Unique partnership preserves a Texas coastal treasure

Texas

A partnership involving five cities, Harris County, 15 state and federal agencies, and a growing number of corporate and private non-profit organizations has released a plan for protecting the Armand Bayou Watershed in the Greater Houston area.

The Armand Bayou Watershed Plan addresses flood control and water quality and quantity in this important environmental asset on the southeast edge of Houston, as well as the entire Gulf Coast.

John Jacob, environmental quality specialist for Texas Cooperative Extension and the Sea Grant program, said if development on the watershed and environmental practices continues on the same course as the last decade, the environmental cost will be high.

"Most of the remaining unprotected habitat, prairie potholes and coastal flatwood forests will be lost," he said. "There would be increased conflict between those protecting the habitat and those trying to reduce flooding, and water quality in and around the bayou will continue to degrade."

Extension and the Sea Grant program joined with the Houston-Galveston Area Council about seven years ago to begin coordinating efforts in the region among the state and federal agencies, the municipalities and private projects.

"Each agency or city had projects on the table, all having a limited scope or jurisdiction for addressing the ideal of preserving the watershed," Jacob said. "However, a watershed doesn't follow jurisdictional boundaries."

The partnership began to grow through public education of city governments and community groups and networking with other state and federal agencies, all which have similar goals. With new funding and additional resources, the Armand Bayou Watershed Partnership was officially organized in 2002 and began developing a plan that would take advantage of each entity's strengths and specific jurisdiction.

Initially, the watershed was assessed for the state of its habitat, water quality, storm water management, and outreach and educational programs available.

"The muscle behind this plan is the broad spectrum of the partnership," said Linda Shead, current Armand Bayou Watershed Partnership chair and program director for The Trust for Public Land. "We have representatives involved with flood control, water quality, habitat, water supply and conservation, and city and county governments, and we realized from the beginning there were challenges that kept each of us from realizing our individual goals."

Phase one was completed with the release of the written plan, which outlines:

--The historical, geographical and environmental description of the watershed;

--The mission and goals of the partnership and watershed plan;

--The state and federal legislation that governs the partnership's action plan;

--A description of state and federal agencies as well as the private organizations and businesses and the role each plays in success;

--Description of tools and methods identified to date; and

--Tools for measuring progress and success.

Last summer, the Trust for Public Land led the partnership in mapping, setting priorities and developing action steps. The maps indicate natural resource areas, developed and undeveloped areas, and critical areas to address first, based on set priorities, Shead said.

The partnership will host the Stewardship Exchange during the first week in May. Members of the partnership will meet with local resources as well as representatives from successful entities facing similar issues around the country.

Following the Exchange, the partnership will begin to identify specific tasks, resources and coordinated actions to realize their mission.

Jacobs described the partnership as the beginning of a "new era" in Texas watershed management.

"It is very unusual to have this many institutions develop a plan, particularly a plan everyone can agree on," he said. "If we want to manage watershed integrity so that it will be sustainable for our future, then we can't manage by jurisdictional boundaries of counties and cities, or by the disciplinary boundaries of flood management, water quality, and habitat protection."

------CUTLINES------

1.) The Great Egret is one bird species which depends on the preservation of the Armand Bayou Watershed. (Photo by Jack Lewis, Texas Department of Transportation.)

2.) Members of the Armand Bayou Watershed Partnership have developed a plan to protect undeveloped habitats. (Photo by Cliff Meinhardt.)

Date: 5/25/06

	Web hpj.com

Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2008.  High Plains Publishers, Inc.  All rights reserved.  Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com