HCFCD Executive Director Tina Petersen said the restoration will tackle sediment buildup and erosion along the channels caused by the Tax Day Flood in 2016 and Hurricane Harvey in 2017. She said the project aims to address a \u201cbacklog\u201d of maintenance at an estimated 24 different channel sites.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese channels play a critical role in carrying storm water to the reservoirs, and it strengthens this system and provides critical flood risk reduction for thousands of homes and businesses across northwest Harris County,\u201d Petersen said during a Jan. 20 news conference.<\/p>\n
![\"HCFCD](\"https:\/\/communityimpact.com\/uploads\/images\/2026\/01\/21\/405770.jpg\")
HCFCD Executive Director Tina Petersen said the project was made possible by the support of Harris County voters in November 2024. (Sarah Brager\/Community Impact)A closer look <\/p>\n
HCFCD will spend approximately $5 million annually over the next five years, Petersen said. Funding for the channel restoration comes from a tax rate increase narrowly approved by voters in November 2024, Community Impact previously reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n The project is separate from Harris County\u2019s 2018 flood control bond program, which includes $2.5 billion in bond funds and $2.7 billion in partner funds for an assortment of flood mitigation initiatives. However, Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey said the Addicks project places a similar focus on flood maintenance.<\/p>\n “><\/p>\n Ramsey said the scope of work includes:<\/p>\n 8 miles of channel repair11,000 linear feet of storm pipe placement50,000 cubic yards of sediment removal115,000 tons of rock for slope stabilization\u201cI can tell you that when the storms hit, it impacts people, it impacts their homes, and we need to provide more assurance to them that not every storm\u2014not every time it clouds up\u2014that we\u2019re going to have an event,\u201d Ramsey said.<\/p>\n Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones said Harris County residents carry a shared trauma following Hurricane Harvey\u2019s destruction, and voter approval of the flood maintenance funding represents an investment in community safety.<\/p>\n \u201cKnow that we will be relentless in delivering the flood bond projects as well as using this investment that you have made in maintenance so that we can keep our families as safe as possible,\u201d Briones said. \u201cWe know it\u2019s not a matter of if, it\u2019s just a matter of when.\u201d<\/p>\n Before you go<\/p>\n The $25 million investment builds on two previous phases of work along the Addicks channels, according to the project\u2019s website.<\/p>\n The first repair package included restoration along Langham Creek and Horsepen Creek, and the second repair package focused on Bear Creek and South Mayde Creek, according to the scope of work. Both packages, totaling about $30 million, were funded by the 2018 bond, according to HCFCD.<\/p>\n