In this Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017 photo, Gordon Prendergast poses with the kayak he bought to see how his house in Houston's western neighborhoods fared after Harvey caused flooding in land that not long ago had been open prairie. Tens of thousands of homes were inundated when floodwater roared around the edge of Houston's Addicks Dam for the first time in its 70-year history. (AP Photo/Nomaan Merchant)
The Associated Press
HOUSTON (AP) - Houston's explosive growth built over land that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had meant for more projects to help the city against chronic flooding.
Army Corps records dating back to the 1940s show the city was supposed to have a third flood-control reservoir, as well as a levee and canals to carry water. Developers built over the land instead, and kept building subdivisions across the drainage basin for the city's existing flood-control reservoirs and dams.
Gordon Prendergast, who evacuated from built-up districts around the dams amid Harvey, says he doesn't blame the Army Corps. Prendergast says the dams were there before the houses.
Development supporters say Houston's suburban sprawl helped make the United States' fastest-growing urban area affordable. Conservationists say they hope to see more reservoirs and restoration of flood-absorbing prairie as the flooded city recovers.
FILE - In this Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017, file photo, residents evacuate their homes near the Addicks Reservoir as floodwaters from Tropical Storm Harvey rise in Houston. Explosive expansion of Houston subdivisions into prairies helped make the city affordable, but also paved over thousands of acres the government intended for a reservoir and other flood-control projects to help against deluges like ones from Harvey. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017, file photo, people evacuate a Houston neighborhood inundated after water was released from nearby Addicks Reservoir when it reached capacity due to Tropical Storm Harvey. Explosive expansion of Houston subdivisions into prairies helped make the city affordable, but also paved over thousands of acres the government intended for a reservoir and other flood-control projects to help against deluges like ones from Harvey. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - This Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017 file photo shows floodwaters from the Addicks Reservoir inundating a Houston neighborhood in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Harvey. Explosive expansion of Houston subdivisions into prairies helped make the city affordable, but also paved over thousands of acres the government intended for a reservoir and other flood-control projects to help against deluges like ones from Harvey. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP, File)
The Associated Press