Harris County Buys Wetland Credits for East T.C. Jester Flood Control

Harris County Commissioners Court approved spending $30,660 to buy wetland mitigation credits for the East T.C. Jester Stormwater Detention Basin project. This flood control project will impact 0.511 acres of existing wetlands, so federal law requires the county to replace those wetlands elsewhere. The county is buying credits from the Greens Bayou Wetlands Mitigation Bank to meet this requirement. This matters because wetlands naturally absorb floodwater and protect our neighborhoods from flooding. When we build flood control projects, we must replace any wetlands we disturb to keep our natural flood protection strong. The East T.C. Jester project will create a detention basin that captures stormwater runoff in the Cypress Creek Watershed, protecting homes and businesses from flooding during heavy rains. This affects residents in northwest Harris County, especially areas near Cypress Creek that flood during storms. The mitigation credits ensure we're not losing overall wetland protection in our region. You can track this project's progress by contacting the Harris County Flood Control District. For updates on flood control projects in your area, sign up for HCFCD notifications or attend Commissioners Court meetings. The project shows how we balance flood protection with environmental protection to keep our communities safe and healthy.

Harris County is spending $30,660 to buy wetland credits because a flood control project near East T.C. Jester will disturb 0.511 acres of wetlands. Federal law requires those wetlands to be replaced elsewhere.