preservation & restoration of the houston region’s green ... · 3/12/2018 · • harris...

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!

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

Representative Basin ProjectsHarris County & City of Houston

Gene Green ParkHarris County Precinct 2

Gene Green Park

Arthur Storey ParkHarris County Precinct 3

Arthur Storey Park

Terry Hershey ParkHarris County Precinct 3

Terry Hershey Park

Cypress ParkHarris County Precinct 3

Cypress Park

Keith-Wiess ParkCity of Houston

Keith-Wiess Park

Willow WaterholeCity of Houston

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)

Ad Hoc Recreationin HCFCD Facilities

Questions?

preservation & restoration of the houston region’s green ... · 3/12/2018 · • harris...

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