June 20, 2019<\/p>\n
Having lived through devastating floods over the last four years, Houstonians have rallied to rebuild and recover. That includes looking for new ways to reduce flood risk.<\/p>\n
One of the most promising involves using nature to fight flooding. Those measures include creating more parks and open spaces; making ample room for water in our bayous; conserving natural areas; restoring grasslands and forests; and smaller-scale projects such as permeable parking lots, green roofs and new lawn grasses with longer, water-absorbing roots.<\/p>\n
No, nature-based solutions alone will not eliminate flooding. But combined with more traditional engineering projects \u2014 levees, constructed detention ponds and drainage-improvement structures \u2014 they can do a great deal to manage and diffuse the effects of flooding while also providing major side benefits: scenic and recreational amenities, improved water quality, boosts to tourism and locally grown food from community farms.<\/p>\n
Not to mention that nature-based solutions also are highly cost-efficient, often several times more so than traditional flood-control public works. A National Wildlife Federation study indicated that every $1 spent in preventive measures saves $4 in disaster recovery costs. The study also noted that protecting open space and existing natural habitats are among the most cost-effective ways to reduce risks to communities.<\/p>\n
Read the rest of this editorial in The Houston Chronicle<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n Mary Anne Piacentini is the president and chief executive officer of the Katy Prairie Conservancy<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n
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