News Summary
Construction is set to begin in 2026 on the expansion of the Mercer Stormwater Detention Basin in Cypress, Texas. This $15.4 million project aims to enhance flood management in the area, providing significant stormwater capacity. The initiative is part of broader efforts to address regional flooding challenges, which have impacted thousands of residents. In addition to the Mercer project, additional stormwater development projects are underway to improve infrastructure and reduce flooding risks in the Cypress Creek watershed.
Cypress, Texas – Major Stormwater Detention Expansion Set for 2026
Construction on the expansion of the Cypress area stormwater detention basin, known as the Mercer Stormwater Detention Basin, is scheduled to start in the second quarter of 2026. This initiative is part of ongoing efforts to improve flood management in the region, which has experienced increasing flood risks in recent years.
The Mercer Basin, located between FM1960 and Cypress Creek just east of the Hardy Toll Road, encompasses 58 acres. The project aims to create twin, connected, dry-bottom basins that will offer a total of 512 acre-feet of stormwater capacity, which is equivalent to covering a football field area to a depth of 512 feet—though the basin itself will be approximately 8 to 10 feet deep. The objective is to enhance stormwater management primarily for nearby homes and businesses, rather than serving the Lake Houston area during major flood events.
The Mercer Stormwater Detention Basin project is currently ongoing and has progressed favorably despite facing adversities such as floods in January, a derecho, and Hurricane Beryl. Harris County finalized the acquisition of the Mercer property in August 2023, paving the way for the project’s development.
The initiative has secured a grant of $15.4 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with a requirement for project completion by the end of 2025. Additional funding comes from the 2018 Bond Program approved by Harris County voters, which has aimed to tackle several flooding issues in the region.
Wider Flood Mitigation Efforts
A broader regional drainage study has identified a need for nearly 25,000 acre-feet of additional stormwater detention in the Cypress Creek watershed due to recurring flooding challenges, impacting approximately 425,000 residents in the area. To address these issues, the city has initiated several key projects.
Another significant undertaking is the Cypress Avenue storm drain project, which is designed to mitigate ongoing flooding problems along that road. This project, with a budget of $15,288,124, will include comprehensive street improvements such as curb ramps, driveways, gutters, manholes, and sidewalks compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Construction is anticipated to begin in late summer 2025 and is set for completion by spring 2026. The new storm drain system will run along Cypress Avenue from Orange Way to Foothill Boulevard, extending improvements down Foothill Boulevard.
Additional Stormwater Development Projects
In addition to the Mercer and Cypress Avenue projects, a $50 million funding initiative has been announced for the development of stormwater detention basins at T.C. Jester Blvd., covering 150 acres and offering 1,200 acre-feet of stormwater capacity. This project, funded by Harris County, state, and federal resources, is expected to significantly enhance stormwater management in the region.
The existing pond at T.C. Jester currently spans about 2 acres, and the expansion will lead to a substantial increase in capacity. Initial construction for certain components of the T.C. Jester projects is scheduled to commence in the next 6 to 9 months, with further work due by no later than Q4 2024. Each new stormwater basin will incorporate features such as wet bottoms, maintenance berms, side slopes, and high banks, with an estimated 8-month construction timeline.
These stormwater projects are expected to help remove thousands of homes from designated floodplain areas, underscoring the critical need for effective flood management solutions in Cypress and the surrounding regions. Together, these initiatives are part of a focused response to escalating flood risks and the resilience-building efforts being undertaken by local authorities.
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Additional Resources
- Community Impact: Harris County Flood Control District Plans to Expand Stormwater Detention Basin
- Wikipedia: Flood Management
- Reduce Flooding: Giant Mercer Basin on Cypress Creek Aiming for Completion This Fall
- Google Search: Stormwater Management Research
- Fontana Herald News: Cypress Avenue Storm Drain Project to Begin This Summer
- Google Scholar: Flood Mitigation Strategies
- Community Impact: Cy-Fair & Jersey Village News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Stormwater Detention
- Reduce Flooding: Funding Announced for Massive Detention Basin Complex on Cypress Creek
- Google News: Cypress Creek Flooding
