancial stabil- ity, according to a study released Jan. 13 from Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research in partnership with the United Way of Greater Houston. About 64% of residents surveyed said they have a budget. Of those who don’t budget, 39% said they felt they didn’t earn enough to justify needing a budget and 14% said they felt they had enough money. Major takeaways Dan Potter, director of the Kinder Insti- tute’s Houston Population Research Center, called on policymakers and organizations to provide nancial education and address systemic barriers to nancial stability.

Company puts in bid to take over Howard Hughes Hedge fund management company Pershing Square announced a proposal to merge with Howard Hughes—developer of Bridgeland and The Woodlands—in a Jan. 13 letter, which would see Pershing become a “larger, permanent” owner. Two-minute impact According to the letter sent by Pershing Square CEO Bill Ackman to the Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. board of directors, the merger was proposed following an internal stakeholder discussion regarding making Howard Hughes a privately held organization due to investor concerns that the company’s stock value was not increasing at the rate desired by shareholders. In a statement Jan. 13, Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. conrmed the board’s receipt of the proposal, restating an Aug. 4 remark that the board formed a special committee to explore Pershing Square’s

“[Howard Hughes] would become a modern-day Berkshire Hathaway that would acquire controlling interests in operating companies.” BILL ACKMAN, CEO, PERSHING SQUARE

interest in a possible transaction. “The special committee will evaluate the proposal and determine the appropriate course of action and process,” the new statement reads. In the statement, Howard Hughes ocials declined to comment further on the matter. Why it matters Howard Hughes oversees the development of Cy-Fair’s largest master-planned community, Bridgeland. In addition to selling hundreds of homes each year, a 925-acre urban district known as Bridgeland Central is underway and expected to be built out over the next several decades, Community Impact previously reported.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Transportation

BY VANESSA HOLT & DANICA LLOYD

Regional Grand Parkway safety task force forms The eort to “end the streak” of daily deaths on Texas roads has received a new boost from the Harris County Sheri’s Oce. The agency has partnered with several other neighboring law enforcement entities to form a new multi- agency partnership to address safety on the Grand Parkway, Harris County Sheri Ed Gonzalez said at a Dec. 18 press conference. Gonzalez said a partnership of area agencies will include the Texas Department of Transportation, Texas Department of Public Safety, Harris County Sheri’s Oce, Montgomery County Sheri’s Oce and other regional entities. The task force began working in November to increase enforce- ment and awareness of safe driving practices on the corridor, where 2,280 crashes occurred in Harris County alone in 2024, resulting in nine deaths, Gonzalez said.

N. BRIDGELAND LAKE PKWY.

Strategies to improve safety

PARKSIDE HAVEN DR.

Increasing patrols targeting speeding and impaired driving

MASON RD.

HOUSE & HAHL RD.

Using technology for speed detection

Bridgeland projects near completion The extension of North Bridgeland Lake Parkway from Parkside Haven Drive to the Grand Parkway is expected to open to trac in March, Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. ocials said. Meanwhile, work on Mason Road contin- ues to connect from House & Hahl Road to North Bridgeland Lake Parkway. Construc- tion and trac signal installation is also expected to wrap up in March.

Addressing aggressive driving behavior

Educating drivers to obey speed limits and drive sober

SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICECOMMUNITY IMPACT

Some context The initiative started in November in response to “concerning” statistics on car crashes on the Grand Parkway, Gonzalez said. “This corridor has become known as ... a speedway, and it’s a culture that has been allowed to occur with very little law enforcement present and that’s something we want to change,” Gonza- lez said.

