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KATY PRAIRIE
Flood Mitigation A Public/Private Partnership
Mary Anne Piacentini, Executive Director
Where Are We?
Katy Prairie
KATY PRAIRIE Flood Mitigation A Public/Private Partnership Mary - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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
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THE KATY PRAIRIE + FLOOD CONTROL
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.
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Texas Ave. facing west - December 1929
THE GREAT FLOODS: 1929 and 1935
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ADDICKS AND BARKER RESERVOIRS 1950S
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KATY PRAIRIE FLOODING 2002
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A MISSED OPPORTUNITY
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COLLABORATING WITH OTHERS TO IMPROVE FLOOD PROTECTION CYPRESS CREEK OVERFLOW STUDY
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STUDY GOALS
- 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.
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STUDY TASKS
- 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.
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HOUSTON FLOOD CONTROL EARLY VISIONS
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DO NOTHING
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STRATEGY 3
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STRATEGY 5
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THE KATY PRAIRIE PRESERVE OUR GRASSES ARE SPONGES
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Prairie Open Space Developed Property
HCFCD STUDY ON GRASSLANDS AND FLOOD RETENTION
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KATY PRAIRIE – TAX DAY FLOOD
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KEY ELEMENTS OF STRATEGY 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
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WHY 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
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FINANCING PLAN
- Impact Fees
- Flood Control District Funds
- Reduction in Costs
- Federal Funds
- Ballot Initiative
- Texas Water Development Board
- U. S. Healthy Watersheds
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