C-59 Inwood Forest Stormwater Detention Basin Project

Project Status Update - 3/22/2023

The construction contract for the Inwood Forest Stormwater Detention Basin Project was approved by Harris County Commissioners Court on March 14, 2023. A Bond Project Community Engagement meeting will be held before the start of construction, which is anticipated to begin in spring 2023.

Mayor Sylvester Turner and the City of Houston will be hosting a groundbreaking to commemorate the project moving into the construction stage. The event will be held on Friday, March 31, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at the White Oak Conference Center, located at 7603 Antoine Dr., Houston, TX 77088, and is open to the public.

Note: Bond ID C-60 has been consolidated with Bond ID C-59.

Recent Actions

October 25, 2022 – Harris County Commissioners Court received documentation for consideration regarding advertisement of excavation on behalf of the Flood Control District.

February 8, 2022 – Harris County Commissioners Court authorized the conveyance of one tract of land in support of this project.

October 12, 2021 – Harris County Commissioners Court authorized a $312,295 amendment for additional design, bidding and construction stage engineering services for this project.

July 14, 2021 – Harris County Flood Control District provided an update to the Inwood Forest Community Improvement District at its regularly scheduled homeowners’ meeting. Activity for the remainder of 2021 will involve City of Houston plan review and approval, as well as plan review and approval by FEMA and the Texas Division of Emergency Management. The bidding process is expected to begin by the end of 2021. Prior to construction start, the Flood Control District will meet with the public to communicate about the anticipated construction schedule, traffic plan, and other construction inconveniences.

May 25, 2021 – Harris County Commissioners Court approved an agreement between the City of Houston (by and through the Houston Parks and Recreation Department and Houston Public Works Department), Houston Parks Board LGC, Inc., and Harris County for the funding of recreational improvements at the former Inwood Golf Course.

February 11, 2021 – On February 11, 2021, FEMA issued a finding of no significant impact (FONSI). The environmental assessment (EA) for the project was prepared in accordance with Section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as implemented through guidelines from the President’s Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ; 40 CFR Parts 1500-1508). The purpose of the proposed project is to reduce the risk of flooding and to reduce flood damage within the Inwood Forest community of Houston, Texas.

A public notice was posted to both the Houston Chronicle and FEMA websites. The draft EA was made available for public comment for 30 days on FEMA’s website and upon request in hard or electronic copy from FEMA.

October 07, 2020 – The draft Environmental Assessment was submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for review. This environmental review is part of the federally mandated process consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended. FEMA will publish the draft Environmental Assessment on their website with noticing of a 30-day period for public comment.

August 10, 2020 – The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) approved the Harris County Flood Control’s application for the Section 404 Individual Permit for this project. This application is part of the federally mandated permitting process consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended. Public Notice No. SWG-2017-00335, HCFCD Project ID E521-04-00-E001 was published by the Galveston District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on their website with appropriate public commenting period.

May 19, 2020 – Harris County Commissioners Court approved updates to project details in the 2018 Bond Program List. Update corrects precinct information, project title, and funding information to reflect consolidation of Bond ID C-59 with Bond ID C-60. Additionally, a $108,115 agreement amendment was authorized with an engineering firm for design, bidding, and construction phase engineering services for construction of this project.

February 4, 2020 - As part of the federally mandated permitting process, the Harris County Flood Control District submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) an application for a Section 404 Individual Permit for the Inwood Forest Stormwater Detention Basins Project consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended. Public Notice No. SWG-2017-00335, HCFCD Project ID E521-04-00-E001 has been published by the Galveston District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on their website. Public comments are due to their office no later than 6 March 2020.

August 13, 2019 - Harris County Commissioners Court accepted a Preliminary Engineering Report in support of this project. Recommendation for authorization to accept a preliminary engineering report prepared by Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc., and proceed with design and construction of Unit E500-21-00 Inwood Forest stormwater detention basin in the White Oak Bayou Watershed in Precinct 1 (Map ID C-59, Project ID E500-21-00-E001).

August 2, 2019 - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded the City of Houston a grant to cover 75% of the cost for the Inwood Forest Stormwater Detention Project.

March 26, 2019 – Commissioners Court approved agreement with engineering firm to design entirety of the project.

100% Design Exhibits

The project includes a total of twelve basins of varying size. The basins are individually labeled with letters A-L. The City of Houston has completed Basin K and partially completed the construction of Basin L. The Flood Control District’s upcoming project will include the construction of the remaining basins as shown in the diagram.

Recreational Opportunities

As owner of the property, the recreational opportunities are being determined by the City of Houston with community input; currently, there is no funding for construction of any proposed recreation.

White Oak Conference Center, formerly the golf course clubhouse, which includes a community center and is managed by the Near Northwest Management District, will remain on the site and operational. Community programs such as First Tee, a youth golfing program, are included in the planning and additional recreation will be designed based on community need.