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CYPRESS EDITION

Shifting to surface water From the cover

What’s happening

North Harris County Regional Water Authority projects

Existing lines

NHCRWA

Planned projects 1 Louetta Pump Station

The North Harris County Regional Water Authority and the West Harris County Regional Water Authority are working on several projects to convert groundwater use to surface water use. Ocials said about 32%-34% of the NHCRWA’s total water usage comes from surface water, compared to 35.64% for the WHCRWA. NHCRWA General Manager Jun Chang said most of the authority’s projects for the 2025 surface water deadline focus on expanding water lines. Loops of water lines connect municipal utility districts to pump stations, and each loop expansion helps create a more interconnected internal distribution system. Most projects are paid for through bonds, funds from state entities and co-funding agreements. Board member Mark Ramsey said the NHCRWA is $2.7 billion in debt, and it’s expected to climb to $7 billion in the next 10 years. He said he hopes the Texas Legislature can provide “regulatory relief” to avoid unsustainable water rates. “We’re now headed toward $15 billion in cost with interest. … We don’t have even $100 million of actual damage [from subsidence] identied,” Ramsey said. “Why are we doing this government- mandated project to x something that may or may not actually be a problem?”

249

Improvements to deliver adequate water supply and pressure to new water-receiving facilities • Timeline: Construction begins in 2026; service begins by 2027 • Cost: $48.23 million 2 Project 37 Adding 22 water-receiving facilities via over 40 miles of pipes and modications at each water- receiving facility • Timeline: Construction begins in 2025; service begins by 2027 • Cost: $350.99 million Completed projects 3 Alan Rendl Pump Station New pump station delivers water to the west and northwest parts of the service area • Timeline: Construction began in 2020; service began in 2024 • Cost: $120.32 million 4 Project 28 Added 7 miles of distribution lines

290

1960

99 TOLL

WHCRWA

from the Alan Rendl Pump Station to nine water-receiving facilities • Timeline: Construction began in 2020; service began in 2022 • Cost: $103.77 million In progress projects 5 Project 31 Connecting an additional 16 water-receiving facilities to the authority’s distribution system via 18 miles of pipes and modications at each water-

receiving facility • Timeline: Construction began in 2024; service begins in 2025 • Cost: $159.01 million 6 Project 35 Extending service to 10 additional water-receiving facilities via 8 miles of pipes and modications at each water-receiving facility • Timeline: Construction began in 2024; service begins by 2025 • Cost: $84.04 million

SOURCES: NORTH HARRIS COUNTY REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY, WEST HARRIS COUNTY REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY¡COMMUNITY IMPACT

The background

What it means

the election of three new board members who unseated longtime incumbents in 2022. While the cuts provide short-term relief for water users, Chang said a nancial adviser esti- mated they could only last another six months before an increase is likely. The NHCRWA could see rates exceed $8 per 1,000 gallons by 2032.

Water rates customers pay correlate to how much debt is incurred from bonds issued for building water infrastructure, Chang said. The WHCRWA’s water rates have steadily increased since 2015, but the NHCRWA’s rates are now at their lowest in a decade after the board cut rates over the past two years following

Turco described subsidence as the gradual sink- ing of land caused by the extraction of uids from an aquifer system. As groundwater is pumped out, the water levels within the aquifer decline, causing the clay layers in the aquifer to depressurize and compact.

Understanding subsidence

An aquifer is an underground rock structure containing water. Original land surface elevation 1 2

Water rate trends in northwest Harris County If these local water authorities don’t meet their surface water conversion targets by the end of the year, the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District will implement a disincentive fee to encourage compliance with groundwater reduction requirements. Residents would pay this fee instead of the water pumpage fee.

NHCRWA groundwater

NHCRWA surface water

WHCRWA groundwater

WHCRWA surface water

HGSD disincentive fee

$2 $4

Silt & clay: Prior to excessive groundwater use, clay and silt layers are loosely packed.

Gravel & sand: After long-term groundwater withdrawals, clay and silt layers compact.

