Flood Risk Mitigation

There are 2 projects affecting flooding along South Mayde Creek - detention basins along SH-99 to keep run-off flows from entering South Mayde Creek during severe rain events, and a by-pass channel near the Greenhouse Road bridge.  Both projects appear to be moving forward, despite a reduction in expected funding through the Texas General Land Office. Learn more about this political debate, as well as the engineering projects that have been proposed by the Harris County Flood Control District for more than 10 years. 

The San Jacinto Regional Flood Planning Group is one of the 15 Regional Flood Planning Groups formed by the Texas Water Board in 2019. It includes all or part of 11 counties and extends from Galveston in the south to Huntsville in the north. 

San Jacinto Region received a flood planning grant from the TWDB to help identify specific flood risks as well as strategies to reduce flood risks in coming years. One of the projects approved by the San Jacinto Region is the Lower South Mayde Creek bypass channel, intended to reduce flooding in the Westlake Forest and Westlake Place subdivisions.

The Court of Federal Claims found the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers liable for damages to properties flooded during Hurricane Harvey. It found the government’s failure to control overflowing reservoirs despite decades-long knowledge of risks of flooding of surrounding properties constituted a taking for which reasonable compensation is due. As a result of the ruling in this “test” case, hundreds of property owners may pursue damages, likely through a class action involving more than $1 billion. 

 Numerous governmental and non-governmental agencies have worked to compile, analyze, and share scientifically-informed data about flooding risk and mitigation opportunities. 

South Mayde Creek, which flows into the Addicks Reservoir near Greenhouse Road, has a history of flooding in this area with structures inundated during past hurricanes and floods.  This page tracks data from the Flood Warning System and presents photographs of the tributary's flooding history.

The primary function of the Flood Warning System is to transmit rainfall and bayou/stream level data for use by you and by government officials in taking steps to protect the public. The information received is collected and analyzed by the Flood Control District also to develop post-flood reports.