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

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

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

Projects

Surveying the Future: Behind-the-Scenes Work That Keeps Harris County Resilient

Behind every flood control project in Harris County is a team you rarely see — but whose work shapes nearly everything the Flood Control District builds. The in-house Surveying Team is the “keeper of vertical data” for the county. They maintain more than 1,300 reference markers — essential GPS points that guide construction, drainage improvements,…

October 2, 20250Comments

Projects

Maintenance Matters: How Mowing Supports Flood Risk Reduction In Harris County

It’s mowing season at the Harris County Flood Control District! Maintenance crews are out across the county with tractors, trimmers, and other equipment to manage vegetation, reduce invasive species, and keep our drainage network accessible for inspection and maintenance. When it comes to mowing for flood control purposes, timing matters. We follow a carefully planned…

September 29, 20250Comments

Projects

Working Together for Resilience

This week, Houston Stronger brought community leaders, engineers, and public officials together for Working Together for Resilience at HCC’s West Houston Institute. The event highlighted how far our region has come since Hurricane Harvey and what’s next for flood risk reduction efforts across our region. Commissioner Tom Ramsey, P.E. (Precinct 3), kicked things off with…

September 25, 20250Comments

Projects

From Concept to Reality: How Harris County’s 2018 Bond Program Is Delivering Flood Risk Reduction

In 2018, Harris County voters took bold action. In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, a storm that damaged more than 154,000 homes and dropped over a trillion gallons of rain, residents approved a $2.5 billion bond program to take on flood risk across the county. Seven years later, that vision has transformed into real, measurable…

September 19, 20250Comments

Projects

Infrastructure and Resilience: Dr. Tina Petersen Highlights Harris County’s Path Forward

On Thursday, September 18, The Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce hosted its 2025 Infrastructure Summit. The event brought together public officials, business leaders, and community stakeholders to discuss the future of infrastructure in Harris County and Greater Houston. Dr. Tina Petersen, Executive Director of the Harris County Flood Control District emphasized the ongoing importance of…

September 18, 20250Comments

Projects

Catch, Hold, Release: How Stormwater Detention Basins Work

With a yearly rainfall average of about 48 inches, stormwater in Harris County must be managed effectively to reduce the risk of flooding for homes and businesses. Stormwater Detention Basins play an important part in reducing the risk of flooding for Harris County residents. A stormwater detention basin is an engineered, excavated area of land…

September 16, 20250Comments