The largest basin, Basin C, currently is being considered by the City of Houston as a location for First Tee. The White Oak Conference Center is located next to Basin C.

Tree Preservation

In early 2017, a tree inventory was conducted on the Inwood Forest Golf Course property. Trees greater than four inches in diameter were tagged and documented according to size, species, and general health. Suggestions for possible tree preservation zones were indicated as part of the inventory.

Residents may notice tags on trees. These tags indicate that the tree has been inventoried for planning purposes.

Following Hurricane Harvey in summer 2017, the project focus shifted to increasing stormwater detention volume to offset street flooding. To allow for maximum basin volume, trees in the immediate area may need to be removed. Where possible, a bank or banks of trees will remain.

Upon completion of the project, new trees will be planted as appropriate.

Encroachments

As part of the ongoing work on this project, the Harris County Flood Control District has identified potential encroachments on property owned by the City of Houston and/or Harris County Flood Control District. Homeowners with identified encroachments will be contacted by letter and a survey of the encroachment will be provided in that notification. Surveys to confirm encroachments were conducted in the fall of 2020.

An encroachment is any unauthorized use of the Flood Control District or other public property or drainage easements. Encroachments generally are permanent or portable structures or objects that have been placed on Flood Control property, including, but not limited to, fencing, swing sets, sheds, swimming pools, bird baths, outdoor furnishings, and sporting equipment.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The proposed stormwater detention basin project encompasses property located both east of Antoine and west of Antoine, with a total of 12 interconnected stormwater detention basins. During the design stage of the project, community engagement meetings were held for residents to learn about key elements of the project, give input, and have their questions and concerns addressed. The Harris County Flood Control District will continue to hold public meetings throughout the course of this project to seek public input.

As part of its mission to provide flood damage reduction projects that work, with appropriate regard for community and natural values, the Harris County Flood Control District also is working with our partner, the City of Houston, to support plans to develop proposed recreational areas that could be incorporated into the stormwater detention basins once construction of the basins is complete. The Houston Parks Board is part of this City of Houston effort.

The stormwater detention basins will be built by the Harris County Flood Control District on the former golf course property to provide flood damage reduction benefits during heavy storms and to mitigate impacts of future public City of Houston drainage projects as appropriate.

The basins will vary in stormwater storage capacity, which is measured in acre-feet. The goal for the stormwater storage capacity for all the basins combined is approximately 1,200 acre-feet, for shared use by the Harris County Flood Control District and the City of Houston. One acre-foot is equal to one-acre times a one-foot depth, or 43,560 cubic feet (325,850 gallons).

With any potential recreational amenities, capacity within the basins to hold stormwater typically decreases. Actual storage capacity will be determined once design plans are complete.

In an abundance of caution and in line with other City of Houston and Harris County agencies, the Harris County Flood Control District is holding all Community Engagement and Public Meetings virtually. Please continue to check this webpage for updates on future meeting information to update the public on this project.

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Community Engagement Meetings

While the process of securing the federal grant delayed the beginning of construction, it also offered an opportunity for the City and the Flood Control District to hold a series of meetings with the public and other stakeholders to hear their concerns.

The Harris County Flood Control District, along with our partners from the City of Houston and the Houston Parks Board, plan to hold additional meetings in the future with the community, prior to construction of the project.

HOA Meeting Presentation (12/11/19)

On December 11, 2019, the Harris County Flood Control District, along with our partners from the City of Houston and the Houston Parks Board, provided updated information about this project, including 50% design plans, tree and vegetation removal in the immediate area, as well as recreational and amenity concepts that may be considered for the area after construction is completed on the stormwater basins. The meeting was hosted by the Inwood Forest Community Improvement Association and the Inwood Homeowners Association.

HOA Meeting Presentation (8/14/19)

On August 14, 2019, Harris County Flood Control District leadership, along with our partners from the City of Houston and the Houston Parks Board, presented to the residents of Inwood Forest an update on the Inwood Forest Stormwater Detention Basin Project. The meeting was hosted by the Inwood Forest Community Improvement Association and the Inwood Homeowners Association.

The update included information regarding the August 2, 2019 grant award announcement by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to the City of Houston for funding to cover 75% of the costs for design, and ultimately construction, of the entire project. Residents also were briefed on plans for future recreational opportunities and other Capital Improvement Projects in the area. Additional meetings with the community are being planned and will be posted to this site, as the project progresses.

Presentation (8/14/19)

HOA Meeting Presentation (8/15/18)

On August 15, 2018, Harris County Flood Control District leadership, along with our partners from the City of Houston, presented to the residents of Inwood Forest an update on the Inwood Forest Stormwater Detention Basin Project. The meeting was hosted by the Inwood Forest Community Improvement Association and the Inwood Homeowners Association.

Presentation (8/15/18)

Virtual Community Engagement Meeting

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

Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

You can submit a comment by clicking the links below.

Meeting Summary Presentation Virtual Meeting Video Submit a Comment