KATY PRAIRIE Flood Mitigation A Public/Private Partnership Mary - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

KATY PRAIRIE Flood Mitigation A Public/Private Partnership Mary Anne Piacentini, Executive Director

Katy Prairie Where Are We?

T HE K ATY P RAIRIE + F LOOD C ONTROL OUR PRAIRIE SPONGE • Headwaters of several major creeks and bayous originate on the Katy Prairie • The Katy Prairie originally was comprised of between 60 - 70% tallgrass prairie and 40 – 30% depressional wetlands – both of served as a sponge for downstream Houston.

THE GREAT FLOODS: 1929 and 1935 Texas Ave. facing west - December 1929

A DDICKS AND B ARKER R ESERVOIRS 1950 S

K ATY P RAIRIE F LOODING 2002

A M ISSED O PPORTUNITY

C OLLABORATING W ITH O THERS TO I MPROVE F LOOD P ROTECTION C YPRESS C REEK O VERFLOW S TUDY

S TUDY G OALS • Gain consensus among key stakeholders. • Identify needs and objectives related to land preservation, environmental mitigation, and land development. • Develop a consensus plan to reduce flood risks. • Establish interim criteria while adoption of the final consensus plan is ongoing. • Design a business plan to implement the strategies. • Gain adoption of the consensus and business plans by Commissioners Court.

S TUDY T ASKS • Task 1: Quantify and Delineate Flood Risk • Task 2: Identify Mitigation Strategies • Task 3: Determine Benefits of Prairie Restoration for Flood Control • Task 4: Identify Critical Conservation Areas • Task 5: Undertake Cost/Benefit Analysis for a regional drainage plan. • Task 6: Obtain Project Financing and identify roles of the public, private, and non-profit interests to implement any strategy.

H OUSTON F LOOD C ONTROL E ARLY V ISIONS

D O N OTHING

S TRATEGY 3

S TRATEGY 5

T HE K ATY P RAIRIE P RESERVE O UR G RASSES ARE S PONGES

HCFCD S TUDY ON G RASSLANDS AND F LOOD R ETENTION Prairie Open Space Developed Property

K ATY P RAIRIE – T AX D AY F LOOD

K EY E LEMENTS OF S TRATEGY 5 • $400 Million • 5,120 acres • At grade • 5-foot berms • Bear Creek riparian corridor • Inundation levels 2 – 8 feet for 2 – 6 days • Restored grasslands

W HY IS KPC ADVOCATING FOR THIS INITIATIVE • Additional protected lands • Adjacency to Katy Prairie Preserve • Riparian corridor along Bear Creek as public amenity • Restoration • Permanent protection • Maintenance

F INANCING P LAN • Impact Fees • Flood Control District Funds • Reduction in Costs • Federal Funds • Ballot Initiative • Texas Water Development Board • U. S. Healthy Watersheds

S TILL L OOKING FOR A NSWERS