Preservation & Restoration of the Houston Region’s Green Fabric: The Role of the Harris County Flood Control District Glenn Laird, Environmental Chief Harris County Flood Control District Parks + Natural Areas Roundtable Houston-Galveston Area Council March 12, 2018
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Preservation & Restoration of the Houston Region’s Green ... · 3/12/2018 · • Harris County Precincts: Gene Green Park, Arthur Storey Park, Terry Hershey Park, Cypress Park
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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…”
Evolving Since 1937: ChannelsWhere we’ve been Where we’re headed
Evolving Since 1937: Detention Basins (since 1985)Where we’ve been Where we’re headed
Expanding the Green Fabric Through Floodplain
Acquisition and Preservation
Remember that bit about “the conservation of forests?”
HCFCD Current CIP Priorities
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
Expanding The Green Fabric Through HCFCD
Partnerships
Process + Examples
Channels & Basins
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!
• 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
Representative Basin ProjectsHarris County & City of Houston
Gene Green ParkHarris County Precinct 2
Gene Green Park
Gene Green Park
Gene Green Park
Representative Basin ProjectsHarris County & City of Houston
Arthur Storey ParkHarris County Precinct 3
Arthur Storey Park
Arthur Storey Park
Arthur Storey Park
Representative Basin ProjectsHarris County & City of Houston
Terry Hershey ParkHarris County Precinct 3
Terry Hershey Park
Terry Hershey Park
Representative Basin ProjectsHarris County & City of Houston
Cypress ParkHarris County Precinct 3
Cypress Park
Representative Basin ProjectsHarris County & City of Houston
Keith-Wiess ParkCity of Houston
Keith-Wiess Park
Keith-Wiess Park
Keith-Wiess Park
Representative Basin ProjectsHarris County & City of Houston
Willow WaterholeCity of Houston
Willow Waterhole
Willow Waterhole
Willow Waterhole
Buffalo Bayou Park
A Stream Restored As an Integral Component of
A Park Restored
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)