Barker Reservoir Maintenance Effort Gets Underway to Restore Critical Flood Control Infrastructure

Maintaining Harris County's flood flood resiliency systems requires ongoing work to restore channels, remove vegetation, and ensure infrastructure continues to function as designed long before the next heavy rain arrives. That work is now underway in west Harris County as the Harris County Flood Control District launches the Barker Channel Rehabilitation and Restoration Project, a…

March 20, 20260Comments

Community

West University Officials Receive Update on Potential FEMA Flood Map Changes

Officials in West University Place recently received a briefing on potential updates to FEMA flood maps that could affect how flood risk is represented in the area. The presentation to the West University City Council focused on how updated rainfall data, improved terrain modeling, and completed flood risk reduction projects are influencing the next generation…

March 16, 20260Comments

Grassy field with a curved concrete path in the foreground.

Projects

Brookglen Stormwater Detention Basin Phase 2 is Underway

The Harris County Flood Control District, in partnership with the City of La Porte, began Phase 2 of the Brookglen Stormwater Detention Basin in early 2026. Located near Somerton Drive and Ashwyne Lane, this project is designed to help reduce the risk of flooding in the Brookglen subdivision The stormwater detention basin has been designed…

March 5, 20260Comments

Projects

Keeping the Prairie Healthy: Prescribed Burns in Northwest Harris County

At the beginning of February, the Harris County Flood Control District conducted a prescribed burn on 440 acres of prairie and wetlands in northwest Harris County near the Katy Prairie. The burn was carefully planned and supervised by certified fire professionals to ensure it stayed safe and contained. Why This Work Is Important Prescribed burns…

March 2, 20260Comments

Projects

Supporting Flood Risk Reduction with Native Wildflowers

You may start to notice small green patches forming along some of our channels and stormwater detention basins. While they may look like weeds at first glance, they’re actually young bluebonnets. Bluebonnets begin as low-growing clusters of leaves called rosettes. They stay close to the ground through the winter months, building strength below the surface.…

March 2, 20260Comments

Projects

Turkey Creek Maintenance Update

The Harris County Flood Control District is currently working on an erosion repair project along Turkey Creek in the Memorial area. Turkey Creek is a tributary of Buffalo Bayou. It starts in Addicks Reservoir and flows about six miles southwest, passing under Interstate 10 (U.S. 90), the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad tracks, and the…

March 2, 20260Comments

Community

Flood Control District Projects Are Reducing Flood Risk and the Data Now Shows It

Updated draft FEMA floodplain maps show that thousands of Harris County residents are now mapped out of high-risk floodplain areas because of completed flood risk reduction projects. During a recent Harris County Commissioners Court meeting, Harris County Flood Control District leadership highlighted an important milestone: Updated draft FEMA floodplain maps now reflect the real impact…

February 25, 20260Comments

Community

When the Rain Keeps Falling: What It Means for Bayous and Flood Risk

Most people enjoy the occasional slow-paced rainy day. In Harris County, we typically see about 106 days with rainfall each year. Understanding how those rainfall totals add up over time and how stormwater moves throughout Harris County is key to understanding flood risk. A few inches of rain might not seem like much at first.…

February 18, 20260Comments

Community

Draft Floodplain Maps Released: What Residents Should Know

Yesterday, the Harris County Flood Control District provided an update to the Harris County Commissioners Court on newly released Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) draft floodplain maps. This morning, the conversation continued on local television. On February 13, 2026, Emily Woodell, Chief External Affairs Officer for the Flood Control District, joined FOX 26 Houston to…

February 13, 20260Comments

Community

Flood Control District Pushes for Clear, Transparent Review of Draft FEMA Maps

Draft floodplain maps for Harris County have officially been released, marking a major milestone in the MAAPNext mapping effort. During today’s Harris County Commissioners Court meeting, Dr. Tina Petersen, Executive Director of the Harris County Flood Control District, emphasized that while the maps are early in the process, the community will have time, access, and…

February 12, 20260Comments

Got News to Share?