Flood Money

You'll recall that on June 12, Harris County Commissioners Court unanimously approved placing the $2.5 billion flood risk reduction bond issue on the August 25, 2018, ballot. If approved by voters, issuance of bonds would be spread over 10-15 years, and the expected HCFCD tax increase for most homeowners would be limited to 1.4% or less.

Harris County has flooding problems that have been ignored for far too long. Infrastructure improvements are no longer a want but a must have so voters may be more prone to approve a tax increase for themselves if it means better quality of life. However, the below information issued by the County lacks one thing: specificity. While they do a great job of covering their needs list, as is all too often the case with governmental entities looking for money, they want to figure out how to spend money AFTER they have it. Personally, I'd be a lot more comfortable with a detailed list of projects Harris County WILL do complete with related costs, not a wish list of "potential" projects. A well thought-out and detailed plan would go a long way towards securing voter support, especially after the the City of Houston's handling of drainage fees have been less than transparent. 

More about the bond election from information provided by Council Member Greg Travis:

Flood damage reduction projects can include modifications to our streams and bayous to increase the amount of storm water that they can carry, the implementation of detention basins to store excess storm water, nonstructural flood mitigation tools such as voluntary home buyouts, and any combination of these methods to address local and regional flooding issues.

There are several types of projects that may be supported by bond funding:

Voluntary Home Buyouts: The purchase of flood-prone structures from willing sellers in areas too deep in the floodplain to benefit from structural flood reduction projects, or in areas where flood risk reduction projects are not feasible.  This process includes the demolition of the structure and relocation of the seller to higher ground.

Storm Repair: Major maintenance projects to restore the designed function and capacity of a channel or stormwater detention basin.

Subdivision Drainage Improvement: Partnership projects with the Harris County Engineering Department and a Municipal Utility District to provide drainage improvements to subdivisions in unincorporated Harris County.

Local Projects: Flood risk reduction projects such as channel modifications or stormwater detention basin construction using only Harris County Flood Control District ("HCFCD") funds.

Partnership Projects: Flood risk reduction projects such as channel modifications or stormwater detention basin construction using a combination of HCFCD funding and funding from local, state, or federal partners such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Potential projects include: 

• Channel modifications to improve stormwater conveyance
• Regional stormwater detention basins
• Major repairs to flood-damaged drainage infrastructure
• Removing large amounts of sediment and silt from drainage channels
• Voluntary buyouts of flood-prone properties
• Wetland mitigation banks
• Property acquisition for preserving the natural floodplains
• Drainage improvements made in partnership with other cities, utility districts, or other local government agencies
• Upgrading the Harris County Flood Warning System

Some of these projects will be funded with partnership agreements with the federal government. Bond funds would be used to provide the "local match" funding that is required for participation in these federal partnerships

When considering project ideas suggested by the community, HCFCD will prioritize projects meeting its mission to provide flood damage reduction projects that work, with appropriate regard for community and natural values. HCFCD will use the following criteria:

A project receiving the highest consideration:

• Provides the greatest potential flood risk reduction benefits relative to the community's population
• Causes NO increase in existing flood risks upstream or downstream
• Offers potential for multiple benefits, in addition to flood risk reduction
• Features long-term viability and relatively low maintenance 
• Includes a clearly defined drainage issue and flood risk reduction benefit
• Uses readily available, proven engineering techniques and industry standards
• Poses NO undue burden on disadvantaged communities
• Minimizes adverse impacts on the environment

Factors that could negatively affect project consideration:

• High costs for mitigating unavoidable environmental impacts
• Dependence on pumps or other mechanical devices that could fail or involve a high annual maintenance cost
• Project targets an area already having a relatively high level of drainage service
• Located outside Harris County, with the exception of projects already approved (e.g., Clear Creek)

Those interested in providing public input to HCFCD should attend a meeting relating to their watershed and/or provide comments online. Officials with HCFCD are scheduling public meetings in each of the county's 23 watersheds to describe some of the projects the county is proposing and to solicit input from residents regarding which projects should be included.  All 23 community engagement meetings are (or will soon be) described [here].

You may also mail your comments to HCFCD at 9900 Northwest Freeway, Houston, Texas 77092, ATTN: Bond Program Communications.

FAQs: https://www.hcfcd.org/bond-program/frequently-asked-questions/ 

For more information, please contact HCFCD Bond Program Hotline at 713-684-4107. 

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