Storm Surge and Flood Protection

GULF COAST GREEN- 2013

Coastal Planning and Design for Sustainable Economic Development, Recreation,

and SecurityThomas Colbert, University of Houston

Kevin Shanley, SWA Group

Matt Baumgarten, Jason Honeycutt, Frances Kellerman, Alex Lahti, Rose Lee, Fangyi Lu, Ian Spencer

Thomas M. Colbert, AIA is a Registered Provider with The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems (AIA/CES). Credit(s) earned on completion of this program will be reported to AIA/CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.

This program is registered with AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product.

Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the conclusion of this presentation.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this program, participants will be able to:

1.Understand regional risks associated with severe

weather events.

2.Recognize opportunities for economic, recreational and

infrastructure development in at risk areas.

3.Be able to establish site selection and design criteria

for sustainable, resilient coastal development.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The Houston-Galveston region is uniquely susceptible to the risk of hurricane related tidal surge and rainwater flooding. Repeated hurricanes and tropical storms have devastated this part of the Gulf Coast and yet a substantial portion of the region's diverse and rapidly growing population is living inside potential tidal surge inundation areas. The vast industrial infrastructure of the Houston Ship Channel, the largest collection of refining and petrochemical storage facilities and infrastructure in the nation is also at risk of catastrophic flooding. Based on analyses undertaken by the SSPEED Center, this presentation will describe the specific risks faced by individual districts and local communities and proposals for a layered system of coastal protection. These proposals include structural and non-structural alternatives.

The SSPEED Center Funding from Houston Endowment

GALVESTON BAY COASTAL PROTECTION SYSTEM

SSPEEDSSPEED

Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters (est. 2007)

11

12

Original Landfall

landfall near San Luis Pass

17

Houston-Galveston Study Area

Mean Sea Level

HOUSTON

TexasCity

Galveston

La Porte

LeagueCity

Alvin

Baytown

JSC

18

HOUSTON

TexasCity

Galveston

La Porte

LeagueCity

Alvin

Hurricane Carly4/22 at 0800 CDT

MEOW NW at 8 MPHSurge: 4.8 Feet

Baytown

JSC

19

HOUSTON

TexasCity

Galveston

La Porte

LeagueCity

Alvin

Hurricane Carly4/22 at 1200 CDT

MEOW NW at 8 MPHSurge: 10.6 Feet

Baytown

JSC

20

HOUSTON

TexasCity

Galveston

La Porte

LeagueCity

Alvin

Hurricane Carly4/22 at 1700 CDT

MEOW NW at 8 MPHSurge: 17.9 Feet

Baytown

JSC

21

HOUSTON

TexasCity

Galveston

La Porte

LeagueCity

Alvin

Hurricane Carly4/22 at 2000 CDT

MEOW NW at 8 MPHSurge: 22.4 Feet

Baytown

JSC

TWO MAJOR PROBLEMS

Existing DevelopmentGrowing Population

31.8’ UT Center For Space Research + TX Natural Resources Info. System, 2007

23

PROJECTED GROWTH

2005 2020 2035

A 104,159 131,129 166,144

B 297,467 384,850 474,065

C 622,292 747,933 921,388

Houston Ship Channel

Galveston

West ShoreGalveston Bay

Lone Star CoastalNational Recreation Area

Houston Ship Channel

31.8’ UT Center For Space Research + TX Natural Resources Info. System, 2007

31.8’ UT Center For Space Research + TX Natural Resources Info. System, 2007

I 10

SH 225

I 610

25’-0”

25’-0”

25 ft. Surge

It’s a Homeland Defense Project!

