Infrastructure

Less than two months after Harris County officials gathered near Cypress Creek to celebrate a major flood control milestone, another phase of construction is preparing to get underway. For northwest Harris County homeowners and families concerned about flooding, the latest development brings the T.C. Jester Stormwater Detention Basin another step closer to its planned capacity of nearly 400 million gallons.

The Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) announced October 8, 2026, that construction on Compartments 1A and 2 is expected to begin before the end of the year, expanding work already underway on Compartment 1B near T.C. Jester Boulevard and Cypresswood Drive. Once construction begins on these additional sections, three of the project's four planned compartments will be in progress.

As previously reported by My Neighborhood News, Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey and Flood Control District officials marked the ceremonial groundbreaking of Compartment 1B on August 19, 2026. That section alone is expected to provide approximately 793 acre-feet of stormwater storage. The next two compartments will add approximately 210 acre-feet, bringing the planned eastern portion of the detention basin system to roughly 1,000 acre-feet.

Together, these improvements are part of a broader effort to reduce flood risks along Cypress Creek, where heavy rainfall and rising creek levels can create serious drainage challenges for surrounding neighborhoods.

What Residents Near T.C. Jester Boulevard and Cypresswood Drive Can Expect

With construction on Compartments 1A and 2 scheduled to begin during the fourth quarter of 2026, nearby residents and motorists can expect to see additional construction activity in the area.

The initial work will involve contractor mobilization, site preparation and related activities as crews begin preparing the two sections for excavation and development.

According to HCFCD, contractors will access the project through two designated locations:

• Compartment 1A: Near Cypresswood Drive.
• Compartment 2: Near T.C. Jester Boulevard, just south of Cypress Creek.

While the district has identified the construction access points, its October 8 announcement does not specify anticipated lane closures or traffic disruptions.

Residents traveling near the construction areas are encouraged to remain aware of equipment and activity, follow posted signs and avoid entering restricted work zones.

Construction on both compartments is anticipated to be completed during the second quarter of 2027, although schedules may change as work progresses.

Nearly 400 Million Gallons of Stormwater Storage Planned for Cypress Creek

The two compartments preparing for construction represent another significant addition to the overall T.C. Jester Stormwater Detention Basin.

Compartments 1A and 2 are expected to provide approximately 210 acre-feet of stormwater storage, equivalent to roughly 210 football fields covered with one foot of water.

A stormwater detention basin temporarily collects excess runoff during heavy rain events, helping slow the volume of water entering surrounding drainage systems and waterways.

For families who have experienced flooding or watched Cypress Creek rise during major storms, that additional storage serves a practical purpose: giving stormwater more room to collect before it contributes to rising water levels elsewhere.

The complete T.C. Jester project includes four planned compartments:

• Compartment 1B: Approximately 793 acre-feet of storage, with construction already underway.
• Compartments 1A and 2: Approximately 210 acre-feet combined, with construction expected to begin in late 2026.
• West compartment: Up to 200 acre-feet of storage, with construction anticipated to begin in 2027.

The three eastern compartments occupy portions of approximately 128 acres along T.C. Jester Boulevard, between Cypresswood Drive and Cypress Creek. The western compartment is planned for approximately 44 acres on the opposite side of T.C. Jester Boulevard.

Once all four compartments are completed, the basin system is expected to provide approximately 1,200 acre-feet of stormwater storage, or nearly 400 million gallons.

That volume is equivalent to approximately 590 Olympic-size swimming pools, illustrating the scale of the infrastructure being developed along this stretch of Cypress Creek.

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August Groundbreaking Marked an Important Milestone for Compartment 1B

The latest construction announcement follows the August 19 ceremonial groundbreaking for Compartment 1B, an event that brought together Harris County Precinct 3 and HCFCD officials to recognize progress on the larger flood mitigation project.

Although construction activities for Compartment 1B began earlier in 2026, the August ceremony highlighted the project's significance to communities that have experienced flooding concerns for years.

“This project represents taking another step toward protecting people, homes, businesses, and our communities from flooding,” Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom S. Ramsey, P.E., said during the August groundbreaking. “When heavy rain comes, flooding can change lives in a matter of minutes. Projects like this are about giving families greater peace of mind when the next major storm arrives.”

