Montgomery County Seeking Federal Dollars For Flood Mitigation Projects

Montgomery County Judge Craig Doyal said Tuesday that the county plans to seek federal funding for a flood mitigation study, including potential reservoir projects to help reduce downstream flooding, in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.

County commissioners discussed the issue Tuesday and agreed unanimously to have Judge Doyal send a request to U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady for federal funding for the study. (Want to get daily news updates and other events going on in your area? Sign up for the free Conroe-Montgomery County Patch morning newsletter.)

Doyal said Montgomery County needs to do all it can to see whether additional reservoir projects could help reduce the devastating impact of flooding the county has suffered three times in the past two years.

According to Darren Hess, Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, 4,793 Montgomery County homes were affected by Harvey, eclipsing previous damage totals, including the 1994 flooding.

The proposed study would examine Montgomery County watersheds, including Cypress Creek, Spring Creek, Preach Creek, Caney Creek, Lake Creek, the west fork of the San Jacinto and others.

“A look at the recent volumes of water in our watersheds demonstrates that Cypress Creek, Lake Creek and Spring Creek, along with the San Jacinto’s west fork and other creeks, played a major role in Harvey flooding; studying these watersheds may help identify projects that could impound water during heavy storms and help reduce flooding,” Doyal said.

To support its request for funding, Doyal will send a proposal by Huitt-Zollars obtained by Commissioner James Noack estimating $1.25 million to study, and $95.5 million for the project phase.

Doyal has had several meetings with state and federal officials during and after Harvey, to discuss the need to identify key flood reduction projects in Montgomery County.

Image: Associated Press

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