City puts more money into storm water solutions

[editor]

HOUSTON WILL DIRECT ADDITIONAL FUNDING INTO REGIONAL STORMWATER SOLUTIONS

City's Flood Rating Upgraded, to Save Residents Money on Flood Insurance

Houston, TX - The City of Houston Department of Public Works & Engineering and the City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department are expanding our longstanding partnership with the Harris County Flood Control District to develop a comprehensive plan to construct additional regional detention ponds that will further reduce the risk of flooding in this region. This expanded partnership, supported by detailed regional and sub-regional detention studies, done by the City and the Flood Control District, will accelerate mitigation of possible storm water flooding in flood prone areas. In addition, a regional approach will also help address flooding problems outside of the regulatory floodplain.

Mayor Bill White was joined by Harris County Flood Control Officials in making this announcement at one of the region's newest detention ponds, the Meyer Basin project on Brays Bayou in southwest Houston, just inside Loop 610. Mayor White also announced that thanks to these and other measures, the City of Houston Community Rating in the National Flood Insurance Program, has been upgraded to a "Class 5" from "Class 6", a move that will reduce rates that property owners pay for flood insurance.

The upgrade will provide a 5 percent reduction in rates for citizens in flood prone areas. Policy holders who are in the 100-year flood plain will save more than $2 million. Houston, which has more than 140,000policy holders, is the largest city in the nation to have received the "Class 5" rating. For more information on the flood insurance program go to www.floodsmart.gov.

"We've worked very hard and invested in a long-term plan to better control Houston's flooding, and it's beginning to pay off," said Mayor White.

The City of Houston plans to invest over $30 million in the future to implement such regional stormwater detention projects which will not only reduce the risk of flooding, but add needed greenspace, improve water quality through use of wetland plants for filtering and enhance recreation opportunities throughout the city.

Regional stormwater detention is one of the best tools to reduce the risk of flooding in Houston. A regional stormwater detention basin is a very large excavated area that's usually tens to hundreds of acres of land adjacent to a bayou, which is designed to collect and hold an above-normal volume of storm water/rain which is typically more than 3 to 4 inches. While other methods such as channel modifications, diversions and bypasses do reduce flood risk, it is believed that regional detention provides more versatile opportunities for the community to use of its resources daily and compliment it with community amenities.

The Meyer Basin project, tributary to Brays Bayou, is an example of this work. The City of Houston, in concert with FEMA has invested over $80 million to mitigate against flooding in the Texas Medical Center and Kirby Drive and Museum District areas. To support these projects detention mitigation was necessary. This project acquired the historic "Meyer Tract" and created a detention pond supporting this project of over 200 acre feet.

Keith Weiss Park in north Houston is another successful and even broader model for this regional approach which was implemented by the Houston Parks and Recreation Department and Harris County Flood Control District - over 900 acre feet of detention was created there. The facility provides additional benefits including:

* Development of 112 acres of underutilized park space for recreation including trails, footbridges, a wetlands boardwalk, fishing pier and signage.

* Preservation of existing old forest habitat along the bayou as well as construction of wetlands that improve water quality and habitat value for wildlife.

* Reductions in significant flood levels along Halls Bayou (up to 0.8 feet during a 10% storm event).

The result of this more than $10 million effort is a City park that seamlessly takes features that reduce flood damage and integrates them with the land, the neighborhood and the environment.

The Department of Public Works and Engineering, Parks Department and Harris County Flood Control District partnership will expand the scope of the groups' commitment in addressing mitigation needs and flooding problems beyond the regulatory flood area. Over the last several decades, the City of Houston has addressed potential flooding on a project-by-project basis. This has more often been through small detention basins or by expanding the size of storm sewer lines. Both approaches are more expensive when compared to regional detention. Regional solutions are more efficient for overall environmental performance of each watershed and also lower annual maintenance costs due to the fewer number of sites to be maintained.

There are several regional strategies currently underway using both City CIP funds and currently available. Multi-use facilities similar to Keith Weiss Park will be being developed along White Oak Bayou, Vogel Creek, Hunting Bayou, Greens Bayou and downstream of Keith Weiss Park along Halls Bayou (map attached). The construction of these facilities collectively will provide five times the stormwater detention volume existing in Keith Weiss Park detention facilities. Land acquisition to make these projects a reality is in the works. Existing park space will be considered for use in cases where projects demonstrate an ability to enhance the park and advance its development. Ultimately, these greenspaces will be connected to local neighborhoods and nearby greenspaces through a network of on-street and off-road trails.

[Arivechi]

Where was this published? The article indicates an attached map and I'd love to check it out.

[SpringShadows]

Where was this published? The article indicates an attached map and I'd love to check it out.

same.

[Rammer]

If the city truly cared about flooding and greenspace issues, they would forbid the townhouse development of the former Spring Branch Horse Stables.

The minimum required size of detention/retention ponds for new developments is a joke.

120 acres is a lot of land to cement over.