GALVESTON, Texas (June 21, 2018) Army Corps of Engineers are not anticipating any flooding consequences due to routine releases from Addicks and Barker reservoirs.
“Houston has experienced the first significant rain event since Hurricane Harvey,” said Michael Kauffman, a USACE Galveston District registered professional engineer and certified floodplain manager. “We began making normal releases from the Addicks and Barker reservoirs today and are observing to monitor any unforeseen flooding.”
Kauffman said reservoir rain water will flow from the reservoirs into Buffalo Bayou. Corps, City of Houston, and Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD), officials are aware of the releases. A Corps monitor will be present to physically record observations. Kauffman said HCFCD communicated that as water is released, any existing siltation present within the Buffalo Bayou should not contribute to flooding .
He explained, “If we see flooding, we will immediately reduce the rate of water flow and notify our partners at the HCFCD.” In the unlikely event of flooding, residents should contact the Galveston District Corps of Engineers at 409-766-3005 or e-mail at Galveston.TX.PublicAffairs@usace.army.mil.
Kauffman’s team of reservoir forecasters modeled releases and do not see any threat of flooding. Releases began at 1 p.m. today at a rate of 1,280 cubic feet per second (cfs) of water.
Scheduled releases were announced that water releases occur today at 1330 (1:30 P.M.) to 1600 (4 P.M.), and will increase to a combined release of ~1280 cfs. At 2000 (8PM) to 2100 (9PM), a combined release increase of~1650 cfs is scheduled.
Addicks Reservoir was at elevation 89.13ft NAVD88 and rising as of 1230 today, which is 10.0% of its government storage capacity and 6.4% of its total capacity. Addicks is currently in Stage 1 Extended Watch.
Barker Reservoir was at elevation 86.24ft NAVD88 and rising as of 1230 today, which is 11.4% of its government storage capacity and 4.5% of its total capacity. Barker is currently in Stage 1 Extended Watch.
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