Dredge begins operations along West Fork of San Jacinto River

Published Sept. 20, 2018

UPDATED: Sept. 20, 2018 5:10 p.m.

GALVESTON, Texas (September 20, 2019) − A FEMA funded emergency dredging operation is now underway today along the West Fork of the San Jacinto River.

“We faced some recent delays due to weather and dredge assembly but the dredge is on station and is now removing debris to help reduce flood risks,” said Alton Meyer, a USACE Galveston District professional engineer and project administrative contracting officer.

The dredge, one of two scheduled to operate, weighs approximately 27 tons, will be in the river 24 hours per day until early May of 2019.  Meyer said recreational boaters need to stay clear of the dredge and be aware of debris removal pipelines and booster pumps within the river.

Over 4.5 miles of high density polyethylene pipeline measuring 24 inches in diameter is in position and will help move over 1.8 million cubic years of sediment and debris.

Meyers said two placement sites are fully staged where booster pumps will pull material from the dredge and through the miles of pipeline. 

The FEMA-funded project covers about two miles of the West Fork of the San Jacinto River near the West Lake Houston Parkway and Lake Houston. FEMA guidelines limit the operation to restoring the area to pre-Harvey conditions.

In April, Corps surveying and subsequent modeling began to determine sediment to be removed within the West Fork after FEMA responded to a State of Texas request under the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Act of 1988. 

For regular weekly updates: Select link (Under Emergency management monthly news)

https://swg.usace.afpims.mil/Business-With-Us/Emergency-Management-Office/

 The USACE Galveston District was established in 1880 as the first engineer district in Texas to oversee river and harbor improvements. The district is directly responsible for maintaining more than 1,000 miles of channel, including 250 miles of deep draft and 750 miles of shallow draft as well as the Colorado River Locks and Brazos River Floodgates.

 

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Contact
LTC Mark Williford
409-766-3004
Galveston.TX.PublicAffairs@usace.army.mil

Release no. 18-047