Major Flood Mitigation Project Set to Begin on T.C. Jester Stormwater Detention Basin in Cypress Creek Area
Construction is gearing up on the long-anticipated T.C. Jester Stormwater Detention Basin, a critical flood mitigation project in the Cypress Creek watershed that’s designed to reduce stormwater flooding in surrounding neighborhoods.
Led by the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD), this large-scale infrastructure effort will unfold in phases, starting soon with activities on the basin’s eastern compartments. Once complete, the full project will deliver over 1,200 acre-feet of stormwater storage capacity — the equivalent of over 1,200 football fields each holding one foot of water.
Located along T.C. Jester Boulevard between Cypresswood Drive and Cypress Creek in northwest Harris County, the project’s eastern section spans approximately 128 acres and includes three engineered compartments: 1A, 1B, and 2. These are expected to provide around 1,000 acre-feet of stormwater detention, offering substantial flood resilience in a historically flood-prone region.
Local, State, and Federal Funding Power the Project
The construction will roll out in two major bid packages for the east compartments:
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Compartment 1B will be funded through $12 million in state-directed funding secured by State Representative Sam Harless, in partnership with the Texas Water Development Board, and $20.8 million in Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds.
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Compartments 1A and 2 are backed by $9.95 million in federal community-directed funds secured by Congressman Dan Crenshaw and an additional $2.5 million from the 2018 Harris County Bond Program.
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Construction on Compartment 1B is expected to reach design completion by late 2025, with the project going out for bids around the same time. If all stays on schedule, construction is set to begin in the second quarter of 2026 and wrap up by the end of 2028.
For Compartments 1A and 2, site preparation is anticipated to begin in early 2026. Final design work should be completed by mid-2026, followed by the bidding process in the third quarter. Construction is projected to start in late 2026 and finish in early 2028.
West Compartment Also on the Horizon
The west side of the project, located on the opposite side of T.C. Jester Boulevard, consists of a single large detention basin across 44 acres. This segment is expected to store up to 200 acre-feet of stormwater.
It will be funded by $16.4 million in Community Development Block Grant – Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) funding, with an additional $1 million contributed from the 2018 Bond Program.
For the west compartment of the project, the design is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2026. The bidding process will begin shortly after, also in late 2026. Construction is planned to start in early 2027 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2028.
Click to enlarge. (Source: HCFCD)A Regional Solution to Regional Flooding
This major project is part of a broader strategy to mitigate flooding in the Cypress Creek watershed, where studies have shown that flooding along tributaries often results from backflow from Cypress Creek itself, not inadequate local infrastructure.
That’s where the T.C. Jester Stormwater Detention Basin comes in. By holding back stormwater during heavy rains, the basin helps keep water levels more manageable across a vast regional network. The basin is one of several planned in the area to protect homes, schools, and infrastructure from repeat flooding.
Total Project Cost and Community Impact
The combined cost for all four compartments is estimated at over $64 million:
- East Compartments 1A & 2: $11.5 million
- East Compartment 1B: $36.3 million
- West Compartment: $16.4 million
“This is a smart investment in protecting our neighborhoods,” said Commissioner Tom Ramsey of Precinct 3, whose team has supported the project’s development. “We’re proud to see state, federal, and local agencies come together to make flood resilience a top priority for Cypress and surrounding communities.”
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Stay Connected and Get Involved
Residents are encouraged to follow construction updates and can submit questions or comments about the project directly through the Harris County Flood Control District website.
As construction gets underway, residents in northwest Harris County, Cypress, and along the T.C. Jester corridor can expect to see visible progress on long-term efforts aimed at reducing flood risk in the area.
For more information and to view project documents, visit the HCFCD T.C. Jester Basin Project Page at hcfcd.org/TCJester.
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.
