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Residents press board on Creekside Park flood risk; trustees discuss South Gosling Park planning
Summary
A Creekside Park resident told the Township Board on April 17 that upstream development is shrinking stormwater storage and increasing flood risk, and staff briefed directors on how South Gosling Park's floodplain limits development options.
A Creekside Park resident told the Township Board on April 17 that continued development in the Upper Spring Creek watershed has reduced stormwater storage and increased runoff, raising flood risk in the village.
Marcus Allen urged the board to take three steps: direct the township lobbyist to promote Texas legislation for a multi-county Upper Spring Creek management plan; request specific plans from the Harris County Flood Control District to reduce flood risk in Creekside Park; and coordinate with Harris County Precinct 3 on using portions of South Gosling Park to reduce flood risk.
The board then received an update on South Gosling Park from Chris Nunes, chief operating officer. Nunes said South Gosling Park is a 208-acre tract on Spring Creek conveyed to the township in February 2023. He said preliminary planning shows about 42 acres are outside the 100-year floodplain and approximately 173 acres are in the floodway — a constraint that limits development options and informed the staff recommendation to bring conceptual master planning back to the board during strategic planning.
Directors asked staff to invite the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA), Woodlands Water Agency and county flood-control staff to the strategic planning session so the board can evaluate mitigation possibilities in context with upstream and downstream watershed work. Director Sekula Gibbs and others noted that portions of the creek lie in both Harris and Montgomery counties and that a coordinated, watershed-scale approach would be required to assess the park's mitigation potential.
Why it matters: South Gosling is adjacent to Spring Creek and includes significant floodplain; the park's constraints affect what the township can do for recreation and any potential flood mitigation. Residents near Creekside Park asked the board for legislative and interagency action ahead of hurricane season.
Board direction and next steps: The board punted detailed decisions on South Gosling Park to the upcoming strategic planning session and asked staff to prepare background materials, including engineering and watershed information, and to invite SJRA, Woodlands Water and county officials. Marcus Allen's specific requests were recorded for follow-up: lobbying support for a multi-county management plan, targeted inquiries to Harris County Flood Control District and engagement with Harris County Precinct 3 about possible use of South Gosling land for mitigation.
Quotes from the meeting: "Creekside Park's flood risk is increasing," Marcus Allen said during public comment. Chris Nunes noted the site's constraints: "42 acres was outside of the 100 year floodplain, and 173 acres was actually in the floodway."
