NEWS BRIEFS
WATER
Proposed Spring Creek dam costs in Magnolia reduced to $179M
Tomball approves bid for Phase 1 of alley project
Harris County to challenge 2022 census
ALLEY UPGRADES
PROPOSED DAM SITES The San Jacinto River Authority shared challenges in May with considering two dams as part of the Spring Creek Flood Control Dam Feasibility Study.
Phase 1
Public bathrooms
Remainder of project
BY EMILY LINCKE
The impact: The alleged undercount could be shorting Harris County up to $150 million in federal funding annually, First Assistant County Attorney Jonathan Fombonne said. What they’re saying: “We know we have a lot of people moving here from California and New York and other places. ... And certainly that could impact congressional seats and other things that should be here in Texas, not in California,” Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey said.
BIRCH CREEK
The Office of the Harris County Attorney will be challenging the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 population esti- mates, citing a possible undercount of 40,000-45,000 residents after county commissioners approved the effort May 16. The breakdown: As of July 1, 2022, Harris County had a population of 4.78 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The county saw: • An almost 1% increase in popula- tion from 2021 • A 16.8% increase from 2010
BRUSHY CREEK
BY CASSANDRA JENKINS
along Spring Creek. Barrett said the feasibility study found a lower benefit-cost ratio than projected as well as planned develop- ment activity on each proposed dam site. As such, revised calculations reduce the dam size. “By reducing the size of the dams, we saved costs there,” he said. “We also reduced the estimated amount of land that would be inundated, which means less land that would need to be acquired.” Barrett said the more difficult problem to solve will include working with developers. A proposed residen- tial development is slated to build on 300 acres within the inundation area on Birch Creek. At Walnut Creek, a solar farm has already begun con- struction on 100 acres of panels in the inundation area. Barrett said the total estimated cost for both dams is $179 million, down
DRY CREEK
The San Jacinto River Authority ran into two challenges with costs and development activity while conducting its Spring Creek Flood Control Dam Feasibility Study over the past year. The river authority, which manages water resources in the San Jacinto basin, held a public meeting May 2. “The Master Drainage Plan only took a very high-level look at the various projects recommended,” SJRA Division Manager Matt Barrett said at the meeting. “So the goal of this study was to look deeper down into the project and really determine how feasible and cost-effective these dams are.” According to previous reporting, the proposed project includes consid- ering building two dams, one at Birch Creek and one at Walnut Creek in the Magnolia area, to reduce flooding
MILL CREEK
MAGNOLIA
BY LIZZY SPANGLER
THE WOODLANDS
The first phase of Tomball’s alley improvement project will begin soon after Tomball City Council approved a contract with Hassell Construction Group LLC for the project at its May 15 meeting. The bid was approved as part of the consent agenda without discussion. The big picture: The project aims to improve the alleyways to be more walkable and add an additional public restroom to downtown Tom- ball, Community Impact previously reported. The city will be taking care of the hardscape work, such as the utilities, concrete and asphalt work, while the Tomball Economic Develop- ment Corp. will be responsible for
1774
1488
SPRING CREEK
N
N
SPRING
SOURCE: CITY OF TOMBALL/COMMUNITY IMPACT
WALNUT CREEK
SPRING CREEK
KEY
the amenities and beautifying the alleyways, according to previous reporting. The details: Phase 1 of the project will cost no more than $1.58 million. • 100 blocks north and south: $1.01 million • Brick edging: $52,743.15 • 200 block north: $343,836.67 • Pocket park and restroom: $177,000 What’s next: A construction time- line was not outlined in the contract, according to the agenda packet.
Creeks
Spring Creek watershed
Birch Creek proposed dam location
Walnut Creek proposed dam location
SOURCE: SAN JACINTO RIVER AUTHORITY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
from the original proposal of $97 mil- lion for Birch Creek and $148 million for Walnut Creek. To do the study, the SJRA received a $500,000 grant from the Texas Water Development Board and an additional $500,000 match from a combination of the city of Humble, Harris County Flood Control District and five Woodlands municipal utility
districts, according to Barrett. “This is a great example of multiple entities across the region working together to mitigate flooding issues,” he said. Barrett said the SJRA will hold at least one more final public meeting to determine interest before coordinat- ing with developers and determining the feasibility of the project.
HARRIS COUNTY POPULATION QUERY
Harris County officials said they believe the 2022 census estimates were about 40,000 residents short.
0
4.5M
4.75M
5M
2020
4.731M residents 4.735M residents
2021 2022 SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU/COMMUNITY IMPACT
4.78M residents
TOMBALL PARKWAY 28595 Tomball Pkwy (281) 290-7810
THE WOODLANDS 10491 Kuykendahl (281) 681-9110
SPRING STUEBNER 6603 Spring Stuebner Rd (281) 288-0239
GOSLING ROAD SPRING 24527 Gosling Rd (281) 516-9404
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