2026 Houston Flood & Stormwater Solutions | JRH Engineering
Updated: Oct 2
Why Choose JRH Engineering
Why Developers, Contractors & Property Owners Choose JRH
Most engineering firms talk about technical capability. We focus on what actually matters to your project: speed, cost, communication, and results.
Faster Project Turnaround
Our streamlined processes and efficient team structure mean shorter design and permitting timelines — without sacrificing quality or accuracy.
Clear & Responsive Communication
You work directly with engineers who keep you informed. No long delays or unanswered emails — just straightforward updates and quick responses.
Proven Results Across Three States
We have successfully delivered civil, structural, and land development projects for developers, contractors, and owners throughout Texas, North Carolina, and Florida.
Check out JRH's case studies.
Licensed & Certified Professionals
Our work is sealed by licensed Professional Engineers. JRH Engineering is also a certified Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB / WBE) and HUB eligible.
Why Houston Stormwater Engineering Is Different
Houston projects face a mix of conditions few regions share: flat terrain, slow-draining clay soils, intense Gulf Coast storms and several agencies reviewing the same site.
Getting drainage right the first time keeps permitting moving.
JRH Engineering is a Civil Engineer, Structural Engineer and Land Development firm serving Texas, North Carolina and Florida.
JRH guiding principles are: Engineering Excellence. Delivered on Time. Built on Value.
Five Stormwater Problems Houston Developers Face
Detention pond design that fails review. The City of Houston's Supplement IDMS-2025-01 uses 0.8 ac-ft of storage per acre of proposed impervious area for non-single-family tracts of 20 acres or less. Other agencies may apply their own criteria.
TxDOT access and drainage delays. Sites on state highways need driveway permits, and TxDOT Houston District guidelines state its drainage systems are not intended to provide drainage for new development.
MUD coordination. Utility districts add their own reviews.
Foundations on expansive clay. Shrink-swell soils call for engineered slabs, grade beams or piers.
Floodplain compliance. Fill, elevation and mitigation in the floodplain need hydraulic analysis and agency approval.
How JRH Engineering Approaches Them
Size detention pond storage to the governing criteria from the start
Resolve modeling and outfall questions before submittal
Submit to the city, county, district and TxDOT in parallel
Project: I-45 & Scarsdale Business Park, Houston, TX
42-acre commercial business park in Houston, Harris County
Reviewed by the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) and the City of Houston
Read the full I-45 & Scarsdale case study
Challenges
The site was in the Harris County floodplain, with two agencies applying overlapping but distinct requirements
Hydraulic modeling questions in review could have added months
Fill, building elevation and detention pond placement all affected buildable area
Objectives
Streamline permitting.
Preserve buildable acreage.
Control construction cost.
Solutions JRH Engineering Provided
Civil engineering site and drainage design
A routing analysis commissioned before submittal to resolve hydraulic modeling questions early
Dock-high building elevations that reduced fill and detention pond volume
The detention pond placed on a triangular tract near the outfall that was unusable for buildings, with a lift station to shrink its footprint
Results:
HCFCD and City of Houston approvals pursued at the same time
Modeling questions resolved before the first submittal
Stormwater Rules in Texas, North Carolina and Florida
Texas
North Carolina
Erosion control plans for more than one acre need approval at least 30 days before work under G.S. 113A-57.
Florida
Stormwater permits run through the FDEP Environmental Resource Permit program.
Frequently Asked Questions
What detention pond rate does the City of Houston use?
0.8 ac-ft per acre of proposed impervious area for non-single-family tracts of 20 acres or less, under IDMS-2025-01.
Who reviews drainage for a Houston-area site?
Depending on location, the City of Houston, Harris County, HCFCD, a drainage district, a MUD and TxDOT.
Can TxDOT ditches drain a new development?
Not by default; TxDOT Houston District guidelines state its drainage systems are not intended for new development.
How can a business park reduce detention pond size?
Raising dock-high floors, using leftover land near the outfall and adding a lift station, as at I-45 & Scarsdale.
Why do Houston foundations need engineering?
Expansive clay soils shrink and swell, so slabs and beams are designed for that movement.
Does JRH Engineering obtain building permits?
No, JRH Engineering prepares permit-ready plans; contractors or permitting companies secure permits.
Want More Information on this Topic?
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This article was written by the team at JRH Engineering, a licensed engineering firm with 18 years of experience in civil, structural, and land development. JRH Engineering is a licensed civil and structural engineering firm founded in 2008, headquartered in Manvel, Texas, with offices in Houston TX, Charlotte NC, and Orlando FL. Certified WBE, WOSB, and HUB-eligible. Phone: (800) 227-9635 | sales@jrhengineering.net | jrhengineering.net. Texas PE license is F-10385. North Carolina PE license is P-3118. Florida license is 38516.
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