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C-18 Project Hunting

C-18 Project Hunting
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Recent Actions

January 10, 2023 – Harris County Commissioners Court approved a change in the construction contract for channel conveyance improvements from Liberty Road to Wayside Drive, Discrete Segment 106, with no change in the contract amount.

November 29, 2022 – Harris County Commissioners Court approved a $70,485 amendment to the agreement for additional design, bidding and construction stage engineering services for channel conveyance improvements on Hunting Bayou, from upstream of Liberty Road to south of Wayside Drive.

November 29, 2022 – Harris County Commissioners Court approved a change in the construction contract for Hunting Bayou channel conveyance improvements from US 59 to Homestead, adding 20 calendar days with no change in the construction amount.

September 13, 2022 – Harris County Commissioners Court approved a change to the construction contract, adding 99 calendar days with no change in the contract amount.

June 28, 2022– Harris County Commissioners Court approved $169,529 in additional construction stage engineering services in support of Hunting Bayou stormwater conveyance improvements from Liberty Road to Wayside Drive, Discrete Segment 106.

June 14, 2022– Harris County Commissioners Court authorized a change in the construction contract for channel conveyance improvements from US-59 to Homestead, adding 64 calendar days with no change to the contract amount.

May 10, 2022– Harris County Commissioners Court approved a change in contract with a construction contractor resulting in an addition of 31 calendar days and $18,886 to the contract amount in support of the Discrete Segment 106 project.

April 5, 2022 – Harris County Commissioners Court authorized the purchase of one tract of land in support of this project.

February 8, 2022 – Harris County Commissioners Court authorized a change in the construction stage services contract for Discrete Segment 105, Channel Conveyance Improvements from US-59 to Homestead, adding 85 calendar days and resulting in no change to the contract amount.

January 25, 2022 – Harris County Commissioners Court approved a change in the construction contract for the Hunting Bayou Channel Improvements from Liberty Drive project in the amount of $497,200 in support of this project.

October 12, 2021 – Harris County Commissioners Court approved a change order adding 52 calendar days with no increase in contract amount for construction of the Hunting Bayou channel conveyance improvements from U.S. 59 to the Homestead Stormwater Detention Basin.

September 28, 2021 – Harris County Commissioners Court authorized the acquisition of two tracts of land for the purpose of channel improvements.

September 28, 2021 – Harris County Commissioners Court authorized CenterPoint Energy to convey a 0.0129-acre drainage easement to the Flood Control District in connection with the Hunting Bayou Channel ROW Phase II project.

July 20, 2021 – Harris County Commissioners Court authorized a change in construction contract with no change to contract amount.

June 8, 2021  – Harris County Commissioners Court authorized an additional $367,753 for construction stage engineering services in support of this project.

May 11, 2021 – Harris County Commissioners Court authorized $724,407 for construction stage engineering services in support of the downstream channel segment of the Hunting Bayou Federal Flood Risk Management Project.

March 30, 2021 – Harris County Commissioners Court authorized advertisement for bidding or a Request for Proposal regarding construction of the channel modification project from upstream of Liberty Road to downstream of North Wayside Drive.

March 9, 2021 – Harris County Commissioners Court has approved the acquisiton of one tract of land in support of this project.

March 9, 2021- Harris County Commissioners Court authorized $255,187 for engineering services in support of the Hunting Bayou Federal Flood Risk Management Project Discrete Segment 106.

February 9, 2021 - Harris County Commissioners authorized the negotiation of an agreement for geotechnical and testing engineering services in support of channel modifications from Liberty Drive to 2,300 feet downstream of the Union Pacific Railroad.

February 9, 2021 - Harris County Commissioners authorized the negotiation of an agreement for construction phase engineering services 6 for channel modifications from Liberty Drive to 2,300 feet downstream of the Union Pacific Railroad.

January 26, 2021 - Harris County Commissioners Court authorized the acquisition of two new tracts and one revised tract of land in connection with this project.

December 15, 2020 - Harris County Commissioners Court authorized a change in contract for construction of this project resulting in no change to the contract amount.

December 1, 2020 - Harris County Commissioners approved $9,458,000 for construction stage engineering services in support of this project.

October 27, 2020 - Harris County Commissioners Court authorized the purchase of one tract of land in support of this project.

October 13, 2020 – Harris County Commissioners Court acknowledged the substantial completion of Hunting Bayou federal flood risk management project, Discrete Segment 104, Hunting Bayou replacement of pedestrian bridges at Pickfair Street and Hoffman Street.

September 15, 2020 – Harris County Commissioners Court awarded a $16,338,008 contract for construction of channel improvements for Hunting Bayou from U.S. 59 to the Homestead Stormwater Detention Basin outfall.

