Bohac Reports Brickhouse Gully Stormwater Basin in Full Control of Harris County Flood Control District
HOUSTON, TEXAS–State Representative Dwayne Bohac (R-Houston) announced that the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) has now taken full control of the Brickhouse Gully Stormwater Detention Basin, completed roughly one year ago. The basin’s contractor LECON had to monitor and warranty the newly constructed basin for one year after its completion. Recently, HCFCD released LECON from their performance bond after meeting strict design and performance criteria.
The construction of the project was started in 2008 after years of chronic flooding problems in the Mangum Manor and Oak Forest subdivisions.
“Flooding is a very real concern for communities in my district, and we must continue to improve our infrastructure to avoid property damage from flooding,” said Bohac. “I want to again thank all the civic leaders, stakeholders, residents, and elected officials who have worked so hard over the past few years to make this detention basin a reality.”
Before relinquishing control of the project, LECON was required to prove to the Harris County Flood Control District that the drainage basin was built to their standards and would operate properly during heavy rains. The basin functioned well through the heavy rains of 2009. It has the potential store approximately 36 million gallons of stormwater when full, which reduces flooding risks for residents in Mangum Manor and Oak Forest.
As part of the takeover HCFCD is now in full control of all maintenance and repairs of the basin. Their first action was to plant 500 trees near the basin in an effort to reforest the area and for other practical reasons.
The tree’s thick canopies slow the growth of grass and consequently reduce the need for frequent mowing. Once the newly-planted trees mature, it is estimated that taxpayers will save several thousand dollars each year in maintenance costs. These trees will also help reduce erosion along the basin, prevent the spread of undesirable vegetation and improve air quality, aesthetics, and green space.
The basin is designed to protect the Mangum Manor and Oak Forest subdivisions during a 25-year flood and a 10-year flood. A 25-year flood has a 4 percent chance of occurring every year, and a 10-year flood has a 10 percent chance of occurring every year.
Located adjacent to U.S. 290 between 34th and 43rd streets, the basin collects stormwater from Brickhouse Gully, which begins in the Spring Branch area and extends from Gessner and Clay roads and runs east between Clay (43rd Street) and Kempwood (34th Street) and outfalls into White Oak Bayou near Watonga in the Oak Forest community.