$25 Million Addicks Reservoir Maintenance Project Breaks Ground to Protect West Harris County Communities
For residents across western Harris County, flood protection is not an abstract concept — it’s a lived experience shaped by past storms and ongoing growth. That reality was front and center Tuesday as Commissioner Lesley Briones, Commissioner Tom Ramsey, and the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) marked the start of the $25 million Addicks Reservoir Rehabilitation and Restoration Project, one of the largest flood infrastructure maintenance efforts currently underway in the county.
The project, funded through HCFCD’s voter-approved maintenance program passed in November 2024, focuses on restoring the reservoir’s ability to safely move stormwater during major rain events. The work includes repairs across approximately eight miles of channels, sediment removal, erosion stabilization, and capacity restoration throughout the Addicks Reservoir system.
“This region has been impacted by multiple storms over the last 10 years,” said Dr. Tina Petersen, Executive Director of the Harris County Flood Control District. “Those storms brought unprecedented amounts of sediment into the channels that drain into the Addicks Reservoir, causing sediment accumulation in some areas and erosion in other areas.”
According to HCFCD, the project addresses a long-standing maintenance backlog created after major events such as the 2016 Tax Day floods and Hurricane Harvey. While post-Harvey restoration efforts were launched quickly, officials say more work remained — prompting this multi-year, $25 million investment that targets 24 different locations within the watershed.
“These channels play a critical role in carrying stormwater to the reservoirs,” Petersen added, noting the project strengthens a system that reduces flood risk for thousands of homes and businesses across northwest Harris County.
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A System Serving Hundreds of Thousands
The Addicks Reservoir watershed spans roughly 138 square miles and includes major waterways such as Langham Creek, Bear Creek, Horsepen Creek, and South Mayde Creek. Stormwater collected here ultimately drains into Buffalo Bayou, flowing through Houston and into the Houston Ship Channel. The Harris County portion of the watershed is home to an estimated 390,402 residents, a number that continues to grow as development expands westward.
Commissioner Lesley Briones emphasized that the maintenance work is just as critical as new flood mitigation projects — especially in a county responsible for maintaining 2,500 miles of channels.
“This project in this area will enhance safety for approximately one million residents,” Briones said during her remarks. “With this $25 million investment — eight miles of repair and restoration over 24 different sites — this project will offer safety and protection.”
Briones also spoke personally about the emotional toll flooding has taken on families across the county, underscoring why consistent maintenance matters as much as large-scale construction.
“At the end of the day, I’m not standing here as a commissioner — I’m standing here as a mom,” she said. “I have seen the water racing in my backyard, and you are afraid. So know that we will be relentless in delivering these flood bond projects and using this maintenance investment to keep our families as safe as possible.”
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What the Work Includes
Beyond channel repairs, the project will remove 50,000 cubic yards of sediment, install 11,000 linear feet of storm pipe, and place approximately 115,000 tons of rock to stabilize eroded slopes — a key step in preventing future sediment buildup and protecting nearby neighborhoods.
Commissioner Tom Ramsey noted that many creeks and channels in Harris County have never received this level of maintenance.
“There are some of these 2,500 miles of creeks and channels that have never been maintained,” Ramsey said. “This is a clear example of what that flood maintenance program will look like — actually dealing with the issues that impact homes and neighborhoods.”
A Reservoir With a Long History — and a Critical Future
Built in the 1940s alongside Barker Reservoir, Addicks Reservoir was completed in 1948 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as part of a federal effort to reduce flooding along Buffalo Bayou. The reservoir is a “dry” system, meaning it does not hold water unless significant rainfall occurs. During storms, gates are closed to store floodwaters and reopened later under controlled conditions to reduce downstream flooding.
As development continues across western Harris County and rainfall patterns grow more intense, county leaders say maintenance investments like this one are essential to keeping the system functioning as designed.
With construction now underway, the Addicks Reservoir Rehabilitation and Restoration Project represents a major step toward long-term flood resilience — not only preserving decades-old infrastructure, but reinforcing public trust that flood protection remains a top priority for Harris County communities before, during, and after the next storm.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
