Construction of a vital flood control project across three cities is set to begin by early summer.

The project

The $32 million Poor Farm Ditch project aims to reconstruct a longstanding failing concrete lining along the human-made ditch.

Design work on the project has been underway since 2015, though studies into the stormwater conveyance channel date back to the 1990s, Harris County Flood Control District officials said.

After more than 10 years of design work, Poor Farm Ditch is moving forward—with a boost in funding from city, county and federal dollars.

Flood district officials gave a formal update during a Feb. 3 public meeting at the West University Place administration building, detailing the flood mitigation project that runs from just south of Greenway Plaza to Brays Bayou through the cities of Houston, West University Place and Southside Place.

Months earlier, during a Dec. 8 West University City Council meeting, Public Works Director Michael Leech said the work will last at least two to four years. This particular channel restoration project will start at the end of the channel along Bellaire Boulevard and move north toward University Boulevard.

Digging deeper

Poor Farm Ditch north of University Boulevard has enough stormwater storage capacity to withstand a 100-year storm event, but the channel’s capacity downstream toward Bellaire Boulevard would need to be enlarged by as much as 75% to withstand the same water capacity, according to a 2004 HCFCD feasibility study.

The context

Council member John Bertini said a third of West U homes in the floodplain are drained by Poor Farm Ditch. As decisions are being made, maintaining a high-performing flood project should be a priority, he said.

“I have a hard time explaining to those thousands of homeowners, because we’re saving one or two trees, we are doing something less than ideal for the major drain artery,” Bertini said. “So, you know, trees are wonderful, but we can do without one or two to preserve the best possible ditch.”

West U resident Mardi Turner lives one block away from the ditch and said she is excited about the flood control project moving forward and its impact on residents.

“Poor Farm Ditch south of University [Boulevard] is literally falling on itself,” Turner said. “Kudos to [Harris County Flood Control District] for finally taking this on.”

West U officials said in December that they would notify at least 31 property owners affected by the planned widening along the city’s southern edge. By February, Leech said the handful of residents he spoke with supported the changes needed to meet the county’s project requirements, such as fence encroachments that will need to be moved.

A closer look

West U officials budgeted $200,000 for project enhancements at several infrastructure points, such as replacing the pedestrian bridge that runs through both Southside Place and West University. The plan includes adding root barriers along Virginia Court to support future city trees or landscaping, Leech said. This includes an approved plant list that has minimal impact on the ditch’s structure.

In most locations after construction, HCFCD will install a 6-foot permanent chain-link fence along the channel limits to secure access, according to City Council agenda documents. Some locations will also have a maintenance walkway inside the fence.

Homeowners may be allowed to reinstall a fence after construction, Leech said, but they must negotiate directly with HCFCD on a case-by-case basis. Any approval on county property will come from an agreement between both parties, he said. If HCFCD needs access to project areas in the future, the homeowner must remove the fence at their own expense, he said, and cannot block access.

The framework

The $32 million in funding to improve Poor Farm Ditch was secured from multiple entities, including federal and state funding, two cities and one county.

“We’re getting a massive project with very little expense on our part,” council member John Barnes said. “The money that’s going to be put in by the city of West University Place is not going to be passed onto taxpayers—it’s already paid for.”

The timeline

Emily Woodell, HCFCD chief external affairs officer, said the project design for Poor Farm Ditch is complete, with bids for potential contractors having opened in February.

Construction is anticipated to start in early summer and occur in 500-foot segments to minimize impact to residents. Woodell said the entire project is set to be completed by 2030.