Four Corner - Texas Water Development Board

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
HVJ Associates, Inc. conducted a geotechnical site reconnaissance survev of the Four Corners
and Cummings Road (Tinsley Estates, Rio Brazos and C.J. Dickerson Subdivisions) located in
Fort Bend County, Texas.
Our services included a review of previous geotechnical investigations in the area of the project,
and a site reconnaissance survey. The study covers the general vicinity of each area. The site
reconnaissance was performed along the streets in each study area and selected adjacent streets.
The available information for this project and the on-site reconnaissance conducted in October
1998 are summarized below:
• Four Corners. The Four Comers area is located in northeast Fort Bend Countv and is
bounded by the Bissonnet ROW on the north, SH 6 on the east, a line parallel to l'vicKaskle
Road on the south, and FM 1464 on the west. Keegans Bavou is located immediatelv north
of the site and Red Gully bisects it. The area is mostly undeveloped, however rural-homes
are located throughout the area and some modem residential developed is located in the
northeast part. The Sprint Landfill is located near the center. South and west of Red Gully
the project lies in the Quaternary alluvial deposits associated with the Brazos River
floodplain. Sands and silts, along with clayey soils are common in these alluvial deposits.
Northeast of Red Gully the area is underlain by clayey soils associated with the Beaumont
Formation. Higher groundwater may be expected in the southern part of the area. Two
known active faults are near the area. The nearest known fault is the Clodine Fault which
crosses FM 1464 about 1500 feet northwest of area. The Renn Scarp is located about 2000
feet northeast of the site. Neither faults are known within the Four Comers area. During our
reconnaissance we did not observe any conclusive evidence of adverse geological conditions
apart from occasional broken or poor pavement. and several buildings with structural
damage.
• Cummings Road. The three subdivisions in the Cummings Road area are located
immediately north of the Brazos River and east of FM 723. The area is developed with rural
homes along two lane asphalt roadways with ditch drainage. No industrial or commercial
development is present. The area is underlain by Quaternary alluvial deposits associated with
the Brazos River. In this area sandy point bar deposits may be present in some locations. No
active faults are known in the Cummings Road area. We observed residential development,
vacant lots used for grazing, and farming in the area.
A search and review of existing geotechnical reports from HVJ Associates files, private and
public records was done to obtain geotechnical information relevant to the study areas in this
project. Our findings are summarized in the following table:
Service Area
Four Comers
Generalized Soil Conditions
Surface strata consisting of firm to very
stiff clays and generally underlain by
very loose to medium dense sands and
silts
Groundwater Level Range
8 to 15 feet
Cummings Road
Surface strata from 2 to 8 feet in 31 to 35 feet (based on
thickness occurring as either clays or borings south of Brazos
granular soils underlain by frequently River, in Beaumont Fm.)
alternating lavers