West ShoreGalveston Bay

54

Houston-Galveston Study Area

Mean Sea Level

HOUSTON

La Porte

Pasadena

Baytown

Webster

Bacliff

Deer Park

JSC

Kemah

55

Hurricane Carly4/22 at 0800 CDT

MEOW NW at 8 MPHSurge: 4.8 Feet

HOUSTON

La Porte

Pasadena

Baytown

Webster

Bacliff

Deer Park

JSC

Kemah

56

Hurricane Carly4/22 at 1200 CDT

MEOW NW at 8 MPHSurge: 10.6 Feet

HOUSTON

La Porte

Pasadena

Baytown

Webster

Bacliff

Deer Park

JSC

Kemah

57

Hurricane Carly4/22 at 1700 CDT

MEOW NW at 8 MPHSurge: 17.9 Feet

HOUSTON

La Porte

Pasadena

Baytown

Webster

Bacliff

Deer Park

JSC

Kemah

58

Hurricane Carly4/22 at 2000 CDT

MEOW NW at 8 MPHSurge: 22.4 Feet

HOUSTON

La Porte

Pasadena

Baytown

Webster

Bacliff

Deer Park

JSC

Kemah

Surge and Waves – Bacliff and San LeonSurge and Waves – Bacliff and San Leon

SH - 146

Kemah

Clear Lake

Galveston

Texas Civil Air Patrol PhotoSeptember 15, 2008

Harborside Drive

Harborside Drive

Harborside Drive

Lone Star CoastalNational Recreation Area

Coastal Roulette: 3.A.7

Coastal Roulette: 3.A.7

WHAT IS A NATIONAL RECREATION AREA?

Federally Recognized Recreation Venue Created by Congressional Action.

Can Be Established and Operated Under Innovative Partnership Agreements (Charter) Between Local, State and Federal Governments and Non-Profit Organization and Private Property Owners.

No Additional Regulatory Burden For Non-Participating Parties.

No Unwilling Participation.

GOVERNANCE BY PARTNERSHIP

National Recreation Areas:

Can be managed though partnerships among local, state, and federal government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private landowners.

Provide a flexible way to gain the stature of National Park Service involvement, while sustaining local management.

Proposed Lone Star Coastal National Recreation Area

Partnership

Roles Set By Partnership Agreement

Tx

TxUS

Loc Gov

US

NGO

Loc Gov

NGO

PPO

PPO

Advisory Council

Low-Lying Lands of Galveston Bay

Non-Structural Flood Control

Could We Develop a Different Economy Here - -

A Resilient Economy Based on Use, Appreciation and Protection of our Natural Resources?

FLOOD MITIGATION BASED ON ECOLOGICAL SERVICES

HABITATS WITHIN PROPOSED LSCNRA

Coastal Tidal Wetlands Coastal Brackish Wetlands

Coastal Prairie Coastal Freshwater Wetlands

Cypress and Tupelo Swamp Bottomland Hardwood Double

Canopy Forest Estuary

Submerged Grass Flats Oyster Reefs

Barrier Island Gulf of Mexico

Coral Reef

Source: Outdoor Industry Foundation

Source: Outdoor Industry Foundation

BIRD WATCHING ECONOMICS 2006

48 Million Birdwatchers in United States

$36 billion in direct expenditures

$82 billion in total economic value

Generated 671,000 jobs

Generated $11 billion in federal, state and local tax revenues

TOP BIRD COUNTS – 2009/2010

U.S. Rank Name Species Recorded

1 Matagorda 231

5 Freeport 203

9 San Bernard 199

ECONOMICS OF PADDLING, 2008

17.8 million Americans ages 6 and older participated in kayaking, canoeing, and rafting in 2008.

9.9 million Americans participated in canoeing in 2008.

7.8 million Americans participated in kayaking

Paddling participants made 174 million outings in 2008, averaging 10 days per participant.

PUBLIC LEADERSHIP

Sec. James Baker John Nau

WORLD BIRDING CENTER, MISSION, TEXAS

SAN MARCOS, TEXAS

RIDGLEY, MD

Houston Ship Channel

Galveston

West ShoreGalveston Bay

Lone Star CoastalNational Recreation Area

STUDENT PROJECTS