The Harris County Flood Control District prepared a final report on the Cedar Bayou Flood Risk Reduction Study. The report will recommend flood risk reduction projects throughout the Cedar Bayou watershed and provide associated cost estimates for the recommended projects based on the Cedar Bayou Flood Risk Reduction Study, aka the feasibility study. Some of those recommendations have already resulted in several projects included in the 2018 Bond Program.
The purpose of the feasibility study, which began in February 2017, is to identify flood risks, develop options to mitigate that risk, update the Harris County Flood Control District Hazard Mitigation Plan, and explore enhancements to the existing flood warning system. The principal focus is on streams located in Harris County. The feasibility study investigated 18 of the tributaries on the Harris County side of the watershed in greater detail, as well as the main stem of Cedar Bayou, for a total of more than 90 stream miles. As part of the planning process, input from the surrounding jurisdictions was considered and will be included in the final recommendations for improvements to the Cedar Bayou watershed as appropriate.
The feasibility study will produce updated floodplain modeling information along Cedar Bayou on studied streams and develop detailed modeling for several previously unstudied streams within Harris County. In addition, the feasibility study will investigate structural and nonstructural flood damage reduction projects for Cedar Bayou and selected tributaries within Harris County, developing recommendations for flood risk reduction in the watershed that while accounting for environmental concerns such as stream processes and the natural environment.
Funding for the feasibility study is made possible by a $250,000 Flood Protection Planning Grant awarded to the Flood Control District by the Texas Water Development Board. The Flood Control District has already committed an additional $450,000 towards the effort.