Friends,
Throughout the night, careful watch has been made on the road conditions and continuous rain. The results as of 4 A.M this morning:
1. Main Street Bridge. The water has receded about a foot, however, rain around Salado will cause the creek to rise more. MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT SALADO CREEK. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRY TO DRIVE ACROSS IT OR WADE/SWIM IN IT. It will go recede, but it will be a number of days before it will return to normal. The Police Department will be monitoring the use of the creek.
2. Do Not venture into Pace Park. The water is over the road at Jack's barn on the south end of the loop. It is deep water from Salado Creek.
3. Chisholm Trail and Stagecoach road has water across it and in the yards of the houses around the run off. Because one cannot drive or walk into the construction areas, it is not possible to determine the source of the water. However, emails have been sent to the President of James Construction, TXDot Executive Director and Chief Engineers, and Hidden Glenn owners and developers. Phone Calls will follow.
4. Water is over Salado Plaza near the head of Chisholm Trail and Old Mill Drive. Do not try to cross the water, it is deep. The people that live on Old Mill Drive cannot get out at the moment. However, the creek recedes fast and it should be passable by early morning if there is not additional heavy rain.
5. Royal street has some gravel across the road in the business area. Drive slowly in this area and give yourself time to break. There is a shallow stream of water around the "s" curve by the Methodist Church. It is passable.
6. At this time of morning, I-35 traffic was flowing with no back-up.
7. Water did get up to the base of Serena. However, it did not go any farther.
The Low is moving East across Texas. By noon, the rain is to diminish, however, showers is forecasted for this evening. Unfortunately, this is not the time for Halloween and children. If you go out, please watch for the water -- it was difficult to see early this morning.
More rain is expected beginning Thursday and through next Saturday. Saturday, 14 November might be a good time to have a clean-up day at Pace Park. Of course, it depends on the weather.
Finally, every effort is being made to find the $18,000 to clean out the grass and gravel at the low bridge. Susan Terry is willing to accept donations and ask the Salado Community Foundation permission to use their 501C-3. This will be a tax write-off so be sure to put on any check what the donation is intended. Any organization or individual willing to contribute will be greatly appreciated. A PROMISE: THIS MONEY WILL BE USED FOR WHAT IS INTENDED -- TO CLEAN OUT THE GROWTH AND GRAVEL AROUND THE BRIDGE.
VR/Skip
Thank you for your updates! I feel this is the only way we get any information about Salado.
ReplyDeleteGood job Skip
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info. any contributions for the creek clean out may be sent to Keep Salado Beautiful, PO Box 895.
ReplyDeleteThe flooding is good indicator storm runoff and drainage is changing the landscape of water flow. Keep in mind with construction sites of such a large magnitude, silt runoff will add sediments to gravel bars which are growing. It would be beneficial to have city staff look into the newly installed and existing drainage culverts crossing throughout the project limits and take date and time stamped photographs. In addition to the drainage systems removed, verify where those flows are being directed or flowing. It would be advisable to ask TxDOT under the public records request for copies of their weekly erosion control inspection logs, SWP3 records, daily photographs, and copies of corrective action notices or meeting minutes relating to environmental concerns. Theses would be in addition to requesting copies of their weekly meeting minutes held with the contractor.
ReplyDeleteNote much of the existing drainage systems that are being removed and/or relocated can alter the water flows. Last week’s rain event and no temporary seeding occurred or other protective measures installed on the exposed soils might explain the concerns. The resulting damages from any erosion into the waterways could alter waterways and drainage flow. Though the environmental damage wouldn’t be immediately known, flooding could occur where flooding hadn’t previously occurred.
A recommendation would be to take all the photographs the citizens are taking or have taken, and if there are on file and use those to file a complaint with the EPA and put TxDOT on official notice preserving the Village’s rights for any resulting damages known or not. From the piles of trash and debris; water bottles; muddy streets; mud flow; fugitive dust; dust clouds; dump truck boxes not tarped; equipment on paved roadways with muddy tires; dust greater than 15% opacity construction mud; altering drainages; and the vast amount of exposed real estate open without having adequate environmental protection measures installed during expected rain events are all subject corrective actions The Clean Water Act and 404 permits.
http://www2.epa.gov/enforcement/report-environmental-violations
If the environmental conditions of the interstate projects aren’t in compliance of the 404 permit then the resulting damages and costs should be at the expense of TxDOT or the contractor. It shouldn’t be at the expense of the taxpayers or our Village budget later in the years if the damage was as a result of the project. Waterways might not change today or tomorrow but future impacts and resulting costs will add amounts that the taxpayers will bear the burden when we shouldn’t be using our funds.
The enforcement arm of the oversight agency will mandate TxDOT bring the projects up and down the interstate into compliance if they are not in compliance of the permit and the Clean Water Act.
Any changes to the waterways or silt build up over the life of the contract to-date can be mapped using Google Earth Time Lapse. The link below can recreate Salado Creek over the time duration of the contract. Any changes to the waterways is using time lapsed satellite views.
https://earthengine.google.org/#workspace
There is a firm in Austin that helps smaller government agencies and promotes Clean Waters.
http://www.environmenttexas.org/staff/luke-metzger
What is the purpose of the meeting with TxDOT?
ReplyDeleteIs there an agenda prepared for the meeting?
What assurances is TxDOT providing the James Construction Group will complete the work timely and not deviate from the quality assurance provisions of the contract?
To-date there is a lot of work started and not much if anything completed. When will the project start being completed and dressed up?
When will permanent erosion control measures or temporary erosion control seeding be installed to help prevent mudflow and dust control?
Why is the topsoil rocky and uneven?
I feel that we need to keep in mind that TxDOT has a contract with the contractor not with us. Nothing said at the meeting will be enforceable under the terms of their contract. If we interfere or ask for TxDOT anything outside the scope of the contract or control of the contractors work flow, that will provide James Construction Group an avenue to demand additional working days or compensation for altering or changing their approved CPM controlling their work. The last thing we need to do is provide anyone with even more excuses than already used.
The best thing we can pray for is asking TxDOT to follow the contract. Doing what is in the best interest of the taxpayers, making sure James Construction Group complies with the contract and public safety. If all else fails TxDOT does have an option to terminate the contract.
We need to mitigate our damages but we cannot enable James Construction Group make a bigger mess of our Village. We understand TxDOT has their hands full and we appreciate all the efforts they are doing to help us through these trying time. We know it is not going to be easy for TxDOT or their team to get us through these trying and difficult times. Let us be thankful and thank TxDOT and their teams for their understanding. They are doing an excellent job.
A nice young man from the Texas Department of Transportation, Mr. Jason Hudson indicated he would try to help keep mud off our streets and freeway ramps that the contractor is tracking off their project. I would like to thank him for being so kind. Mr. Hudson is my hero. I am excited and happy that Mr. Hudson is willing to help us.
ReplyDeleteLastly, I think if people send the nice young woman from The Temple Daily news the pictures being taken of the muddy roads and muddy / brown waterways, she might be able help us by publishing for the EPA and everyone else to see what we have to deal with. Her name is DEBORAH MCKEON, email address dmckeon@tdtnews.com
I enjoy reading her articles and having her keeping the public informed.
http://www.tdtnews.com/news/article_3797c2a8-8432-11e5-914c-3f0180dff770.html