Houston Republic

On June 28, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) joined Southside Place Mayor Andy Chan, City of West University Place Mayor Susan Sample, Texas House District 134 Representative Ann Johnson, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, and Harris County Flood Control District Executive Director Tina Petersen to announce that they have secured $32 million in funding to move forward with the reconstruction of Poor Farm Ditch.  Representatives from the offices of Texas State Senators Joan Huffman and John Whitmire were also present for the announcement.

Poor Farm Ditch is a man-made drainage channel that carries stormwater from north of West University Place and Southside Place to Brays Bayou.   

“The partnership that has made funding for the Poor Farm Ditch Rehabilitation Project possible reflects what we can do when we work together,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher.  “We have worked across all levels of government and across the aisle to secure funds for an important investment to keep our community safe from flooding.  I am glad to partner with Southside Place Mayor Andy Chan, West University Place Mayor Susan Sample, Representative Ann Johnson, Senators Joan Huffman and John Whitmire, Commissioner Rodney Ellis, and the Harris County Flood Control District to identify not only problems but solutions.  This has been true collaborative process, and I am proud to have secured nearly $10 million in funds to move this project forward.”

“We stand here today as a unified display of what cooperation among the different levels of government can do. Together, we secured $31.286 million dollars for the common good of the community and the citizens we serve,” said Southside Place Mayor Andy Chan.  “Thank you to U.S. Congresswoman Fletcher, Texas State Senator Joan Huffman, Texas State Senator John Whitmire, Texas Representative Ann Johnson, Texas Representative Armando Walle, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Harris County Flood Control District Director Dr. Tina Petersen, and the City of West University Place Mayor Susan Sample for being partners in finding a solution for Poor Farm Ditch.” 

“This project has been in the making for over 20 years, so I am very excited to see it come to fruition,” said West University Place Mayor Susan Sample.  “Over the years, being involved with this project as a member of council and as mayor, I have been fortunate to serve with other councils that had the same vision, as well as having partners at the local, county, and state level who also saw the value in improving the ditch. The city could not have accomplished this enormous feat without the assistance and cooperation of Senator Joan Huffman, Representative Ann Johnson, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher, Southside Place Mayor Andy Chan, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, and the Harris County Flood Control District. This project is proof of what can be achieved when entities large or small work together. It also signifies West U’s commitment to infrastructure improvement and serves as a testament to the city’s dedication to the safety and well-being of its residents.”

"House District 134 knows all too well the risks that come with major flooding and significant rainfall,” said State Representative Ann Johnson.  “I am proud that the Texas Legislature was able to secure $16,900,000 for the much needed and long overdue improvements to Poor Farm Ditch."

“All families deserve a safe, strong, and resilient Harris County,” said Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis.  “This vital improvement is a combined effort of federal, state, and local partners working together to protect our communities from flooding. In this era of climate change, projects and partnerships like this are critical to our region’s future.”

“While we can never entirely eliminate the risk of flooding, funding for projects such as the Poor Farm Ditch Rehabilitation Project is critical as we work towards a more resilient Harris County,” said Dr. Tina Petersen, Executive Director of the Harris County Flood Control District. “We are excited to build upon the $2.3 million the Flood Control District has already invested in careful study, design and collaboration over the better part of two decades.”

Funding for the Poor Farm Ditch Rehabilitation Project consists of a combination of local, state, and federal dollars, with Harris County Flood Control District investing $5,700,000; the City of Southside Place investing $150,000; the City of West University Place investing $150,000; Representative Ann Johnson (HD-134), Senator John Whitmire (SD-15), and Senator Joan Huffman (SD-17) securing $16,900,000 in state funds; and Congresswoman Fletcher securing $9,886,000 in federal funds. 

The primary goal of the Poor Farm Ditch Rehabilitation Project is to avoid a failure of the existing channel by constructing an entirely new channel structure.  It will reduce flood risk by improving hydraulic capacity and ensuring Harris County Flood Control District can continue to provide maintenance. It is estimated that more than 500 structures and 1,000 people will directly benefit.

These much-needed improvements to Poor Farm Ditch will have a real impact on the residents of Southside Place, West University Place, Braeswood, and in the larger Brays Bayou watershed, reducing flood risk for these neighborhoods and avoiding failure of the existing channel.  

Last year, Congresswoman Fletcher requested funding specifically for Poor Farm Ditch rehabilitation through the community project funding process in Congress.  The process allows members of Congress to request funding for specific projects in their districts.  She secured the funding through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, the bipartisan government funding bill that funds essential programs and projects—including the Poor Farm Ditch—in Fiscal Year 2023.

Original source can be found here.