Reducing Flood Risk Near Little White Oak Bayou

Every day, the Harris County Flood Control District works to reduce flood risk for communities across Harris County. One important way we do that is by creating space for stormwater to go during heavy rain. That’s exactly what the Yale Stormwater Detention Basin project is designed to do. It will improve stormwater management and help…

January 9, 20260Comments

Projects

Bering Ditch Maintenance Project Completed in Precinct 3

The Harris County Flood Control District recently completed important maintenance work along Bering Ditch in west Houston, within Harris County Precinct 3. The Flood Control District is responsible for maintaining more than 2,500 miles of channels across the county and regularly inspects the channels and makes repairs when excessive wear or damage is identified. For…

December 23, 20250Comments

Weather & Alerts

Dreaming of a Warm Christmas

The warm weather that arrives this weekend will continue through Christmas. For the Houston area, we are expecting temperatures to fall into the 60s on Christmas eve with some areas of fog possible overnight, especially near the coast. On Christmas day, low temperatures are expected to be in the lower to middle 60s, with high…

December 19, 20250Comments

Community

How CDBG Funding Helps Reduce Flood Risk in Harris County

Strong partnerships are essential to building long-term resilience in Harris County. Through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, the Flood Control District can design and build projects that meaningfully reduce flood risk. These projects improve channel conveyance, create stormwater storage, and preserve floodplains that help mitigate flooding during major rain events. Many communities with…

December 17, 20250Comments

Projects

How the Flood Control District Protects White Oak and Buffalo Bayou’s Walls of Steel near Downtown Houston

Near downtown Houston, Buffalo Bayou flows through a narrow corridor surrounded by buildings, bridges, trails, and parks. Just upstream, White Oak Bayou joins Buffalo Bayou at their confluence at Allen’s Landing. Because there is not enough open land for wide, sloped banks, the Harris County Flood Control District uses steel sheet pile walls to hold…

December 15, 20250Comments

Projects

Caring for Harris County’s Sensitive Habitats

Across Harris County, some of the most important flood risk reduction work happens in places that look almost untouched. These natural areas include wetlands, stormwater detention basins with water quality features, projects with natural stable channel design elements, and diverse native plant areas teeming with life. This biodiversity provides habitats for a variety of ecosystems,…

December 12, 20250Comments

Projects

Maintenance Matters: What’s Ahead in 2026 and How You Can Help

This article continues our two-part series marking the one-year anniversary of Proposition A, the maintenance funding measure approved by voters in November 2024. In Part 1, we reviewed the major accomplishments achieved during Fiscal Year 2025. In Part 2, we look ahead to Fiscal Year 2026, explore what residents shared during the recent public meetings,…

December 9, 20250Comments

Community

The Great Houston Flood of 1935

The Flood That Built the Flood Control District The Great Houston Flood of 1935 was the worst flood event in Houston’s history up to that time. An intense 42-hour period of rainfall occurred from December 6 through December 8. While the City of Houston received 5.5 inches of rain, areas to the northwest saw far…

December 5, 20250Comments

Projects

Maintenance Matters: A Year of Impact Across Harris County

One year ago, Harris County voters approved Proposition A, giving the Harris County Flood Control District the reliable maintenance funding needed to care for the drainage system that supports millions of Harris County residents. To mark this important anniversary, the Flood Control District held two virtual public meetings this November to share maintenance accomplishments from…

December 4, 20250Comments

Projects

Drones in Action for Flood Control District’s Maintenance

The Harris County Flood Control District is constantly finding innovative ways to efficiently maintain its large network of bayous, channels, and stormwater detention basins. One of the tools making a difference is drone technology. By using unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), the Flood Control District can inspect, document, and even repair hard-to-access areas more safely and…

December 2, 20250Comments

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