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<br />k lot z ~~. ass 0 cia t e s <br /> <br />Creek Watershed, eight are in the Armand Watershed, and fourteen in the San <br />Jacinto/Galveston Watershed; these are listed in Table 5-8. Critical to effective function <br />of these as well as small ditches and channels is proper maintenance. Ditches, channels <br />and bayous need to be kept reasonably free from obstructions, debris and excessive <br />vegetation (e.g., trees, brush, high grass) for the watercourses to function as planned. <br /> <br />Maintenance responsibilities, in absence of agreements stating otherwise, are normally <br />considered the responsibility of the owner of the watercourse. Of the 29 named <br />watercourses in the City, only nine are believed to be owned by the City. Four others <br />have unclear ownership or joint ownership with HCFCD. The remaining are owned by <br />HCFCD (see Table 5-9 and Exhibit 5-1). The City should be aggressive in proper <br />maintenance of watercourses under their control. <br /> <br />On the other hand, if a watercourse is not owned or under the control of the City but <br />maintenance is inadequate, the City faces a dilemma. Inadequate maintenance in such <br />non-City watercourses adversely impacts the function of the watercourse (thus adversely <br />affecting City drainage and flooding), but the City does not legally have the <br />responsibilities or liabilities associated with ownership. <br /> <br />It is recommended that the City pursue written inter-local agreements with HCFCD (for <br />watercourses for which such agreements may not already be in place) regarding <br />maintenance of watercourses owned by HCFCD lying within the City. For watercourses <br />of critical importance to adverse effects on flooding in the City, an interlocal agreement <br />should be developed between the City and HCFCD to assure that if HCFCD does not or <br />seeks not to maintain the watercourses in question at levels the City thinks appropriate, <br />the City has permission under appropriate limitations and constraints to perform such <br />maintenance for an agreed upon compensation or other considerations. <br /> <br />5-18 <br /> <br />Klotz Associates Project No. 0127.008.000 <br />January 2009 <br /> <br />La Porte Citywide Drainage Study <br />City of La Porte <br />