McCaul: Next Harvey Aid Bill Will Authorize Third Reservoir For Harris County

Andrew Schneider

Congressman Michael McCaul says the federal government will build a third reservoir for Harris County. The reservoir would go in the Cypress Creek watershed, upstream from the Addicks and Barker Reservoirs. McCaul says he'll make certain the next Harvey aid bill includes language directing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to begin work on the project.

Early estimates put the cost of the project at about $600 million. Under McCaul's plan, much of the money would come from Corps and FEMA funding. But he says the main reason for putting the project in the Harvey supplemental is speed.

"If we went the normal process," the congressman said, "working through the Army Corps, it would take many years – five, maybe even up to ten. I don't think Cypress and Katy and the Greater Houston area can wait that long."

During Harvey, the overflow from Cypress Creek washed down into Addicks and Barker , threatening the integrity of their dams. More than 4 million people live between those dams and Galveston Bay.

"This is probably the highest priority in the state in terms of flood control for the number of people who would be affected and the number of people whose lives and homes we could save if we simply do what the federal government intended to do 70 years ago and ran out of money," said State Representative Mike Schofield.

The Army Corps of Engineers originally planned to build a levee in the Cypress Creek watershed in the 1940s, as part of the flood control project that included the Addicks and Barker Reservoirs.

Congress is expected to vote on the Harvey aid bill this month.