September 15, 2020 – Harris County Commissioners Court authorized a $5,576 reduction in the construction contract for the Hunting Bayou channel improvements project from the Homestead Stormwater Detention Basin outfall to Liberty Road and the Dabney Street pedestrian bridge replacement.

July 28, 2020 – Harris County Commissioners Court approved an engineering consultant for changes to the replacement of pedestrian bridges at Pickfair Street and Hoffman Street in the Hunting Bayou Watershed in Precinct 1.

June 30, 2020 - Harris County Commissioners Court acknowledged substantial completion of Bond ID C-18, the Hunting Bayou federal flood risk management project, Discrete Segment 104, channel improvements from Homestead detention basin outfall to Liberty Road and Dabney Street pedestrian bridge.

June 30, 2020 - Harris County Commissioners Court approved a $249,998 agreement for materials engineering and testing services in support of this project.

July 14, 2020 - Harris County Commissioners Court approved the advertisement for construction bids for this project.

June 30, 2020 - Harris County Commissioners Court authorized the Flood Control District to accept and proceed with design and construction of the channel conveyance improvements and associated Homestead stormwater detention basin.

June 30, 2020 - Harris County Commissioners Court approved a $249,998 agreement for materials engineering and testing services in support of this project.

June 6, 2020 – Harris County Commissioners Court approved an additional $11,815 for construction of this project.

May 19, 2020 – Harris County Commissioners Court approved updates to project details in the 2018 Bond Program List. Update changes funding based on 2018 Bipartisan Budget Act signed February 2018, in which the remaining amount of the agreement is at full Federal expense.

April 28, 2020 - Harris County Commissioners Court approved an additional $88,600 in engineering service for hydrologic and hydraulic modeling for this program.

March 24, 2020 - Harris County Commissioners Court approved an additional $369,019 for engineering services for the design and construction of this project.

March 24, 2020 - Harris County Commissioners Court approved an additional $24,750 for engineering services for the construction of this project.

March 24, 2020 - Harris County Commissioners Court authorized negotiations for materials engineering and testing services in support of the Hunting Bayou federal project.

March 10, 2020 - Harris County Commissioners Court authorized an additional $50,815 for construction to replace pedestrian bridges at Pickfair Street and Hoffman Street.

January 28, 2020 - Harris County Commissioners Court acknowledged substantial completion of the Homestead Stormwater Detention Basin, HCFCD Unit U500-01-00.

December 17, 2019: Harris County Commissioners Court approved a $500,000 agreement with Union Pacific Railroad Company to facilitate design services for the replacement of three railroad bridges over Hunting Bayou.

June 25, 2019 – Harris County Commissioners Court authorized an additional $101,270 for surveying services in support of the Hunting Bayou federal project.

June 4, 2019 – Harris County Commissioners Court authorized a $279,191 addition in funding for design, bidding and construction phase engineering services in connection with additional channel improvements from U.S. 59 to the Homestead Stormwater Detention Basin outfall into Hunting Bayou as part of the Hunting Bayou Federal Flood Risk Management Project. 

June 4, 2019 – Harris County Commissioners Court authorized a $80,990 addition in funding for design, bidding and construction phase engineering services in connection with additional channelimprovements from upstream of Liberty Road to south of Wayside Drive as part of the Hunting Bayou Federal Flood Risk Management Project. 

June 4, 2019 – Harris County Commissioners Court authorized negotiations with Union Pacific Railroad Company to facilitate design services in connection with the replacement of three railroad bridges over Hunting Bayou as part of the Hunting Bayou Federal Flood Risk Management Project. 

May 5, 2019  Harris County Commissioners Court awarded a $849,696 contract to replace pedestrian bridges at Pickfair Street and Hoffman Street. Construction began in August 2017 on the final phase of the Homestead basin, and the third phase of improvements to Hunting Bayou, from Homestead basin to Liberty Road. The two projects currently under construction, which work together to reduce flooding risks in the watershed, are expected to be complete in 2019. 

March 12, 2019 – Harris County Commissioners Court authorized negotiations with an engineering firm for materials engineering and testing services in connection with a project to replace pedestrian bridges at Pickfair Street and Hoffman Street. 

December 18, 2018 – Harris County Commissioners Court authorized the County Judge to execute an amendment to the Flood Control District Project Partnership Agreement with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers that will allow the Corps to fully reimburse the Flood Control District for any work on the Hunting Bayou federal project after February 9, 2018. Previous partial reimbursements for $19 million in work completed before that date are ongoing and are still subject to annual federal appropriations. 

July 31, 2018 – Harris County Commissioners Court authorized a $690,000 agreement with an engineering firm for design, bidding and construction phase engineering services in connection with additional channel improvements as part of the Hunting Bayou Federal Flood Risk Management Project, from U.S. 59 to the Homestead Stormwater Detention Basin outfall into Hunting Bayou. This project is now in the DESIGN stage.

