Engineering Inc - July/August 2019 - 33

MULTI PROJECT

From Water
Hazards to Flood
Control
PROJECT: EXPLORATION GREEN
CLEAR LAKE CITY, TEXAS
FIRM: LOCKWOOD, ANDREWS &
NEWNAM, INC.
HOUSTON

Houston golf course built more
than 50 years ago is being transformed into Exploration Green,
a new 200-acre community green
space that also serves as a solution for
flooding and drainage issues for the Clear
Lake City Water Authority (CLCWA).
When recent storms demonstrated the
effectiveness of the Exploration Green plan
developed by CLCWA's engineering consultant, Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam,
Inc., the project timeline was shortened
from 15 years to five.
Currently surrounded by multiple residential subdivisions, the golf course was
developed in the 1960s as part of a residential community on former ranch land.

For years it was a popular community
amenity, but use of the course dwindled
over time. Local developers expressed
interest in turning the golf course into a
commercial property, but the community
already was experiencing drainage issues
due to increased runoff from the existing development. Residents approached
CLCWA, which is responsible for providing water, sewage and drainage services in the area, for assistance. CLCWA
purchased the golf course in 2011 with
the plan to convert it into a series of
detention ponds to improve stormwater
management.
"The water authority is very aware of
trying to anticipate that need for their
residents," says Kelly Shipley, associate
and team leader for Lockwood, Andrews
& Newnam. "They have been planning
this project for quite some time."
Stormwater retention was not required
when these homes were built, but it has
become increasingly important as the
area has been built out. Acquiring the
golf course gave CLCWA an opportunity
to remedy this persistent problem.
Designed to handle a 100-year storm,
the Exploration Green
plan consists of five
linked detention ponds

with capacities ranging from 260 to 442
acre-feet. Each pond will have a 6-footdeep permanent pool with the ability to
detain significant amounts of stormwater
from local streets, properties and waterways within the drainage area. As a flood
threat eases, the ponds will slowly release
detained stormwater, decreasing flooding.
When completed in 2021, Exploration
Green will have a storage capacity of 1,680
acre-feet. It will also include wetland preserves and 6 miles of hike-and-bike trails
provided through the efforts of the Exploration Green Conservancy, a not-for-profit
entity formed to oversee its conservation
and recreational development.
Phase 1 opened in April 2018 and
includes a W-shaped pond in the vicinity
of the old clubhouse and driving range.
"The first pond was about halfway built
when Harvey hit in August 2017, so we
were able to utilize the detention during
that event," says Shipley. "People were
worried, especially in areas that previously
flooded with Tropical Storm Allison.
During Hurricane Harvey, either they
did not flood or did not have as much
water in the house as they did in those
other situations. That really
helped people see what this
project could do."

Phase 1 of Exploration Green
celebrated its grand opening
in April 2018. When completed,
the facility will have a storage
capacity of 1,680 acre-feet.

JOE BIBBY

Kelly Shipley
Associate and Team Leader
Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc.

JULY / AUGUST 2019 ENGINEERING INC.

Engineering Inc - July/August 2019

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