Here are links to some of the more thoughtful and informative articles published.<\/p>\n
On Flooding Causes and Solutions and Working with Nature<\/strong>
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\nDevelopment, Drainage, and Destruction of Wetlands
\n<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\nHouston\u2019s Flood is a Design Problem<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nThe Atlantic<\/em>, Aug. 28<\/p>\nDebo advocates that urban design mimic rural hydrology as much as possible. Reducing impervious surface and improving water conveyance has a role to play, but the most important step in sparing cities from flooding is to reduce the velocity of water when it is channelized, so that it doesn\u2019t deluge other sites. And then to stop moving water away from buildings and structures entirely, and to start finding new uses for it in place.<\/p>\n
Houston’s Flooding Made Worse by Unchecked Urban Development and Wetland Destruction<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nQuartz<\/em>, Aug. 29<\/p>\nThe Harvey-wrought devastation is just the latest example of the consequences of Houston\u2019s gung-ho approach<\/a> to development. The city, the largest in the US with no zoning laws, is a case study in limiting government regulations and favoring growth\u2014often at the expense of the environment. As water swamps many of its neighborhoods, it\u2019s now also a cautionary tale of sidelining science and plain common sense. Given the Trump administration\u2019s assault on environmental protections, it\u2019s one that Americans elsewhere should pay attention to.<\/p>\nHouston\u2019s \u2018Wild West\u2019 growth<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nHow the city’s development may have contributed to devastating flooding<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nWashington Post<\/em>, Aug. 29<\/p>\nHouston drainage grid ‘so obsolete it’s just unbelievable’<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nAP, Aug. 29<\/p>\n
Experts blame too many people, too much concrete, insufficient upstream storage, not enough green space for water drainage and, especially, too little regulation.<\/p>\n
“Houston is the most flood-prone city in the United States,” said Rice University environmental engineering professor Phil Bedient. “No one is even a close second \u2014 not even New Orleans, because at least they have pumps there.”<\/p>\n
The entire system is designed to clear out only 12 to 13 inches of rain per 24-hour period, said Jim Blackburn, an environmental law professor at Rice University. “That’s so obsolete it’s just unbelievable.”<\/p>\n
Also, Houston’s Harris County has the loosest, least-regulated drainage policy and system in the entire country, Bedient said.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n
Houston\u2019s Flood is a Design Problem<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n The Atlantic<\/em>, Aug. 28<\/p>\n Debo advocates that urban design mimic rural hydrology as much as possible. Reducing impervious surface and improving water conveyance has a role to play, but the most important step in sparing cities from flooding is to reduce the velocity of water when it is channelized, so that it doesn\u2019t deluge other sites. And then to stop moving water away from buildings and structures entirely, and to start finding new uses for it in place.<\/p>\n Houston’s Flooding Made Worse by Unchecked Urban Development and Wetland Destruction<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Quartz<\/em>, Aug. 29<\/p>\n The Harvey-wrought devastation is just the latest example of the consequences of Houston\u2019s gung-ho approach<\/a> to development. The city, the largest in the US with no zoning laws, is a case study in limiting government regulations and favoring growth\u2014often at the expense of the environment. As water swamps many of its neighborhoods, it\u2019s now also a cautionary tale of sidelining science and plain common sense. Given the Trump administration\u2019s assault on environmental protections, it\u2019s one that Americans elsewhere should pay attention to.<\/p>\n Houston\u2019s \u2018Wild West\u2019 growth<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n How the city’s development may have contributed to devastating flooding<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Washington Post<\/em>, Aug. 29<\/p>\n Houston drainage grid ‘so obsolete it’s just unbelievable’<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n AP, Aug. 29<\/p>\n Experts blame too many people, too much concrete, insufficient upstream storage, not enough green space for water drainage and, especially, too little regulation.<\/p>\n “Houston is the most flood-prone city in the United States,” said Rice University environmental engineering professor Phil Bedient. “No one is even a close second \u2014 not even New Orleans, because at least they have pumps there.”<\/p>\n The entire system is designed to clear out only 12 to 13 inches of rain per 24-hour period, said Jim Blackburn, an environmental law professor at Rice University. “That’s so obsolete it’s just unbelievable.”<\/p>\n Also, Houston’s Harris County has the loosest, least-regulated drainage policy and system in the entire country, Bedient said.<\/p>\n
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