At its annual stakeholder meeting on March 27, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) presented its preliminary scope and alternatives for Buffalo Bayou that it plans to evaluate under a “Section 216” study.
Project Manager, Andrew Weber, P.E., explained that USACE would explore three alternatives for detention and three alternatives for conveyance.
The first detention alternative was essentially to repair Addicks and Barker Reservoirs without any additional work. The next alternative was to construct at least one additional reservoir, including the “Third Reservoir.” The last detention alternative would explore creating additional storage capacity inside the existing reservoirs. Conveyance alternatives include tunnels, diversion, and channel improvements.
USACE will hold at least one public scoping meeting for the project in late April or early May and plans to release a draft report by June 2020 with a final Chief’s Report due in October 2021.