Funding for Coastal Spine, third Houston reservoir study announced by USACE

HOUSTON – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced more supplemental funds nationwide to help with long-term and short-term disaster projects across the country. Texas will get $5 billion.  

According to Harris County Judge Emmett's office, this all appears to be new money; none of it is reimbursements.

The big ticket item is the Coastal Spine. It's a project to protect the coast line, from Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay, from a hurricane. USACE will fund $3,957,134,000 for the Coastal Spine.

READ MORE about the Coastal Spine

Also approved was a study to look at the feasibility of building a third reservoir, in addition to the Addicks and Barker reservoirs.

An additional $3 million was approved to fund a top-to-bottom wide-ranging study of flooding the Houston metropolitan area.  The Houston Regional Watershed Assessment would examine 22 watersheds and analyze how stormwater moves from rooftops and streets to bayous and creeks and eventually to Galveston Bay.

According to Emmett's office, they've been asking for this money for a long time. 

"A lot of the things we've been asking for -- for many years -- is coming to pass. Harris County Flood Control, the judge's Office is looking at this," Joe Stinebaker, Director of Communication for Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, said. "This appears to be extremely good news for Harris county. We are very grateful for it." 

READ: U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers allocates $500 million for Texas flood projects

Stinebaker added, "If the Flood Bond Proposal passes, these two combined could have an extremely significant effect on flood mitigation."

Emmett's office, the Harris County Flood Control District and the Galveston District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers all learned about the funding late Thursday afternoon.

They all plan to make statements Friday morning.

"The billions allocated to Texas today is welcome news as we continue to rebuild in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey," Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said. "This funding will go a long way toward future-proofing Texas against another hurricane and strengthening our infrastructure to withstand dangerous flooding."

Projects included in the announcement, as described by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Abbott's Office:

• Brays Bayou – $75,000,000 
• Buffalo Bayou and Tributaries - $1,454,000 
• Clear Creek - $295,165,000 
• Dallas Floodway - $222,911,000 
• Dallas Floodway Extension - $53,000,000 
• Hunting Bayou - $65,000,000 
• Lewisville Dam - $91,959,000 
• Lower Colorado River - $73,290,000 
• Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay - $3,957,134,000 
• White Oak Bayou - $45,000,000 

Studies included in the announcement, as described by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Abbott's Office:

• Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Study - $1,902,000 
• Buffalo Bayou and Tributaries Study  - $6,000,000 
• Houston Regional Watershed Assessment -  $3,000,000 
• Brazos River, Fort Bend County Erosion Management Study - $3,000,000 
• Guadalupe and San Antonio River Basins - $2,000,000