TBCD holds first meeting of 2025

WINNIE— The Trinity Bay Conservation District gathered on Jan. 15 for their monthly meeting, which included discussions of current projects. 

During the regular agenda, the board approved a donation from Chambers County Commissioners Court to accept the Hankamer sewage treatment plant. 

The facility has a capacity to hold 0.3 million gallons per day. Gallagher was chosen as the insurance agency since it insures all property of TBCD. 

Insurance will cost $2.8 million to cover the chlorine system, electrical system and more. 

“Everything that can break or be destroyed is covered,” TBCD General Manager Jerry Shadden said. “I went through and redlined all the things that didn’t need to be covered.” 

The board approved Plummer Associates, Inc., to develop a collection system model for the Chambers County service area at a cost of $40,920. 

“This is housekeeping and staying ahead of the game,” Shadden said. “We know that we’re gonna have to upsize some of the lines for future growth. There are about 6 or eight subdivisions that are already plotted.” 

A map was already created for Anahuac, but with new residential development coming, the board decided to map surrounding areas to see what systems need resizing. 

Plummer Associates will map Interstate 10 to Texas 65 in the developing areas. Rural areas will be mapped at a later date since it is a time-consuming project. 

Mapping will include the size of pipelines, location of pump stations, size of pumps and more. 

Amos Roy, district employee, updated the board on drainage projects. 

The Chambers-Liberty Counties Navigation District Siphon Pipe Project began Jan. 21. The project should take about four weeks to complete.  

The board mentioned concerns about Anahuac’s water production, but there is a reservoir with about a year and a half’s worth of water. 

“I don’t want to be the reason that they do not have water,” Roy said. 

Onion Bayou is being cleaned. Crews started at the bottom and headed upstream. They are now above FM 1985, also called Whites Ranch Road. 

Crooked Bayou is still being cleaned, headed towards Whites Bayou. Elm Bayou had a lot of dead vegetation, so a crew sprayed seeds and fertilizer to prevent erosion. East Bay Bayou was previously sprayed and now overgrowth is getting cut down. 

David Hoyt, operations manager for TBCD, provided an update on utility projects. Eight new service meters were installed, and a fire hydrant was replaced. An aerator was replaced at Winnie Wetlands for $5,895. 

The meters being put in are electronic meters that monitor where and how much water flows. The meters also monitor the pressure of flow and if it is a constant flow.