2015

2016

2017

2018 2019

2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

2025

$8.46

$8.75

$9.24

$9.58

$9.80

$10.78

$11.86 $12.12

SOURCE: HARRISGALVESTON SUBSIDENCE DISTRICTCOMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCES: NORTH HARRIS COUNTY REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY, WEST HARRIS COUNTY REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY RYAN REYNOLDS

The impact

Stay tuned

Subsidence in Cy-Fair

0 Total vertical displacement 0 Per year subsidence rate 0 Population growth from 2018-23

Population growth and water demand can impact subsidence, which can lead to more ooding, permanent land loss and infrastructure damage, Turco said. Ault Elementary School in the Faireld neigh- borhood has one of the highest subsidence rates locally. Since measuring began there in 2015, it has experienced 8.7 total centimeters of displacement. In Faireld Village South, the subsidence rate was only 0.59 centimeters per year, but the area saw 15 total centimeters of displacement since 2011. The 77433 ZIP code in the western portion of Cypress contains locations with the highest and lowest annual subsidence rates over the past four years. This area has also seen the largest population increase among subsidence hot spots in Cy-Fair since 2018 with 29,954 new residents in that time, according to ve-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

State Rep. Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress, led House Bill 1643 on Dec. 17 to reduce the HGSD’s authority over the NHCRWA. The bill aims to: • Remove the NHCRWA from the HGSD’s jurisdiction • Exempt the entity from groundwater reduction requirements • Let the NHCRWA set their own timelines for transitioning to surface water use Ramsey said he asked Oliverson to le the bill, and he believes its passage would allow the NHCRWA to address hot spots, improve project timing and reduce interest payments driving up water rates. “If we don’t get regulatory relief and we don’t get funding from other sources, that will drive [water rates] to $15, maybe $20 per 1,000 gallons, which is obviously an unsustainable number,” Ramsey said.

Ault Elementary School 0 8.7 cm since 2015 Kirk Elementary School 0 9.4 cm since 2015

0 1.1 cm

0 36.42%

0 1.09 cm

0 4.89%

Cypress Falls High School 0 12.5 cm since 2015

0 1.08 cm

0 2.74%

Jarvis Road and Barker Cypress Road 0 34.4 cm since 2000 0 0.74 cm FM 529 and Barker Cypress Road 0 20.1 cm since 2007 0 0.62 cm Faireld Village South neighborhood 0 15 cm since 2011 0 0.59 cm

0 8.6%

0 36.42%

Jersey Village High School 0 7.9 cm since 2015

0 0.74 cm

0 4.46%

SOURCE: HARRISGALVESTON SUBSIDENCE DISTRICTCOMMUNITY IMPACT

March 6, 2025

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

EXCURSIONS: A Port Aransas Quest CRITTER: Black-Tailed Prairie Dog OUT THERE: Meanwhile, in Texas MADE IN TEXAS: A Western Wear Pair FEATURE PREVIEW: Panhandle Fires, One Year Later

Above: Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center, in Port Aransas.

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TEXAS MONTHLY FEBRUARY 2025

Dear Fellow Texan, WELCOME

I couldn’t be prouder and more excited to bring you this special edition of Texas Monthly ’s February issue within the pages of Community Impact . One great Texas institution meets another. Community Impact and Texas Monthly have shared goals: to equip you with the news and perspectives that help you understand your state and your neighborhood and inspire you to engage with the people and places that surround you. Each month, we’ll provide you a kind of sampler of what Texas Monthly has to oer. Food, drink, travel, critters, and a taste of some of the award-winning storytelling Texas Monthly is known for. Enjoy the next few pages, thank you for welcoming us into your home, and please consider subscribing to Texas Monthly. ROSS McCAMMON

EXCURSIONS Among the Craniacs North America’s tallest bird stalks Port Aransas once again. Its fans are back too. BY ROSE CAHALAN

I'M LEANING ON the rail of the Scat Cat, a red-and-white charter fishing boat in Aran- sas Bay, when two bottlenose dolphins leap majestically out of the water alongside our wake. The midday February sun gleams on their fins as the pair chases us. “Look!” I shout. A few of my sixty or so fellow passengers turn to watch, but this is only a warm-up for the real stars of the show: the whooping cranes. Today’s tour is part of the Whooping Crane Festival, an annual four-day winter celebra- tion of one of the continent’s rarest avian

species—and its tallest. About two thousand birders have descended on Port Aransas, a Gulf Coast town of around 2,900 residents on Mustang Island, for the twenty-seventh iteration, which is packed with more than fifty events, including birding tours and lectures by scientists. (This year’s festival happens February 20–23.) Before the arrival of European settlers, more than ten thousand of these birds soared across the continent, but habitat destruction and overhunting drove them to the brink. By

