Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher held a press conference on Wednesday, June 28th, to announce the state appropriation of $9,886,000 for construction improvements to Poor Farm Ditch, which is a man-made drainage channel that carries stormwater from West U and Southside Place to Brays Bayou. Improvements, which will include building a new channel structure and improving water capacity, are projected to cost approximately $33,000,000. With secured funding from local, county, and state officials, West U’s contribution will be $150,000.
The current channel was constructed in 1952 and is one of the earliest examples of a concrete-lined ditch in Harris County. In 2002, West University Place and Southside Place initiated a collaborative effort to enhance the condition and functionality of the channel. Subsequently, the Harris County Flood Control District and an engineering firm were engaged to assist in this endeavor. Due to other county projects taking priority and the urgency of repairing damages caused by Hurricane Harvey, the project lost momentum and became stagnant.
In 2019, the project resurfaced and with tireless efforts of city staff, city council, and local, county, and state officials, the project once again became a high priority.
“This project has been in the making for over 20 years, so I am very excited to see it come to fruition,” said 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 Commission 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, said Sample.”
After two decades of work, Poor Farm Ditch will finally receive the improvements needed to safely manage runoff during severe weather conditions. The cities of West University Place and Southside Place will contribute to funding the final design concepts with Harris County Flood Control engineers.
