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HOUSTON - Mayor Pro Tem Martin would like to make Lake Houston residents aware the State has agreed to two requests to include both funding for the Lake Houston Spillway Dam Improvement Project, sediment capture projects, and both structural and nonstructural improvements for the San Jacinto River and Lake Houston in order to convey future floodwaters. Mayor Pro Tem credits the success of this funding to the hundreds of community members who answered the call to action and called State leaders over the last two weeks.
The Lake Houston area is blessed with many engaged residents and together the "fix" for the Lake Houston Gates is finally on the horizon. This new state funding signals to the federal government the City of Houston is ready to move forward. It is important to note the Lake Houston Spillway Dam Improvement Project has a benefit to cost ratio of 3.5, which is the highest rated project in the state of Texas.
The specific requests included in a rider to the 88th Legislature's Appropriations Bill (page 243/4) are in Sec. 17.38. Appropriation: Texas Water Development Board Water Grants and Lake Houston Accumulated Siltation.
(a) Water Development Board Water Grant Projects. In addition to amounts appropriated elsewhere in this Act, $106,900,000 in General Revenue is appropriated to the Water Development Board in Strategy C.1.1, State and Federal Financial Assistance Programs, in fiscal year 2024 for grants for the following water projects in the following amounts: (1) $50,000,000 for structural improvements to the Lake Houston Dam Spillway
(b) Unexpended Balances. Any unexpended balances remaining as of August 31, 2023, from appropriations made to the Water Development Board in Strategy B.1.1, State and Federal Financial Assistance Programs, in the 2022-23 biennium (estimated to be $0) are appropriated to the Water Development Board in Strategy C.1.1, State and Federal Financial Assistance Programs, for the fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2023, for the following purposes: (1) removing accumulated siltation and sediment deposits throughout the San Jacinto River and Lake Houston; (2) sediment capture pilot projects upstream of Lake Houston; and (3) structural and nonstructural improvements for the San Jacinto River and Lake Houston to convey future floodwaters. Any unexpended and unobligated balances remaining as of August 31, 2024, are appropriated for the same purpose in the fiscal year beginning September 1, 2024
These state funds in the amount of $50 million dollars will be utilized in the final design and construction of eleven new flood control gates to be added on the east embankment of the Lake Houston Spillway Dam. The City of Houston has spent $4.375 million on design for the Lake Houston Spillway Dam Improvement Project securing $48 million dollars from the federal government along with $30 million dollars in local funds. U.S. Congressman Dan Crenshaw has also been instrumental in securing an $8 million dollar earmark and $38 million dollars in additional money for dredging in the San Jacinto River and Lake Houston.
The last several months Mayor Pro Tem has visited Austin multiple times diligently meeting with representatives, legislative committee staff members, collecting over twenty letters of support from elected officials, and kicking off a grassroots campaign to accomplish the goal to fund much needed post Harvey improvements in the San Jacinto River Watershed. The District E office plans to host a falling community meeting in Kingwood to present the design concept and details related to the Lake Houston Spillway Dam Improvement Project, future dredging and sediment capture, as well as, progress on the expansion of Northpark Drive.
Thank you to U.S. Congressman Dan Crenshaw, U.S. Congressman Dan Crenshaw's District Director Kaaren Cambio, Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, State Senator Brandon Creighton, State Senator/Chairwoman Joan Huffman, Speaker Dade Phelan, State Representative Charles Cunningham, State Representative/House Appropriations Chair Greg Bonnen, State Representative Armando Walle, Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough, Montgomery County Commissioner Matt Gray, Harris County Commissioner Tom Ramsey, City of Humble Mayor Norman Funderburk, Humble City Manager Jason Stuebe, City of Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, City of Houston Chief Recovery Officer Stephen Costello, City of Houston Government Relations Team led by Bill Kelly and consultants Dan Huberty, Ben Melson. Additional thanks to our communities of support including Humble Independent School District, San Jacinto River Authority, Kingwood Super Neighborhood, Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority, Kingwood Service Association, Greater East Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, Greater Houston Partnership, Lake Conroe Association, Partnership Lake Houston, and North Houston Association. None of this would have been possible without these amazing representatives and partners.
For more information, please contact Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin's office at (832) 393-3008 or districte@houstontx.gov.
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