Compartment 1B includes substantial excavation work and an overflow weir designed to allow stormwater from Cypress Creek to enter the detention basin during heavy rainfall. Northtex Construction is serving as the contractor for that section.

With construction on Compartments 1A and 2 approaching, the project is progressing beyond its first major section and toward the broader detention system envisioned for the area.

Why Harris County Is Investing in More Cypress Creek Detention Basins

The T.C. Jester project is part of the larger Cypress Creek Implementation Program, which focuses on reducing flood risks throughout the watershed.

Previous regional drainage studies found that flooding along many Cypress Creek tributaries is largely associated with high water levels in Cypress Creek backing up into smaller waterways, rather than a simple lack of drainage capacity within those tributaries.

That finding helps explain the district's emphasis on building additional stormwater detention basins.

Rather than relying exclusively on drainage channel improvements, detention projects provide temporary storage that can help manage stormwater during periods of heavy rainfall.

As detailed in My Neighborhood News' August coverage, the Cypress Creek watershed stretches across approximately 267 square miles, extending through northwest Harris County and into Waller County. Its size, development history and interconnected waterways make regional drainage improvements especially important.

While no single detention basin can eliminate flooding, the additional capacity planned at T.C. Jester is intended to become one part of the area's larger flood risk reduction system.

$9.5 Million Construction Contract Awarded for Compartments 1A and 2

The expansion into Compartments 1A and 2 is supported by federal and local funding.

Harris County Commissioners Court approved a $9,510,778 construction contract with Texas Dewatering, LLC on August 25, 2026, for work on the two compartments. The contract covers clearing and excavation activities associated with the new detention basins.

According to HCFCD's October 8 announcement, the Flood Control District expects to contribute up to $3.3 million toward these sections, including $600,000 from the 2018 Harris County Flood Control Bond Program.

The compartments are also expected to receive up to $9.9 million in federal Community Project Funding secured by Congressman Dan Crenshaw through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Separate funding supports the other sections of the detention basin project.

Compartment 1B received $12 million in state community-directed funding secured by State Representative Sam Harless through the Texas Water Development Board. Updated district information also identifies up to $25.9 million in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding for that compartment.

The planned western compartment is expected to receive $16.4 million through Community Development Block Grant Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) funding and $1 million from the 2018 Bond Program.

These funding partnerships help support the construction of detention infrastructure across multiple phases, rather than requiring the entire system to be completed under a single construction contract.

When Will the T.C. Jester Stormwater Detention Basin Be Completed?

The project continues to move forward in phases, with multiple sections expected to be under construction simultaneously during the coming months.

According to the Flood Control District's latest information:

The district's published project information identifies the first quarter of 2027 as the anticipated start for the west compartment, while its October 8 announcement references the second quarter. A confirmed start date for that section has not been established in the information provided.

For nearby neighborhoods, construction activity around T.C. Jester Boulevard and Cypresswood Drive will continue as work progresses on the eastern compartments.

The anticipated completion of Compartments 1A, 1B and 2 in the second quarter of 2027 would mark a major milestone toward achieving the detention system's overall storage goals.

What Happens Next for Northwest Harris County Residents?

As the next phase begins, residents should watch for construction equipment, site preparation and activity near the designated entrances along Cypresswood Drive and T.C. Jester Boulevard.

The Flood Control District encourages residents to respect construction warning signs and report any concerns through its official communication channels.

Questions or comments about the project can be submitted through the T.C. Jester Stormwater Detention Basin project page. Residents can also report drainage or maintenance issues through the district's online service request system or by calling 346-286-4197.

For homeowners and families along Cypress Creek, the latest announcement is another indication of progress on a flood mitigation project that has been years in the making. With one major compartment already under construction and two more preparing to begin, the long-term plans for additional stormwater storage are steadily taking shape.

Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for continued coverage of the T.C. Jester Stormwater Detention Basin, Cypress Creek flood mitigation efforts and infrastructure improvements affecting northwest Harris County neighborhoods.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

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.

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