Friendswood eyes starting flood-control project in spring – Houston Chronicle

The city of Friendswood is moving forward on a $3.1 million Forest Bend Park flood-mitigation project in which city officials expect construction to get underway following expected City Council approval of a contract in April or May.
The city of Friendswood is moving forward on a $3.1 million Forest Bend Park flood-mitigation project in which city officials expect construction to get underway following expected City Council approval of a contract in April or May.
Samantha Haritos, Friendswood’s deputy director of engineering, told the council on Feb. 7 that engineering work on the project, which will include a series of detention basins along FM 528 between Townes Road and Clear Creek, is complete and approved by the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD).
Additionally, Friendswood received project-related grant funds on Feb. 4. The work is bankrolled through a Community Development Block Grant related to Hurricane Harvey disaster relief funds.
The detention basins will include 53 acre feet of capacity and will flow into one another. The work also includes a concrete trail system with enhanced solar lighting and wetland plantings.
“It’s going to be really nice compared to what’s out there right now,” Haritos said.
Once started, the work is expected to take 288 days to complete.
Haritos also updated the council on plans to potentially develop a detention basin at FM 1959 near the Friendswood/Pearland border. The $38 million project is aimed at reducing flooding in the area between Lott Avenue and Clear Creek, which includes homes. Harris County owns the project site property and that county’s commissioners court is set to review the project in February to determine next steps.
“We’ve had positive input so far from the Harris County Flood Control District; so we’re hoping to hear positive news,” she said.
If the work is approved, it would be a partnership between the flood control district, Friendswood, Galveston County and the Galveston County Consolidated Drainage District (GCCDD). Haritos said the city has applied for the flood control district to cover half of the cost, which would be $19 million. Galveston County would cover up to $7.5 million of the project cost, GCCDD would pay up to $3.5 million and Friendswood would pick up $8 million.
However, Haritos said she and the Friendswood engineering team are working to secure additional stakeholders to share in the cost, though she declined to name any potential entities willing to come in on the work.
“I believe we have a really good shot of having at least one additional partner if not two or three; so we’re working on that,” she said.
City Manager Morad Kabiri said the $38 million project budget includes a 20 percent contingency, which would cover the project’s scope ranging from 1,000 to 1,800 acre feet of basin capacity.
“At this stage the full engineering hasn’t been completed yet; so there are a lot of unknowns,” Kabiri said. “The contingency is intended to cover that.”
Carissa D. Lamkahouan is a correspondent for the Houston Chronicle.
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