1. Houston: in harmony with flooding

3. City wide map of Houston

4. Current water conditions: Houston, Texas is the largest city in the state of Texas and fourth largest in the nation. The city was founded in 1836 and has grown steadily since that time. The city currently has a population of 2.14 million within its city limits and nearly four million in the metropolitan area. The city itself has grown, now encompassing 579 square miles with a population density of 3,371.1 people per square mile. The median household income is $36,616. Since its inception the city has had a very close relationship with the system of bayous that drain rainwater. In the coming years the city of Houston’s inhabitants will have to make very important decisions about how the city will respond to its water.

5. Current water conditions: The main route of water from the city is from the bayous, to channels, and then out to the Gulf of Mexico Upon its founding the city was placed on a grid aligned with the existing bayous and not the points of the compass. First experienced major flooding in 1843 Houston ship channel built by the Corps of Engineers, brought a great deal of shipping to the Houston. The largest bayou in the city is the Brays Bayou, encompassing 128 sq. miles Nearly 700,000 people live in this area

6. Current water conditions: Brief explanation of current flooding strategies, from class discussion, site visits and previous presentations.

7. History Current drainage schemes address problems as they arise. The current policies do very little to address the long term problems, the typical process is dealing with problems after they have boiled over. Bayous exist as an alternative to ground absorption Development of land creates more impervious surfaces that funnel rainfall to collection points more quickly than is natural. This leads to flooding when water collects at a relief point and builds up, eventually flooding the surrounding areas. Short, intense periods of rain are more likely to cause flooding because they are more likely to overwhelm the carrying capacity of an area.

8. History Drainage issues were merged into one organization to deal with drainage issues as a whole for the good of all areas of the city. 1937- Harris County Flood Control District was established. Bayous concrete lined based on the belief that this will control flooding. 1973- Restrictions put in place to restrict development of the flood plain 1980- “no downstream impact policy” all upstream development must return water to the system at the same rate that it did before development. This led to an increase of large holding areas for excess water. The current plans for the system will require miles of additional drainage canals and nearly a billion dollars of investment to shore up the system.

9. My plan The best way to combat flooding in the city is to increase the amount of time that water upstream takes to get to the bayou. Slowing this water down and holding it as close to the area where it hits the ground as possible will allow the bayou to push the water out of the downstream areas before buildup occurs.

10. My plan This strategy’s intent is to create nodes of designed space along the bayou that collect water and slow it down. This will place less pressure on flood prone areas and allow water to keep flowing efficiently without overflowing the banks. The water that falls over the majority of the city in residential and light commercial areas is allowed to flow away from these areas as quickly as possible, towards the developed areas on the bayou that are designed to flood. Specific nodes of designed urban space are placed at appropriate places along the bayou. In these spaces the built environment takes an active role in water management. Buildings become active participants in directing the water’s flow. Creating streams, reservoirs, and even a smaller bayou. All building in these areas are required to be water resistant. The spaces they create to hold water are to be able to be inundated with water for hours or days at a time, and still be suitable for public use.

11. My plan Continue use of streets to drain water away from residential and light commercial areas New residences and major renovations are to be built with pier and beam Place developed spaces at the intersections of major waterways to take care of overflow from merging water in these areas In areas that currently flood place one or two designed areas upstream of them to reduce the impact of water from upstream on the areas downstream

12. My plan

13. Macro sketches Basic diagrams to Illustrate the concept of using terraces to hold water for periods of time

14. Macro sketches Basic diagrams to Illustrate the concept of using buildings to affect water flow

15. Macro sketches Basic diagrams illustrating the multiple ways the bayou transition can flood.

16. Macro sketches Basic diagrams to Illustrate the concept of bringing water into a space, storing it, and re-using it.

17. Micro sketches Sketches of various details of the plans incorporated in one page.

18. Micro sketches Narrative describing attempt to place these ideas on different conditions along the bayous

19. My plan area 1: near intersection of I10 and US 45 Describe this particular bayou condition

20. Area 1 arial photograph

22. Area 1 topo map and section

23. Area 1 design solution: line drawings

24. Area 1 design solution: renderings

25. My plan area 2 Describe this particular bayou condition

26. Area 2 arial photograph

27. Area 2topo map and section

28. Area 2 design solution: line drawings

29. Area 2 design solution: renderings

30. My plan area 3 Describe this particular bayou condition

31. Area 3 arial photograph

32. Area 3 topo map and section

33. Area 3 design solution: line drawings

34. Area 3 design solution: renderings

35. Bibliography

36. Projected schedule Week 1 Nov. 1-7 Tuesday first attempt at basic diagrams, address issue of dirty water locate 3 areas and get topo maps overall drainage plan diagram Friday finalize basic diagrams finalize overall drainage plan diagram draw sections from topo map Week 2 Nov. 8-14 Tuesday first attempt at site specific diagrams site 1, diagrams applied to topo maps and sections first attempt at site specific diagram site 2, diagrams applied to topo maps and sections first attempt at site specific diagram site 3, diagrams applied to topo maps and sections Friday continue working on these diagrams (add more detail to all three) finish any details needed Week 3 Nov. 15-21 Tuesday first attempt at site specific diagrams site 1, diagrams applied to topo maps and sections first attempt at site specific diagram site 2, diagrams applied to topo maps and sections first attempt at site specific diagram site 3, diagrams applied to topo maps and sections Friday continue working on these diagrams (add more detail to all three) finish any details needed

37. Projected schedule Week 4 Nov. 22-28 Tuesday basic models for each site, no materials or lighting finalize renderings consolidate and add narrative to presentation from previous presentations continue booklet Friday add lighting and materials begin booklet add any last minute info to presentation format presentation graphically continue booklet basic layout of poster Week 5 Nov. 29-Dec. 5 (take part or all of this week off) Tuesday finalize poster layout continue booklet finish graphic layout of powerpoint Friday finish booklet finish powerpoint finish poster design Any time after this used for any last minute changes/additions