WHAT WE CAN DO TO DECREASE FLOODING
Catastrophic flooding in Houston was the result of an incomprehensible 50 inches of rain that fell in a short period of time. However, the magnitude of the flooding and level of destruction was magnified by the fact that Houston is one of only three major cities that does not have zoning laws that require storm water management.
Most other areas require no increase in stormwater runoff when they approve a building or development. Houston does not protect its wetlands, it allows them to be developed. Wetlands act like sponges to sop up water during a storm. Three quarters of the Prairie has also been developed and can no longer absorb water.
So even before Harvey Houston was experiencing serious flooding. A Texas A&M researcher said “more people die here from floods than anywhere else….and more per capita is lost here.”
WHAT CAN WE DO IN OUR COMMUNITIES?
We can maintain our yards and gardens in ways that capture storm water and return it to underground aquifers. This helps replete the aquifer, helps purify the water, and helps prevent pollutants from washing into our streams, lakes, and rivers.
This is a way we can all start now with a little step to improve our water quality and also help prevent our communities from flooding.
The next step is convincing friends and neighbors to do the same, and the third step is convincing our representatives that everyone from both parties wants clean water and wants the flood risk to their communities minimized.
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (The Great Healthy Yard Project is an affiliate) has developed a Sustainable Sites certification similar to LEED certification for sustainable building with the American Botanic Garden and The American Society of Landscape Architects that quantifies landscape sustainability.they also have Sites for Homeowners.
SOME EASY STEPS ARE:
1. Capture water running off driveways, roofs, and terraces so that it is absorbed. In areas of your yard with lots of runoff consider making a rain garden. This is simply a depression that captures the water and is planted with plants that like wet feet and will absorb it. The plants have to be suited to the soil, climate, and the amount of sun.
2. Replace paved areas with gardens or at least pervious surface like gravel where possible so that water can be absorbed.
3. Use lots of native plants that are well acclimated to your climate and soil. Once established they often require little care and will be resilient and able to absorb water. They also absorb excess nutrients that would pollute the waterways.
4. Plant trees. Trees do a phenomenal job absorbing water and excess nutrients.
5. Consider rain barrels to absorb water that comes off your roof so you can use it in your garden when you need it.
6. Don’t mow to the edge of ponds, lakes, streams and rivers. Help secure the banks and prevent erosion with long grasses or shrubs. These also add habitat for birds and other wildlife, and they absorb large amounts of water that would otherwise run off into the waterway.