City Receives Support from State for Temporary Flood Mitigation
Houston, TX - Council Member Dave Martin is happy to announce that through hard work over the last several months, the City of Houston and the San Jacinto River Authority have received approval from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for a Temporary Flood Mitigation Proposal on Lake Houston and Lake Conroe. The proposed strategy involves the pre-release of water from Lake Houston immediately prior to certain storms and the seasonal lowering of Lake Conroe's water level during the Spring and Fall. The temporary flood mitigation would be in place for up to three years or until the dredging project is completed. This information was originally released to the public by City of Houston Public Works and the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) on Saturday, June 16, 2018. Click here to see the original press release.
A significant hurdle to final consideration of the proposed temporary strategy was a decision by the TCEQ on how releases of water from the two reservoirs would be "accounted for" by the state. TCEQ issues permits that limit how much water can be diverted each year from water supply reservoirs like Lake Houston and Lake Conroe.
The proposal from Houston Public Works and SJRA highlights the challenge of balancing the state's long-term need for reliable water supplies with the short-term goal of protecting public health and safety while emergency measures are implemented to reduce flood risks. The TCEQ's decision acknowledges the importance of accounting for all diversions from the state's water supply reservoirs, but also recognizes the emergency nature of flood mitigation work being conducted in the San Jacinto River.
The City of Houston expresses their sincere appreciation to the leadership and staff at the TCEQ for their thoughtful consideration of the unique flood challenges that our region is facing, especially as we move into the 2018 Hurricane Season. Additionally, this great step would not have been possible without the assistance from our State Partners including the Office of Governor Greg Abbott, State Representative Dan Huberty, and State Senator Brandon Creighton. The City of Houston and San Jacinto River Authority looks forward to finalizing the details of the proposed joint reservoir operations strategy.
For more information, please contact the District E office at (832) 393-3008 or via email at districte@houstontx.gov.