Mitigate Flooding on The Cypress Creek Waters - Lakes of Cypress Forest Community Association LOCF

News Article on June 2, 2021, regarding the I-45 Southbound feed road:
https://reduceflooding.com/2021/06/02/i-45-feeder-over-cypress-creek-is-cattywumpus/

Flood Mitigation Efforts for Cypress Creek and I-45

Letter Sent to Governor Abbott
Residents to attend Commissioner Cagle’s Precinct 4 meeting to demand action
30-40 Kingwood residents demanded relief from flooding on the San Jacinto river in their meetings with Commissioner's Court. Their voices were heard and action was taken.
Information on what Dan Crenshaw is doing for Kingwood and Lower Cypress Creek (detention pond earmarks). https://crenshaw.house.gov/community-project-requests
Pictures and Diagrams of the issues that need to be fixed

Dear Honorable Governor Abbott:
Firstly, Great job supporting all Texans this year in holding ERCOT officials accountable for their inadequate freeze preparedness of our power infrastructure.
This week is Hurricane Preparedness week (see attached email from DOT headquarters.) As a DOT/BTS consultant and Spring Texas HOA President; I am compelled highlight local inadequate Flood mitigation issues by TxDOT/HCFCD.
Now, Residents of HOA’s living in the Cypress Creek Watershed (primarily between Interstate 45 bridge and Highway 290) need your help in holding TxDOT/HCFCD (Harris County Flood Control District) accountable for the years of neglected maintenance and lack of impactful flood mitigation as we officially enter hurricane season. The San Jacinto River Watershed- Kingwood area (also within Rep Dan Crenshaw’s 2^nd District) has gotten attention, however, the same attention is not being given to our areas that have flooded just as badly.
The lack of maintenance (15+ years) has caused debris/silt accumulation and restricted flow under our bridges and along the channel causing increased, needless flooding of our homes. The attached photo/file of I45 during Harvey (2017) shows the Cypress Creek was obstructed by the I45 bridge and caused the floodwaters to be 5.88 feet higher on the west side of the bridge than the east side (103’ elevation on west versus gage 1120 measured 97.12’on the east). Estimates of 11,000 to 18,000 cubic yards of silt/debris are presently obstructing under the I45 bridge.) Similar floodwater damming occurred during the Memorial Day flood (2015) and the Tax Day flood (2016). Curiously, two miles downstream lies a Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) bridge (similarly obstructed) that was cleared of 14+ feet of silt in 2018/19. Thank You HCTRA for doing your job in a timely manner! (see attached pdf file for details).
Texans need your help with these Governmental agencies/bureaucrats.
Residents in Harris County have approved $2.5 Billion in flood mitigation bond funds, however, HCFCD, has not used the funds in 3+years to install adequate detention or maintain the Cypress Creek waterway to mitigate our needless flooding. No action - only studies, some land acquisition and long range promises. With increased development upstream, continued development along the channel & tributaries, and no new detention; HCFCD has performed extensive maintenance on the tributaries feeding into Cypress Creek allowing increased flow/volume that is now negatively impacting ours and  other neighborhood’s flooding potential. We need all promised/planned detention ponds (26,000 acre-feet capacity-Michael Baker study) to be built now!  Continued delay on new detention while approving new development upstream is not in the interest of existing property owners in the Cypress Creek Watershed. Further, the delay of HCFCD data delivery to FEMA to update the FEMA Flood Maps is allowing new development approvals to be based on significantly outdated flood map data.
TxDOT has neglected their maintenance obligation and have contributed to the obstructions by dumping the demolished I45 bridge & underpass road rubble under the I45 bridge during the last renovation. Initial promises by TxDOT were to clean out the I45 Bridge silt/debris in 2020. Then promised early 2021 (when the southbound I45 feeder would be replaced). Then delayed to December 2021 to develop bids; then projected to February/March 2022 to evaluate bids. Local HOA’s have even volunteered to get local swimming pool contractors with Bobcats to remove the 11,000+ cubic yards of silt/debris on the concrete sides of the channel under the bridge before hurricane season 2021! Our local water district (WCID110) is positive on our efforts; but, ineffective in getting other agencies to get it done. Cypress Creek constituents will accept work in meaningful stages; but, want all of the15+ years of silt and debris removed to bring the I45 bridge to “original design conditions”.
Carl Highsmith, FHWA, (DOT/Federal Highway Administration) was asked in ~August 2020 by then USDOT Secretary (Elaine L. Chao) to address this issue. Carl has recently responded after meetings with TxDOT that he can only advise TxDOT, not compel any action!  As an interstate highway, I45 receives substantial USDOT funding so that lack of input is concerning.
In the past 3 years, Governmental agencies have used their arsenal of excuses (it’s in the plan, environmental permits are needed, that’s not in my department, talk to USACE, it’s not a problem, etc.) to dismiss resident’s legitimate concerns, actions and near term proposed flood mitigation solutions.
Residents of middle and lower Cypress Creek remain in fear of hurricane season and the needless flooding it will likely again bring to our neighborhoods and our lives.
We need your help!
Maybe hold a Microsoft TEAMS meeting with your honorable self, Mr. Ken Paxton, TxDOT leadership, HCFCD leadership, WCID110 leadership and our HOA leadership.  I am here to help however I can. Thank you for your attention and please let me know what next steps are.

Kind Regards,

Frank C. Adamek, P.E.
SME SafeOCS Drilling & Production
President-  Lakes of Cypress forest HOA (Spring Texas) 2017-2022
(cell) 832 309 1535
Frankadamek2016@gmail.com