Developing and Funding Local Strategies Against Flooding
Regional Flood Planning Group Has First Public Meeting Oct. 28, 9 a.m. to 12
[Updated with better links.]
Oct. 27, 2020
Newly created regional flood planning groups are an opportunity to prioritize green and nature-based flood mitigation strategies—capturing rainwater where it falls and reducing runoff—that will be adopted and funded by the State of Texas.
The recently appointed members of the flood planning groups representing the fifteen major Texas rivers and coastal basins are now beginning to have their first public meetings. Representing agricultural, environmental, industrial, commercial, public utility and other interests, they are tasked with coming up with recommendations to the Texas Water Development Board by January 2023.
San Jacinto Region 6
Most of the Houston region, including Harris, Montgomery, and Galveston counties as well as parts of Fort Bend, Waller, Grimes, San Jacinto, and Liberty counties are in San Jacinto Region 6. The San Jacinto region includes Buffalo Bayou and its tributaries, Cypress, Spring, and Clear creeks, and many other bayous and streams, including, of course, the San Jacinto River.
Here is a map of the flood planning regions.
The 12 voting members of San Jacinto Region 6 will have their first meeting Wednesday, Oct. 28, from 9 a.m. to noon.
Here is the agenda and how to attend that virtual public meeting and/or send in public comments.
If that link doesn’t work, try going to the Texas Water Development Board website and click on the links for the Public Notice and Meeting Materials for Region 6.
Voting Members of Region 6
The twelve voting members of the San Jacinto group include:
Elisa Macia Donovan, a board member of the Katy Prairie Conservancy, representing agricultural interests
Sarah Bernhardt, President and CEO of the Bayou Preservation Association, representing environmental interests
Paul E. Lock, manager of local government relations for Centerpoint Energy, representing electric generating utilities
Timothy Buscha, President of IDS Engineering, representing industries
Stephen Costello, Chief Recovery Officer for the City of Houston, former city council member, engineer and former president and current board member of Costello Inc., representing municipalities
Jenna Armstrong, President of the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce, representing small business
Gene Fisseler, owner of GP Fisseler Strategies and former director of public affairs for Apache Louisiana Minerals, representing the public
Alia Vinson, attorney, partner with Allen Boone Humphries Robinson, representing water authorities
Todd Burrer, vice president of Inframark and a board member of the West Houston Association, representing water utilities
As well as Russ Poppe, Executive Director of the Harris County Flood Control District, Alisa Max, Chief Operations Officer for the Harris County Engineering Department, and Matthew Barrett, division engineer with the San Jacinto River Authority.
Slow the flow!
SC
