Houston Stormwater Infrastructure Falls Short in Recent Flooding

Recent floods in Texas, especially prevalent in Houston, reflect a stormwater infrastructure that both worked as it's designed and is in need of improvements.

1 minute read

June 3, 2015, 1:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


"Like a lot of residents of the Houston area, local highway officials just had to let water do its thing when it came to clearing some local highways during recent rains," according to an article by Dug Begley.

Begley quotes Karen Othon, spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Houston office, directly in explaining last week's massive flooding across Texas: "With the detention ponds and bayous full, there was nowhere for the water to go."

"After the waters receded, transportation officials said they believed that inlets and pumps that keep freeways from flooding worked, except in certain flood-prone spots that had not undergone significant repairs. However, the heavy rains were a little more than the systems could handle."

The flooding, as innocent as these explanations makes it seem, wreaked havoc on commutes and property left inundated as the rains fell and the region's stormwater infrastructure struggled to keep up. As explained in the article, however, the top priority for the region's infrastructure is to keep homes clear of the flooding—not roadways. Othon also told Begley that planned highway improvements underway by the TxDOT will correct many of the problem flooding encountered in recent storms.

Monday, June 1, 2015 in Houston Chronicle

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

Public Market sign over Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington with pop-up booths on street.

Seattle’s Pike Place Market Leans Into Pedestrian Infrastructure

After decades of debate, the market is testing a car ban in one of its busiest areas and adding walking links to the surrounding neighborhood.

May 15 - Cascade PBS

Yellow and silver light rain train in downtown Long Beach, California.

The World’s Longest Light Rail Line is in… Los Angeles?

In a city not known for its public transit, the 48.5-mile A Line is the longest of its kind on the planet.

May 15 - Secret Los Angeles

Man reaching for young girl sliding down playground slide.

Quantifying Social Infrastructure

New developments have clear rules for ensuring surrounding roads, water, and sewers can handle new users. Why not do the same for community amenities?

May 15 - Happy Cities