For Scenic Woods resident Broderick Butler, seeing construction equipment along a nearby tributary represents more than the start of another construction project. It marks progress on an issue he first brought before Harris County Commissioners Court years ago.

At the Aug. 6 Commissioners Court meeting, Butler returned to thank the Court and the Harris County Flood Control District as rehabilitation work moves forward on tributary P118-09-00 in northeast Harris County. “In 2019, I stood before this Court and asked that this project receive the attention it deserves. Today I am grateful to return simply to say thank you. Your decisions show that the residents’ voices matter.”

Butler told the Court that he first spoke about the tributary in 2019, asking for the area to receive attention. Seven years later, he was able to return with a different message: work is underway.

From a Community Concern to Work in the Ground

The Tributary P118-09-00-X014 Rehabilitation Repairs project is addressing a section of the channel between Bigwood Street and Gleason Road near Cheeves Drive in the Halls Bayou watershed in Harris County Precinct One.

The work includes removing and replacing deteriorated concrete, rebuilding channel side slopes, and restoring the channel to its original design. These repairs are expected to reduce long-term erosion and restore the tributary’s stormwater conveyance, or carrying, capacity.

Construction began in the third quarter of 2026 and is anticipated to be completed in the first quarter of 2027.

For Butler and his neighbors, that means a concern discussed publicly years ago is now translating into visible work in their community.

How the Project Evolved

The work also provides an example of the complexity behind Flood Control District project delivery. Projects can evolve as funding, infrastructure needs, and delivery options are evaluated, sometimes resulting in a different approach than originally envisioned.

The tributary was originally included in an effort funded through the 2018 Bond Program under Bond ID C-24. That effort proposed channel conveyance improvements along with construction of a stormwater detention basin.

In the second quarter of 2025, the Flood Control District transitioned the effort from the Bond Program to its Maintenance Program. Rather than constructing the improvements originally proposed, the current project focuses on rehabilitating the existing tributary and restoring its stormwater-carrying capacity.

The result is a targeted maintenance project addressing deteriorated infrastructure that already serves the Scenic Woods area.

Butler’s return to Commissioners Court highlights another part of that process: Residents can play an important role by continuing to raise concerns and staying engaged as projects develop.

What You Can Do

Residents can follow project updates and participate in public meetings where issues affecting their communities are discussed.

Butler’s experience shows that infrastructure work can take time to plan, fund, and deliver, but continued community engagement helps keep local needs visible.9

If you see an issue in your neighborhood, submit a service request at hcfcd.org/Service-Request.

To learn more about how the Harris County Flood Control District maintains channels, stormwater detention basins, and other infrastructure throughout Harris County, visit hcfcd.org/Maintenance.