Preservation & Restoration of the Houston Region’s Green ... · 3/12/2018 · • Harris County...
Transcript of Preservation & Restoration of the Houston Region’s Green ... · 3/12/2018 · • Harris County...
Preservation & Restoration of the Houston Region’s Green Fabric:
The Role of theHarris County Flood Control District
Glenn Laird, Environmental ChiefHarris County Flood Control DistrictParks + Natural Areas RoundtableHouston-Galveston Area Council
March 12, 2018
HCFCD’s Mission
To provide flood damage reduction projects that work, with appropriate regard for community and natural
values.
In the beginning…• HCFCD was created in 1937 by the Texas
Legislature• The result of major Houston floods in 1929
& 1935• Primary Purpose: To be the Local Partner
to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for Flood Control Projects (Flood Control Act of 1936)
Interesting other purposes• “the storing, preservation, and distribution
of the storm and flood waters . . . for domestic, municipal, flood control, irrigation, and other useful purposes…”
• “the conservation of forests…”
Expanding the Green Fabric Through Floodplain
Acquisition and Preservation
Remember that bit about “the conservation of forests?”
Floodplain Acquisition and Preservation
• Spring Creek ≈500 ac.
• Cypress Creek ≈5,566 ac. (85% KPC)
• Greens Bayou ≈1,617 ac.
• Clear Creek ≈60 ac.• Armand Bayou ≈224
ac.• San Jacinto ≈625 ac.
• For the last 30+ years
• Voluntary sellers (usually)
• Undeveloped (mostly)
• Deep in the floodplain
• Support County Precincts
HCFCD’s Prime Assets
Channels
• Over 800 miles of natural channels
• Over 1,700 miles of manmade channels
• Roughly 1/3 owned in fee by HCFCD (8,844 acres)
Basins
• 7,550 acres in 98 basins currently available
• 445 acres in Hermann Park
• 1,466 acres in Memorial Park
“Multi-Objective” Partnering
With Whom• Harris County
Precincts• Local Municipalities• Municipal Utility
Districts• Management
Districts• Tax Increment Re-
investment Zones
How• HCFCD must have
fee title• Development of
Master Plans• Development of Site
Plans• Inter-local
Agreements
Recreational ProjectsAlong Channels
• 175+ miles of Hike & Bike Trail Systems (Regional & Local)
• Bayou Greenways Initiative (Houston Parks Board) is a big part of it, and growing!
In Detention Basins
• Sports fields• Picnic areas• Playgrounds• Fishing lakes• Nature trails• Currently covering
2,232 acres
Recreational ProjectsAlong Channels
• Harris County Precincts: Spring Creek & Cypress Creek Greenways, Mason Creek, Brays Bayou & Buffalo Bayous
• HPARD/HPB: Brays, White Oak, Sims, Buffalo, Hunting, Halls, Greens Bayous
In Detention Basins
• Harris County Precincts: Gene Green Park, Arthur Storey Park, Terry Hershey Park, Cypress Park
• City of Houston: Keith-Wiess Park, Willow Waterhole, Shady Lane Park, Mary Withers Park
The On-Again/Off-Again Park• Arthur C. Comey Parks Plan (1913)• Land Acquisition (1914 – 1920)• Allen & Memorial Parkways (1945 – 1956)• HCFCD Channelization (1957)• Minor trails & park features (1960 -2000)
ThenTHE WOOD-CUTTERS’ BALL: HCFCD clears, straightens & channelizes the bayou from Sabine to Shepherd (1957)
A Grand Vision• A Grand Partnership Led by the BBP
(Buffalo Bayou & Beyond – 2002)• Environmental Advisory Committee• Community Input• Master Plan released January 2012• Balance of Natural Systems & Recreation
A Grand Vision• Construction began August 2012 with
HCFCD’s restoration of nearly 2 miles of the Bayou’s channel utilizing Natural Channel Design principles
• Park now contains miles of trails, bridges, paddling, playgrounds, dog park, gardens, sculptures, lawns, forests, and more!
• Grand Opening 10/3/2015
Now (pre-Harvey)
HCFCD applies new Natural Channel Design principles to restoration of the Bayou from Sabine to Shepherd as the spine of the fully restored park
Major Themes
• Think outside of the box (get creative)• Be visionary (make no small plans)• Partner up (whole ˃ sum of the parts)• Ante up (you get what you pay for)