Stormwater Storage Capacity: What Is an Acre-foot?

Flooding is a major concern for residents of Harris County, and truly understanding flood risk includes learning about how much stormwater our detention basins can hold. The Harris County Flood Control District reports storage capacity in acre-feet, a unit of measurement that helps engineers plan and design flood risk reduction projects. An acre-foot is a…

November 17, 20250Comments

Projects

Brays Bayou Through the Years: A History of Change

From past floods to present progress, this two part series on Brays Bayou’s history highlights more than a century of change, resilience, and ongoing work to reduce flood risk for surrounding communities. Brays Bayou begins near Mission Bend in northern Fort Bend County and flows east about 31 miles through southwest Harris County before joining…

November 13, 20250Comments

Projects

Why the Flood Control District Plants Wildflowers

The Harris County Flood Control District is committed to increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of its drainage infrastructure to better serve the residents of Harris County. Planting wildflowers is a beneficial practice that promotes native vegetation and beautifies the local landscape. Planting slow-growing wildflowers can delay the first mowing cycle, saving maintenance dollars and allowing…

November 12, 20250Comments

Community

Shaping Harris County’s SAFER Future

The Harris County Flood Control District recently wrapped up the first round of listening meetings for the Solutions for Advancing Floodplain Evaluation and Resilience Study (SAFER) Study. These meetings gave residents a chance to share experiences, ask questions, and talk about ideas for reducing the impacts of flooding. The SAFER Study is a major effort…

October 31, 20250Comments

Projects

The Life of a Project: From Planning to Maintenance

While every flood risk reduction project is unique, each project typically follows a defined Project Lifecycle, guiding each effort from initial concept to completion and then ultimately into our maintenance program. For the Harris County Flood Control District, the defined Project Lifecycle stages are key to delivering effective flood risk reduction projects. Importantly, throughout…

October 28, 20250Comments

Weather & Alerts

November Weather Outlook: Warm Trends Continue with La Niña in Play

After a very warm and dry October across Harris County, we’re finally expecting some rain this weekend, which is a welcome change! But what can we expect as we move into November? Understanding the Big Picture When we forecast weather patterns for an entire month, we look beyond daily forecasts and short-term models. Instead, we…

October 23, 20250Comments

Community

When October Brought a Hurricane: Remembering Hurricane Jerry

On October 15, 1989, as most of the Gulf Coast was easing into fall, Hurricane Jerry made a surprise landfall near Jamaica Beach on Galveston Island. With sustained winds of 85 miles per hour, Jerry wasn’t the strongest storm to hit Texas, but it was one of the latest. In fact, Jerry was the latest…

October 16, 20250Comments

Community

Remembering the Floods of October 1994: A Turning Point for Harris County

Thirty-one years ago this week, relentless rain fell over southeast Texas and changed lives forever. Between October 15 and October 18, 1994, a slow-moving weather system combined with tropical moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and remnants of Hurricane Rosa in the eastern Pacific to unleash catastrophic flooding across southeast Texas, including portions of…

October 15, 20250Comments

Projects

Stronger Together: Partnerships Power Flood Resilience Across Harris County

Flood resilience in Harris County depends on strong partnerships. The Harris County Flood Control District works alongside state, federal, and local agencies to deliver projects that decrease flooding impacts and improve quality of life for residents across the region. With more than 2,500 miles of bayous and channels across 23 major watersheds, advancing flood resilience…

October 14, 20250Comments

Projects

Berry Bayou on the Mend: Restoration Project in Motion

A channel restoration project is underway along Berry Bayou in the Sims Bayou watershed in southeast Harris County (Project ID: Z100-00-00-X302). This important maintenance effort will restore nearly 1.25 miles of channel between Ahrens Street and Whispering Creek Way in Harris County Precinct 2. The goal is to restore Berry Bayou’s ability to safely carry…

October 3, 20250Comments

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