Construction activities are expected to begin soon on the Westador Stormwater Detention Basin Project, a flood risk reduction effort located along the main stem of Cypress Creek in the Westador area.

Initial work will include contractor mobilization, site preparation, and other related construction activities. The project is located north of FM 1960, south of Cypress Creek and just west of Ella Boulevard.

Once complete, the wet-bottom stormwater detention basin is expected to provide approximately 207 acre-feet of stormwater storage. That is roughly equal to 207 football fields covered in one foot of water.

Stormwater detention basins are designed to temporarily hold stormwater during heavy rainfall events. By storing excess stormwater, the basin helps reduce the risk of flooding in surrounding areas.

The Westador basin is one of several detention projects being advanced by the Harris County Flood Control District in the Cypress Creek watershed. A regional drainage study found that flooding along Cypress Creek tributaries is often caused by stormwater rising in Cypress Creek and backing up into tributaries, rather than a lack of drainage capacity within the tributaries themselves. Additional detention is expected to help reduce this backwater effect.

The project will be constructed on a 52-acre site owned by the Flood Control District and the Westador Municipal Utility District. The site plan includes stormwater storage areas, wetlands, reforestation areas, access roads, and inflow and outfall structures connected to Cypress Creek.

The construction contract was awarded for $11.3 million. The project is expected to receive up to $8.25 million through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Legislative Pre-Disaster Mitigation grant program, with additional funding expected through the 2018 Bond Program under Bond ID F-88.

Construction is anticipated to begin in the second quarter of 2026 and is expected to be complete in the first quarter of 2027.

The Flood Control District appreciates the support of federal, state, and local partners as work continues to implement flood risk reduction projects across the Cypress Creek watershed.