EDITOR IN CHIEF, TEXAS MONTHLY

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Its Reputation As a Ranch Pest Is Changing. The most common of the five species of prairie dogs in North America, these charismatic creatures today inhabit only about 2 percent of their native range, which once covered roughly 100 million acres of the Great Plains. Agriculture and urban development have consumed much of that habitat, and some ranch- ers, worried that these prairie dogs were competing with cattle for grass, exter- minated them. It turns out, though, that they are beneficial for grasslands. SO HOW DO THEY HELP? Prairie dogs nibble down the woody shrubs that could hide their predators and that often take over grasslands. This preserves habitat for birds and animals such as pronghorn. Plus, the rodents’ digging mixes and aerates the soil, and their scat provides nutrients. HOW DO WE KNOW FOR SURE? Scientists collected data from a group of GPS collar–wearing cattle that grazed on three pastures within a pre- serve. In warm seasons, the herd spent more time on the prairie dog colony than in areas outside it. I HEARD THEY CARRY PLAGUE. IS THAT TRUE? Prairie dogs are susceptible to the syl- vatic plague, caused by the same bac- terium as the bubonic plague. But it’s primarily fleas, not rodents, that spread it. At a respectful distance, you can en- joy them without fear. —Robyn Ross CRITTER BLACKTAILED PRAIRIE DOG

early eorts to revive whooping cranes with captive breeding. During several breeding seasons in the late seventies and early eight- ies, he even lived in a shed with a female crane named Tex, who had imprinted on humans after hatching at the San Antonio Zoo. “Cranes require a great deal of space,” Ar- chibald said. “Each species selects a dierent type of wetland or grassland.” Unfortunately, those are some of the most easily destroyed habitats: With no trees to cut down, develop- ers can simply pave them over. Captive breed- ing has played a crucial role in the comeback of the species. In the past decade, the Dallas Zoo has picked up the baton, as one of seven organizations in the U.S. and Canada to carry on Archibald’s legacy of breeding baby whoop- ing cranes to release in the wild.

1941 only 21 whooping cranes were left in the wild. Today, after decades of extensive conservation work, there are about 700 wild whoopers left. Wherever there are cranes, there are crani- acs. The birders who visit Port Aransas—“We estimate the economic impact to be near $1 million,” says Brett Stawar, president and CEO of the town’s tourism bureau—bring with them an intense enthusiasm. The undisputed king of the craniacs is George Archibald, the 78-year-old cofounder of the International Crane Foundation. Archibald was a leader in

A birder at Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center, in Port Aransas, on December 14, 2024; birders in Port Aransas; a sign at the preserve.

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TEXAS MONTHLY FEBRUARY 2025

MADE IN TEXAS

All Loud on the Western Wear Front With its bold colors and modern designs, the Kennimer label is drawing the attention of pop stars and New York Fashion Week.

Meanwhile, In Texas OUT THERE

BY TAYLOR PREWITT

A video of a horse riding in the back seat of a pickup truck in Fort Worth went viral on social media, with one viewer commenting “living in fort worth this normal to me at this point.” A woman in Dallas booked a rental car for one day, then drove to Wash- ington State and continued to use the vehicle for 46 days , telling Spokane authorities that she didn’t return the car because she was too busy. Claiming to be a member of the U.S. Army’s Delta Force special opera- tions unit, a man from Manor de- frauded victims of more than $12 million by falsely telling them that they were at risk of violence from drug cartels and oering “protec- tion” in exchange for money. A Richardson resident was named CNN’s 2024 Hero of the Year for running a nonprofit in North Texas that helps people going into treat- ment for addiction find temporary homes for their dogs. Billionaire Tilman Fertitta became the first restaurateur in Texas to o er A5 Wagyu bone-in ribeyes from the Kagoshima region of Japan, which he sells at one of his Houston steakhouses for $1,000 each. Researchers at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi detect- ed low levels of fentanyl and other pharmaceuticals in the blubber of dolphins swimming in the Gulf of Mexico. —Meher Yeda

