ORDINANCE approving and authorizing funding for debris removal and road restoration of Lake Houston’s Dam System which supplies raw water to the City of Houston and is operated and maintained by the Coastal Water Authority pursuant to the contract between the City of Houston and the COASTAL WATER AUTHORITY for operation and maintenance of the Lake Houston Pump Station, West Canal, and related facilities (as approved by Ordinance No. 1995-1141, as amended)

SUBJECT:  Debris Removal and Road Restoration of Lake Houston’s Dam System, which supplies raw water to the City of Houston and is maintained and operated by the Coastal Water Authority.

RECOMMENDATION:  (Summary)  Ordinance approving and authorizing funding for debris removal and road restoration on Lake Houston’s Dam System, which supplies raw water to the City of Houston and is maintained and operated by Coastal Water Authority. 

SPECIFIC EXPLANATION:  The Coastal Water Authority (CWA) operates the raw surface water transportation system for the City of Houston and provides conveyance for many governmental and industrial users. 

CWA plays an essential role in the City’s program of increased surface water use.  City Council approved City Ordinance #95-1141 on October 25, 1995 contracting with CWA to operate and maintain the Lake Houston canal and pump station and to perform grounds maintenance along and below the dam.  A first amendment to this contract was approved by City Ordinance #2003-1137 on November 25, 2003, which allowed the City to add Lake Houston Dam and the assignment of certain activities associated with these facilities, which includes increased security of the dam and area below the dam, aquatic weed control on Lake Houston and the operation of the Lake Houston dam and appurtenances.  This five year contract is automatically renewed for an additional five years unless terminated by either party.  The City of Houston owns these facilities and has control over all facility decisions.

Pursuant to the Operating Contract and First Amendment, the Department of Public Works and Engineering is requesting funding for debris removal and road restoration of the Lake Houston Dam System.   During the weeks of April 16^th and May 30^th 2016, Houston and surrounding communities received high amounts of rainfall.  These rain events caused high velocity flows to cross over the Lake Houston Dam Spillway, leaving debris on the Spillway, damaging maintenance roads and eroding three erosion control structures to the South of the Lake Houston Dam.  This project is intended to remove and dispose of accumulated debris from the top of the dam, repair and restore washed out roadways and areas surrounding the downstream erosion control structures. 

This project followed CWA’s guidelines.  Six bid estimates were received and a recommendation has been made to award the project to DRC Emergency Services LLC for $1,786,761. Project management, inspection, testing and construction oversight services will be provided by Lockwood, Andrews & Newman for $158,200. Funds are anticipated to be disbursed monthly on a percent complete basis.

It is recommended that City Council approves and authorize funding in the amount of $1,944,961. 

Ordinance 1995-1141, dated 10/25/1995

Ordinance 2003-1137, dated 11/25/2003

Yvonne Forrest

Senior Assistant Director