Houston

glatt · 08-30-2017, 10:12 AM

It's insane. This is a once in a thousand year flood, but at least some of the impact is caused by building practices in Houston.

I was reading up yesterday about the Addicks reservoir in Houston. It's kind of crazy. There are neighborhoods that were built inside the footprint of area potentially held back by the dam. The top of the earthen dam is at about 115 feet of elevation. Just below the dam, the elevation is about 90 feet. Behind the dam, one neighborhood in particular is located at 109 feet of elevation. So when the reservoir filled up yesterday and even with the flood gates open, the water rose to the level of the top of the dam and started spilling over it, that one neighborhood was 6 feet under water inside the reservoir.

This neighborhood, Barkers Branch, is inside the reservoir.
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So I dropped into street view to see if maybe the houses there were built on stilts.

nope.
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This street is at 109 feet, so the water would be about even with the roof of that truck parked there.

I just have a real hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that they built a neighborhood inside a reservoir.

glatt · 08-30-2017, 10:18 AM

there is even a map that shows the areas that would flood. This neighborhood was in the lump of yellow/green on the left. Green means it was in the flood zone.
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Griff · 08-30-2017, 11:15 AM

Could we have less foresight?

Gravdigr · 08-30-2017, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt

I just have a real hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that they built a neighborhood inside a reservoir.

There was an entire band of idiots involved there. Think of how many steps/committees/entities that plan had to make it past.

Horrible, horrible decision-making.

08-30-2017, 10:12 AM	#1
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	It's insane. This is a once in a thousand year flood, but at least some of the impact is caused by building practices in Houston. I was reading up yesterday about the Addicks reservoir in Houston. It's kind of crazy. There are neighborhoods that were built inside the footprint of area potentially held back by the dam. The top of the earthen dam is at about 115 feet of elevation. Just below the dam, the elevation is about 90 feet. Behind the dam, one neighborhood in particular is located at 109 feet of elevation. So when the reservoir filled up yesterday and even with the flood gates open, the water rose to the level of the top of the dam and started spilling over it, that one neighborhood was 6 feet under water inside the reservoir. This neighborhood, Barkers Branch, is inside the reservoir. So I dropped into street view to see if maybe the houses there were built on stilts. nope. This street is at 109 feet, so the water would be about even with the roof of that truck parked there. I just have a real hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that they built a neighborhood inside a reservoir.

08-30-2017, 11:15 AM	#3
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Could we have less foresight? __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

08-30-2017, 10:18 AM	#2
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	there is even a map that shows the areas that would flood. This neighborhood was in the lump of yellow/green on the left. Green means it was in the flood zone.

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