Hurricane Harvey 2017
Hurricane Harvey came ashore on Mustang Island as a Category 4 hurricane on Aug. 26, 2017. In the days that followed, it diminished to a tropical storm. During its nearly week-long existence, it dumped copious amounts of rain across south and east Texas and Louisiana.
The storm and subsequent flooding damaged a number of Texas' state parks. Below is a list of parks that sustained damage.
Bastrop
Some campsites and park roads flooded. Portions of Park Road 1C between Bastrop and Buescher were damaged.
Brazos Bend
The Brazos River crested at 52.6 feet. Most of the park’s land surface was underwater, including many roads. Power was lost. The Nature Center and the George Observatory did not flood.
Buescher
Flooding damaged the culvert at the park entrance, making it unsafe. Park staff used the back entrance as the main entrance until the front entrance was repaired. Portions of Park Road 1C between Bastrop and Buescher were damaged.
Galveston Island
The park sustained some damage and flooding.
Goliad
The hurricane took down or damaged over 200 trees in the park. Most buildings were unhurt. However, the maintenance shop lost its roof and a storage building was heavily damaged. The park lost power. The San Antonio River was forecast to crest at 34 feet.
Goose Island
The hurricane damaged the park’s roads along the bay. Buildings remained standing, but with roof and flood damage. The fishing pier suffered damage. The Big Tree survived, though younger trees around it were damaged.
Huntsville
The park received around 30 inches of rain.
Mustang Island
The park sustained significant damage, as it was near where Harvey made landfall.
Palmetto
The San Marcos River left silt in the refectory, but restrooms were not flooded. The park has a number of trees and limbs down. The superintendent anticipates clean-up will last through the end of September.
Check the park’s website or Facebook page for updates.
San Jacinto Battleground and Battleship Texas
The storm did not damage either site, but they remained closed for a number of days due to area flooding.
Sea Rim
No damage has been reported. The road into the park was flooded, blocking access.
Sheldon Lake
The park experienced some flooding, but was otherwise undamaged.
Stephen F. Austin
The Brazos River once again flooded the park. Repairs took an extended time.
Village Creek
Most of the park was covered by six feet or more of floodwaters. Water inundated the utilities for the water and electric campground and restroom building (though these facilities did not flood).
