Harris County Flood Control District Faces Funding Shortfall
The Harris County Flood Control District has paused 26 groups of flood mitigation projects due to a major funding shortfall for 2018 flood bond projects approved by voters after Hurricane Harvey. The district is currently facing a $410 million shortfall on dozens of post-Harvey flood projects.
Background on the Flood Bond
In 2018, voters in Harris County approved a $2.5 billion bond to fund major repairs to flood-damaged drainage infrastructure, channel modifications to improve stormwater conveyance, voluntary buyouts of flood-prone properties, and a major overhaul of the county’s flood warning system. However, the bond presented hurdles for county engineers and flood control staffers from the start, as it was created to have a significant funding gap. The $2.5 billion approved by voters would only cover 50% of the $5 billion needed for flood mitigation projects in the aftermath of Harvey.
Funding Shortfall and Project Delays
Harris County Flood Control District Executive Director Tina Peterson revealed that about 15 line items in the bond were determined to be unfeasible after engineering analyses. The county has secured about $2.7 billion in partnerships from local, state, and federal funding sources, but a major gap in funding remains. Commissioners have floated the possibility of going back to the voters in the future to secure the remaining money needed to finish the projects.
Completed and Ongoing Projects
At least 109 projects have been completed so far, and an additional 75 groups of projects are expected to be completed in the next three to five years. The county has built more than 46,000 linear feet of conveyance improvements and removed 183,000 structures from the floodplain. Since Hurricane Harvey, 3,100 families in the floodplains have received voluntary buyouts.
Challenges and Concerns
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo stated that it wouldn’t be possible for the county to go for another bond election until the 75 line items are completed. Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis noted that a lower voter turnout in 2018 could present another issue if the county were to go back to the voters for additional dollars. A critical letter from the Harris County Community Flood Resilience Task Force called for more community input on the prioritization of the flood bond projects and raised concerns about a recent bill that would put the state back in charge of the Harris County Flood Control District.
Conclusion
The Harris County Flood Control District is facing significant challenges in completing the flood mitigation projects approved by voters in 2018. Despite the progress made so far, the funding shortfall and project delays pose a major concern for the county’s ability to protect its residents from future flooding. The county must work to address these challenges and ensure that the remaining projects are completed to provide the necessary flood protection for the community.