while Ben, who hails from the small East Tex- as town of Latch and previously worked in graphic design, handles the hats. They jump in to help each other with tedious tasks such as adding rhinestones or handsewing when needed. “We’ve always just worked well to- gether,” Ben says, recalling early collabora- tive projects that included a hot dog–cart side hustle and a screen-printing business. They work as a team to conceive a collection’s overarching look and theme. The couple are motivated by their network of musician friends, many of whom have be- come clients. “We’re excited to show people it’s not a trend,” says Bonnie of Western style. “It’s a staple.” They’re looking forward to de- buting a few couture looks in New York. Some of the pieces, which incorporate subtle nods to the Victorian era (such as high collars and covered buttons), are so intricate that they required around seventy hours of detailed handsewing.

IN LESS THAN a decade, Ben and Bonnie Kennimer have gone from teaching them- selves hat making and clothing design to cus- tomizing looks for some of music’s biggest stars. Their eponymous Western wear label, which they founded in Houston in 2017, is fa- vored by Fort Worth songwriter and soul sing- er Leon Bridges, the Houston trio Khruang- bin, DJ and producer Diplo, and pop star Joe Jonas. One of Bonnie’s dresses, for renowned songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jenee Fleenor, is housed at Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame. And this February the couple will take their creations to a New York Fashion Week runway for the first time. Now based in Bonnie’s hometown of Aus- tin, the married couple splits the work down the middle: Bonnie, who has a background in costuming and tailoring, designs the clothes,

Ben and Bonnie Kennimer.

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An estimated 15,000 head of cattle were killed in the Panhandle fires of February 2024.

flag warnings, an alert the National Weath- er Service issues a few dozen times a year in the Panhandle when a combination of strong winds and low humidity increases the risk of extreme wildfire. Though rain had been plentiful that winter and grass was thriving, unseasonably warm February temperatures had dried it out quickly. What should have beenarancher’sblessing—bountifulfieldsfor grazing—had instead turned into something ominous: “fuel load.” Adam, a 31-year-old with a slight build, shag- gy brown hair, and bright blue eyes, has the plumb posture of a man who takes pride in his work.He’dstartedpreppingforfireseasonthe week before, securing insurance for most of the 712 cattle he owned with his wife, Aubrie, a 30-year-old with sympathetic brown eyes and strawberry blond hair. They’d decided against paying the higher premiums to cover the full herd, largely because they’d made it through the previous five seasons unburned. Adam was no stranger to fire risks. The youngest of two boys, he’d known he want- ed to be in the cattle business since he was a five-year-old playing with a toy Ford pickup that was identical to the one his dad drove around their family’s ranch in Canadian, an almost utopian hamlet of 2,300 in the rolling sand hills and caprocks northeast of Amarillo. Adam earned a degree in ranch management at Texas Tech University. That’s where he met Aubrie, the daughter of an accountant and a rodeo competitor turned professor who’d given up horses when his children were born. To read the full story, please subscribe to Texas Monthly .

WHEN THE TOWERING black plume first sprouted on the western horizon, it wasn’t much cause for alarm. The sky in the north- eastern Panhandle is near-boundless, and from his Hemphill County ranch Adam Isaacs often spottedsmokefromfiresthatwereahundred miles away. Few of them ever threatened his property. This one, he knew, had gotten started roughly seventy miles west, and though the winds were blowing his way, the flames had a lot of ground to cover before Adam would allow himself to get concerned. His land, his livestock, his loved ones—none were at risk. Not right away. But the potential was there. That Monday morning, February 26, had brought one of the 2024 fire season’s first red

FEATURE PREVIEW

Where There’s Smoke After last year’s historic Panhandle inferno, Adam and Aubrie Isaacs are among the many ranchers in the region weighing how—and whether—to carry on. BY EMILY McCULLAR

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