Message from Commissioner Cagle
Dear Friends:
The Texas General Land Office (GLO) made the shocking decision this week to reject requests by Harris County and the City of Houston for approximately $900 million each in federal flood mitigation funding tied to Hurricane Harvey.
The GLO decision mocks common sense. I believe those flood relief funds should go to those of us who bore the brunt of the second-most costly storm in our nation’s history. Hurricane Harvey caused more damage in the Harris County region than in any other part of Texas. Dozens of our neighbors were killed, and many thousands of our friends and family lost their homes and businesses. It affected all of us, and we all continue the work toward recovery.
And yet we received NOTHING.
This absurd decision by the GLO prompted me to reach out personally to Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush, the elected official who oversees the GLO. Mr. Bush told me that recent changes in the application process and interpretation of criteria for awarding these funds forced the agency’s hand. I made it very clear to Mr. Bush that this decision created a gross injustice to my constituents and to our region as a whole. In response, Mr. Bush said that he could do nothing about this first batch of funds, but he promised he would not oppose Harris County and the City Of Houston receiving a direct allocation of other federal payments already headed to Texas.
Rest assured, I will continue to work with other city and county officials to recoup our region’s appropriate share of needed federal funds, and I will hold Mr. Bush to his commitment regarding future funding as well.
Sincerely,
Commissioner R. Jack Cagle
Mercer Botanic Gardens Newsletter
Save the Date: Lake Houston Spillway Project Community Meeting
HOUSTON -Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin would like to make Lake Houston residents aware that on June 17th there will be a community meeting to provide updates on the Lake Houston Spillway Project. Meeting location and other details are to be determined due to the recent changes in CDC guidelines.
Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin, Houston Public Works, and Coastal Water Authority have been working together under the direction of Chief Recovery Officer Stephen Costello to plan this public forum to discuss the progress of the project.
As updates for this meeting become available, the District E Office will notify residents utilizing the office newsletter and social media platforms. If you do not already, please follow @cmdavemartin on Twitter and like Mayor Pro Tem Martin’s Facebook Page
For more information, please contact the District E office at (832) 393-3008 or via email at districte@houstontx.gov
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Lake Houston Lowering Expected Tomorrow
HOUSTON – Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin would like to make Lake Houston residents aware, Houston Public Works is monitoring weather forecasts for the Lake Houston region. Houston Public Works expects there to be 3 inches of rainfall predicted in our watershed starting tomorrow. The forecast of 3 inches of rain in our watershed triggers the Lake Houston lowering protocol.
Lake Houston is currently at 42.55 feet, normal pool is 42.4 feet. The lowering of Lake Houston is expected to begin around 10 a.m. tomorrow morning, Monday, May 17. Property owners along the lake should take measures to secure property along the shoreline. At that time Lake Houston will be lowered by 12 inches, from 42.5 feet to 41.5 feet.
To monitor current water levels at Lake Houston, visit www.coastalwaterauthority.org
For more information, please contact the District E office at (832) 393-3008 or via email at districte@houstontx.gov
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Mayor Pro Tem Martin Testifying in Support of SB 1892
HOUSTON – Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin would like to make District E residents aware he will be testifying at the Texas Senate Local Government Committee hearing on Senate Bill (SB) 1892. The hearing is expected to take place on Monday, May 17 at 10:00 a.m. SB 1892, filed by State Senator Brandon Creighton, is the companion bill to State Representative Dan Huberty’s House Bill (HB) 2525 which will create the Lake Houston Dredging and Maintenance District.
Mayor Pro Tem Martin will be testifying at the hearing in strong support of SB 1892, with the unanimous support of the entire Houston City Council. Last week, Mayor Pro Tem Martin provided legislators with a letter of support for the bills.
To watch the hearing you can do so online here. Mayor Pro Tem Martin strongly urges residents to contact their State Senator and calling the Senate Local Government Committee to express support for SB 1892, you can find contact information here
For more information, please contact the District E office at (832) 393-3008 or via email at districte@houstontx.gov
Useful Resources for Seniors from Your Representative
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Cypress Log
Mayor Pro Tem Martin’s May 2021 Newsletter
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Texas Water Development Board Approves Financing for Taylor Gully Project
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 7, 2021
HOUSTON – Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin is happy to announce, during the May 6th meeting of the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), board members approved providing financing to the City of Houston for the proposed Taylor Gully project. The funds are being provided from the TWDB Flood Infrastructure Fund in the amount of $10,100,000.
The Harris County Flood Control District (Flood Control District), Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority (TIRZ 10), and City of Houston, teamed together to conduct a drainage study for the streams within the greater Kingwood area. As part of this drainage study, F-14 General Drainage Improvements Near Kingwood, Taylor Gully was identified as one of the five streams in their scope to investigate.
The proposed project, along Taylor Gully G103-80-03, consists of channel improvements that will upgrade the conveyance capacity of the channel to provide a 100-year LOS. The improvements include channel widening, deepening, and lining. The project would construct a concrete rectangular channel in the center of the existing channel while maintaining the 3:1 grass-lined side slopes which are in good condition. The recommendation aims to minimize channel slope impacts and maintain existing channel banks, with proposed improvements. The project will allow capturing increased sheet flow from Montgomery County, at the upstream end of Taylor Gully, which primarily floods due to riverine conditions.
The project will benefit more than 400 structures, 387 directly benefitted from 100-year stream inundations. An additional 62 structures would be indirectly benefited. This project is one of several projects envisioned in the Kingwood Drainage Analysis. Once the funds are received, the project team will begin on the design and permitting phase portion with an overall timeline for 3-4 years, weather permitting.
For more information, please contact the District E office at (832) 393-3008 or via email at districte@houstontx.gov.
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