Corps advances Buffalo Bayou flood-risk study

[Elderberry]

Houston Chronicle By Karen Zurawski April 2, 2019

Co-founders of the Barker Flood Prevention advocacy group are encouraged that a study by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to improve how the Addicks and Barker reservoirs function and to reduce upstream and downstream flood risks along the Buffalo Bayou and its tributaries will produce short- and long-term solutions.

“I’m very optimistic,” said Wendy Duncan, co-founder. “I know that some solutions will be short-term and some will be longer term. However, we are moving in the right direction.”

“What’s important is we’re making progress and moving forward,” said Andrew Weber, project manager. “A lot of interested parties are all doing our part to address those issues that everyone is concerned about.”

Marlin Williford, Barker Flood Prevention co-founder, said, “We are extremely encouraged with the approach and alternatives that the Corps is working on in this overall resiliency study.”

Weber presented information about the study at the March 27 Spring Partnering Forum organized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Galveston. The three-year study began last October.   

Co-founders of the Barker Flood Prevention advocacy group are encouraged that a study by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to improve how the Addicks and Barker reservoirs function and to reduce upstream and downstream flood risks along the Buffalo Bayou and its tributaries will produce short- and long-term solutions.

“I’m very optimistic,” said Wendy Duncan, co-founder. “I know that some solutions will be short-term and some will be longer term. However, we are moving in the right direction.”

“What’s important is we’re making progress and moving forward,” said Andrew Weber, project manager. “A lot of interested parties are all doing our part to address those issues that everyone is concerned about.”

Marlin Williford, Barker Flood Prevention co-founder, said, “We are extremely encouraged with the approach and alternatives that the Corps is working on in this overall resiliency study.”

Weber presented information about the study at the March 27 Spring Partnering Forum organized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Galveston. The three-year study began last October.

“We’re still in the data collection phase — possible solutions, data collected in the past,” said Weber. “We’re taking different options and putting engineering numbers behind them.” This involves looking at the options’ feasibility, benefit, cost and impact to the environment, he explained.

As the study evolves, officials will do cost benefit ratios to determine where funds spent will have the biggest return, he added.

Flood risk management is the purpose of the $6 million feasibility study, which lists eight objectives:

    Reduce damages from river flooding/reservoir pool flooding on channels upstream and downstream
    Optimize the reservoir operations
    Optimize/improve/safely convey detained water
    Reduce sediment and erosion
    Reduce risk of dam failure
    Reduce risk to health and life safety
     Develop flood damage components that enhance or complement the environment where possible
    Analyze the potential for recreational opportunities

More: https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/katy/news/article/Corps-advances-Buffalo-Bayou-flood-risk-study-13726706.php

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https://waterdata.usgs.gov/tx/nwis/uv/?site_no=08072600&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060