PROJECT DESCRIPTION
In March 2021, the Harris County Flood Control District and the City of Houston worked together to acquire a 267.35-acre property located in Montgomery County near Kingwood Park High School. The Flood Control District will utilize the property for stormwater detention to help reduce flooding risks in the Kingwood area.
The Flood Control District and the City of Houston jointly purchased the property for approximately $14 million dollars. The Flood Control District contributed approximately $10.2 million dollars from the 2018 Bond Program (Bond ID Z-02) and will own and use 194.35 of the acreage. The City of Houston contributed approximately $3.8 million dollars for the use and ownership of 73 acres of the property. The City of Houston’s property will be used to improve its wastewater services by building a new regional wastewater treatment facility.
In November 2021, the Flood Control District will begin an Excavation and Removal (E&R) project on its portion of the Woodridge property near Woodland Hills and Northpark Drive. E&R agreements provide an opportunity for making progress in advance of future basin construction. These agreements essentially provide a head start in the excavation process before the detention basin is designed and constructed. In these agreements, an excavation company agrees to remove soil from a basin site during an agreed upon time period for minimal compensation. This is a cost-effective way for the material to be removed and it also provides significant savings by minimizing trucking and disposal fees. The property will be an active construction zone for the extent of the contract, which could be up to three years.
The work involves heavy machinery and will include excavation and removal of as much as 500,000 cubic yards of soil and other material. Physical barriers and safety signage alerting visitors to the closure of this property will be placed at access points and additional barriers and signage may be added as needed. Residents should follow all posted signage and remain clear of the construction zone.
The next step for the Woodridge property will be an engineering analysis to determine a plan that will maximize stormwater detention volume, quantify the benefit to the community, and estimate project cost and funding. Additional community engagement will be scheduled to gather input from area residents on the proposed project and to present project alternatives.