Nature-Based Flooding Solutions for the Greater Houston Area
Strengthening community self-advocacy by evaluating the role of nature to improve resilience.
Motivation & Research Background
Historically, a majority of Houston's aging stormwater infrastructure design has failed to both include community input and invest in natural or nature-based systems. Meanwhile, urban flooding is a growing concern as development expands, ecosystems are lost to development, and our region sees more frequent rain events due to climate change.
The loss of natural resources that protect our region are being felt especially in marginalized black and brown communities , often located downstream in more flood vulnerable regions of our watershed. These communities are not only faced with higher exposure to flooding and urban flooding, but also see slower, less resourced recovery efforts. As the Greater Houston area rethinks its flood plans , we aim to explore public demand for nature-based solutions.
About our Research Group
Bayou City Waterkeeper (BCWK) & Stanford University
Bayou City Waterkeeper (BCWK) uses science and law to help Greater Houston communities tackle water pollution and flooding, restore natural systems, and promote fair policies within the Lower Galveston Bay watershed.
Stanford researchers are partnering with BCWK to study the benefits of restoring upstream wetlands and survey marginalized communities about their awareness and support for nature-based flooding solutions.
Stanford & BCWK Teams visit to Sheldon Lake in Houston, TX.
Study Objectives
- Estimate the value of wetlands for reducing floods in the Lower Galveston Bay Watershed and find key areas for restoration and protection.
- Capture existing perceptions in Northeast Houston and Baytown communities regarding nature-based solutions.
- Evaluate residential and institutional barriers, and motivators to green solutions in flood-prone, historically marginalized areas.
Methods & Process
Historically, a majority of Houston's aging stormwater infrastructure design has failed to include community input . We use an interdisciplinary, community-based participatory (CBPR) approach that centers community input and perceptions of green stormwater infrastructure to reduce urban flood risk.
What does this mean?
We integrate lived experiences of community members and data-driven modeling to explore nature-based stormwater solutions that address urban flooding challenges in the Greater Houston area.
We hope the data from this project can be used to support local advocacy efforts and the development of stronger policies to enhance urban drainage.
About Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR)
- CBPR is a collaborative approach to research that actively involves community members, organizations, and researchers as equal partners throughout the entire process.
- Example of a Local Participatory GSI Project:
For more details on our research methods and the project components, click here .
Timeline
Desired Study Results
- This research aims to support community advocacy for nature-based solutions over "gray" infrastructure by mapping future scenarios to illustrate how nature-based solutions can enhance climate resilience in city planning.
- This research aims to break the cycle of urban flooding by raising awareness of nature-based solutions through publicly accessible, anonymous data from focus groups, surveys, and workshops, helping cities understand regional perceptions and barriers to those solutions.
Study Regions
- Northeast Houston, TX
- Downstream of critical wetlands in upstream watersheds, which has faced significant development, making it difficult to buffer potential runoff.
- Baytown, TX
- Downstream of the Lake Houston critical wetland area , Baytown is an especially water-rich city within the greater Houston region and is home to the massive ExxonMobil Refinery.
Northeast Houston, TX
This vibrant community nestled within the historic 5th Ward has experienced a history of infrastructural, environmental, and social inequities, yet remains diligent in engaging government officials in increasing investment into drainage and sewage systems. This disinvestment, combined with two decades of repeated flooding and unequal access to flood insurance and disaster recovery programs have profoundly reshaped individuals’ and communities’ relationships to their neighborhoods, and homes in the study area.
We hope the database we create from this study can support grassroots, community efforts and strengthen current movements.
Baytown, TX
Situated in both Harris and Chambers Counties, Baytown is faced with a unique position in supporting the livelihood of residents through the local oil industry while ensuring local wetland ecosystems are in good health as a form of urban flood resilience. This city also faces localized flooding as a result of subsidence (or land sinking) caused by the oil industry's overuse of groundwater in the 20th century. This has also contributed to the city's problems with flooding and sewage and overflows. In the coming years, sea-level rise will induce more flooding while also placing a greater strain on Baytown's critical infrastructure.
Given the complex social, environmental, and economic relationships in this community, we aim to help residents learn how conserving and restoring wetlands can protect their neighborhoods from flooding during normal rain events.
Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) for Urban Drainage
Gray stormwater infrastructure, also known as traditional stormwater infrastructure, relies on impervious (non-absorbent) surfaces like concrete pipes, channels, and culverts to collect and redirect stormwater, preventing natural infiltration into the ground and nearby waterways.
Green stormwater infrastructure can help manage "normal" rain events and improve urban drainage, boosting urban resilience using methods found in nature--increasing porous areas for drainage. It can range from small-scale (household-level) to large-scale (wetlands).
Example of Gray (Traditional) versus Green Stormwater Infrastructure.
A community-led approach can guide policy makers and planners to design effective, targeted green stormwater infrastructure solutions for your neighborhood.
Local Examples of Green Stormwater Infrastructure In Texas
Small Scale
On your property (e.g., front yard) or street (e.g., on sidewalks)--within one block or street.
Mid Scale
Within your neighborhood--between one to five blocks or streets.
Large Scale
Across your entire city or metropolitan area--over five blocks in size (up to approximately 100 acres).
To learn more about BCWK's work on protecting Houston's 5 critical wetlands:
5 Critical Wetlands - Bayou City Waterkeeper
Useful Resources
Designing for Impact
Project Acknowledgements
Bayou City Waterkeeper would like to acknowledge all of our partners and support throughout this ongoing research. We are grateful to our staff–Alenka Cardenas, Danielle Garcia, Ayanna Jolivet McCloud, Minh Nguyen, Yudith Nieto, Kourtney Revels, Kristen Schlemmer–for their supportive efforts throughout this project to advance community advocacy. Thank you to past and present BCWK fellows and staff, Mashal Awais, Hamza Awais, Cassandra Cavezza, Kenna Dixon, Bikram Singh, Skyler Smith, and Michelle Victoria. We thank our collaborators from Stanford University–Clara Medina, Samyukta Shrivasta, Mavis Stone, Dr. Diana Moanga, Dr. Elliott White Jr., Dr. Khalid K. Osman–for their work in uplifting both BCWK and the community’s needs throughout this project.
We would like to recognize the efforts of fellow local organizations who continue to centralize Houston and Baytown residents in all their efforts, and integrating them into these research spaces to have their voices heard:
- Carmen Cavezza and CEER (Coalition for Environment, Equity, and Resilience) ambassadors for their support and assistance in the deployment of our surveys in Northeast Houston.
- NAC (Northeast Action Collective) and West Street Recovery whose constant thought, partnership, and care for the community inspires our advocacy.
- Banchalenguas Language Justice Collective for assisting us in the translation of the survey. Thank you to Tecolotl for assisting us in the focus groups.
- We are grateful to Dr. John Jacob whose vision for protecting wetlands guides our research and our future work.
- Shout out to the Art league of Baytown, and the arts, culture, and entertainment district (ACE District).
We also want to acknowledge all the impacted residents from our watershed whose commitment and resilience and willingness to step up for their communities to protect themselves from flooding, systemic injustices and to protect our wetlands and waters, continues to motivate us and inspires us to continue to advocate alongside them.
