In 2018, Harris County voters approved a bond measure to advance comprehensive flood risk reduction efforts countywide. Designed as a multi-pronged response to both immediate and long-term flood challenges, the 2018 Bond Program includes 181 active funding categories (Bond IDs) that support a wide array of project types.

The program’s flexible structure allows each Bond ID to fund multiple projects simultaneously in different lifecycle stages. These efforts include:

• Flood mitigation and maintenance construction
• Design engineering and feasibility studies
• Right-of-way acquisition
• Floodplain preservation
• Partner-led engineering and construction

Of the 181 total Bond IDs, 42 have been completed, while 139 remain active, as of April 30, 2024. The active IDs are distributed across phases as follows:

• Initiation: 9
• Feasibility: 21
• Preliminary Engineering: 27
• Design: 33
• Right-of-Way Acquisition: 15
• Construction and Turnover: 20
• Active Countywide Bond IDs: 14

Since the program’s launch, Harris County Flood Control District has:

• Reduced flood risk for thousands of homes and businesses
• Relocated over 3,150 residents from flood-prone areas
• Conducted 200+ community meetings with 16,000+ participants

Financial Overview

The program’s budget is backed by both local and external funding sources:

• Total partnership funding secured: $2.69 billion
  
  • Grants: $1.96B
  • Local partnerships: $589M
  • Federal & State funding: $138M

Out of the $2 billion in bond funds allocated, over $1.43 billion has been spent across categories, as of April 30, 2024:

• Feasibility: $61M
• Engineering & Design: $187M
• Right-of-Way acquisition: $513M
• Construction, Turnover & Partner-Led Efforts: $677M

The Harris County 2018 Bond Program is not just a blueprint for flood control, it’s an evolving infrastructure system aimed at long-term resilience. With over 75% of Bond IDs still active, oversight and transparency remain critical.

Want to explore the full breakdown of all 181 Bond IDs and their progress? View the detailed July 2024 update PDF here:  2018 Bond Program Update (PDF)