UH geologists find parts of Northwest Houston sinking rapidly

University of Houston ^ | September 28, 2010 | Unknown

[decimon]

Caption: A large section of northwestern Harris County is sinking rapidly, according to a University of Houston geologist who has analyzed GPS data measuring ground elevation in the area.

Credit: Shuhab Khan

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[Herakles]

Sooo, flushing twice is making the ground sink??

Maybe they should go back to corn cobs and out houses.

[Paladin2]

Step away from the coast.

[WellyP]

Isn’t that a very Democratic section of the county? :)

[jagusafr]

People have been going down in Montrose for some time now - this is no surprise.

[Slyfox]

If they correlate with the map consisting of newly-arrived democrats from New Orleans over the last five years, they may solve their dilemma.

[Slyfox]

A sprawling area of northwestern Harris County is gradually subsiding, but the points in Jersey Village are sinking fastest

50.45% of the people in Jersey Village, TX are registered as Democrats. 48.82% are registered Republican. Remaining are independent: 0.00%.

[a fool in paradise]

A large section of northwestern Harris County – particularly the Jersey Village area – is sinking rapidly, according to a University of Houston (UH) geologist who has analyzed GPS data measuring ground elevation in the Houston area.

Flying cars needed now more than ever.

[a fool in paradise]

While groundwater withdrawal has ceased in most of the Houston area, it continues in the northwestern part of the county that has seen a rapid growth in population."

I'd say that population density in the Heights and Montrose is higher than previously (and higher than Jersey Village) due to so called "smart growth" (maximized property exploitation by redevelopers) bloc housing. 4 or more 3-story townhomes on what formerly held one or two homes.

[Texas56]

No, it has actually been a very conservative Republican area.

[dragnet2]

After years of people waiting, some hoping for California to fall in the ocean...Houston sinks into the Gulf....

LOL!

I don't mean to laugh, but this is some brutal karma, if there is such a thing...

[decimon]

After years of people waiting, some hoping for California to fall in the ocean...Houston sinks into the Gulf....

He who laughs last has the gondola concession. ;-)

[dragnet2]

Too funny....

As everyone is waiting for California to fall into the ocean, Texas sinks into the Gulf...

BWWHAAHAHAHAHAHAHHA

Don't mean to laugh....But this is just too damn ironic....

[dblshot]

Some of the area Houston is built on is swampland. As more and more concrete is poured there is more localized flooding. We don’t as a rule have basements here, slab foundation or even pilings. So I’m not surprized by this story except to say I would have thought Bay Town or something farther east would have been the site, but then there isn’t much they can sink is there?

[sappy]

how depressing.

[Squantos]

Your gold mine caving in down there buddy ?

Or have all the tunnels from Mexico collapsed ?

[Pontiac]

Some points in Jersey Village are subsiding by up to 5.5 centimeters (about 2 inches) a year

I have to assume that you do not have any subsurface (buried) utilities in these areas such as gas lines or sewers.

If you did this kind of subsidence would have cause some serious problems.

[decimon]

I have to assume that you do not have any subsurface (buried) utilities in these areas such as gas lines or sewers.

If you did this kind of subsidence would have cause some serious problems.

Maybe it has. We need a Houstonian to chime in on that.

[jimt]

No specific utilities problems in my 27 years here, but the roads are another story.

We’ve had major utilities (electricity) upgrades to support the higher usage in the Heights, but no gas or water issues out of the normal.

[Terry Mross]

I’ve talked to people who lived in that area before Beltway 8 was built and they say it never flooded back then. Since the levee that’s known as the Beltway was built it floods all the time. Maybe that’s what’s causing the problem.