Project Description

Project Hunting (the Hunting Bayou Federal Flood Risk Management Project), is a $100 million flood damage reduction project under construction along Hunting Bayou from U.S. 59 to downstream of North Wayside Drive. Project elements include:

  • Excavating a stormwater detention basin on a 75-acre site near the northeast corner of Homestead Road and Loop 610
  • Widening and deepening about 4 miles of Hunting Bayou
  • 9 bridge replacements / 8 modifications and channel conveyance improvements under bridges

When this project is complete, most neighborhoods near the bayou will see water surface elevation reductions of 3-4 feet for the 1 percent (100-year) flooding event. The number of homes and businesses subject to the 1 percent (100-year) flooding event would drop from 5,100 to 650, and all homes and businesses will benefit from the reduced frequency and depth of flooding.

On December 16, 2014, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Harris County Flood Control District entered into a Project Partnership Agreement for the Hunting Bayou Federal Flood Risk Management Project. The agreement allows the Flood Control District to qualify for federal reimbursements for certain types of eligible work completed on Hunting Bayou. On December 18, 2018 – Harris County Commissioners Court authorized the County Judge to execute an amendment to the Flood Control District Project Partnership Agreement with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers that will allow the Corps to fully reimburse the Flood Control District for any work on the Hunting Bayou federal project after February 9, 2018. Previous partial reimbursements for $19 million in work completed before that date are ongoing and are still subject to annual federal appropriations.

Bridge Modifications

The Flood Control District has:
  • Contributed $10 million towards lengthening three Union Pacific Railroad bridges downstream of Liberty Road to accommodate a wider Hunting Bayou. These three railroad bridges are completed.
  • Replaced three pedestrian bridges at Pickfair Street, Hoffman Street and Dabney Street with longer pedestrian bridges to accommodate a wider Hunting Bayou.
  • Contributed $868,000 toward lengthening a Union Pacific Railroad bridge downstream of Liberty Road to accommodate a wider Hunting Bayou.
  • Entered into an agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and contributed $1 million toward lengthening bridges on Loop 610 over Hunting Bayou.

Basin Status

In 2019, Harris County Flood Control District completed the final phase of excavation formally identified as H500-01-00 and commonly referred to as the Curtis M. Graves Detention Basin. Approximately 784,000 cubic yards of soil were removed during this phase. Construction was completed in 2015 on the $5.7 million second phase, in which approximately 648,000 cubic yards of soil were removed. The completed first phase removed 265,000 cubic yards of soil at a cost of approximately $1.2 million. With all phases complete, the Curtis M. Graves Detention Basin provides approximately 1,000 acre-feet of stormwater storage capacity, meaning it holds approximately 326 million gallons of stormwater, which might otherwise flood homes and businesses during heavy rain events.

Channel Widening Status

Project Hunting plans call for increasing the size of Hunting Bayou, with the ultimate, improved channel generally remaining in its earthen, grass-lined state. There are isolated circumstances where concrete lining will be used to ensure stability of existing structures and bridges.

Construction began in Summer of 2021, widening and deepening the 2400 ft segment of channel between Liberty Road to downstream of Wayside Drive. This segment is scheduled to be completed by Spring 2022.

Construction began in November 2020 on widening and deepening the 2.3 mile segment of the channel between US 59 and the Curtis M. Graves Detention Basin. This project also will include construction of trails in the area, which has been funded by Harris County Precinct 1. This segment is scheduled to be completed by Winter of 2022/2023.

In 2020, the Flood Control District completed widening and deepening the 4,700-foot segment of the channel between Homestead basin and Liberty Road. This project also included replacing the pedestrian bridge located between Dabney Street and Loop 610 near Harris County Precinct 1's Hutcheson Park.

In 2017, the Flood Control District completed a portion of the channel between the North Loop 610 East Freeway feeder road near North George Street to Lockwood Drive, and from Hoffman Street to Dabney Street. This project included excavating and removing approximately 109,325 cubic yards of soil to create gently sloped terraces, or benches, within the channel that vary in width from approximately 40 to 140 feet. In 2014, the Flood Control District completed a project to widen the section of Hunting Bayou between Lockwood Drive and Hoffman Street, along the north side of Minden Street. That work involved excavating and removing approximately 39,000 cubic yards of soil along a 1,000-foot section of Hunting Bayou to create a bench that varies in width from approximately 30 to 330 feet. During periods of heavy rain, these benches provide additional capacity for holding excess stormwater.

Benching was an interim phase of the ultimate Project Hunting construction plan, allowing for immediate additional stormwater storage capacity in the channel. As future excavation progresses, the area will offer varied opportunities for recreational uses, including hike-and-bike trails.

Virtual Community Engagement Meeting

A virtual Community Engagement Meeting for this project was held on:

Date: Monday, August 10, 2020
Time: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

You can submit a comment and see the meeting presentation and video by clicking the links below.